Clarence Coyote and Project Courier - Part 45 - Homeward Bound by moyomongoose < Submission

Keywords male 1116153, female 1005684, cub 251155, fox 233047, wolf 182317, raccoon 34122, otter 33668, coyote 11299, wolverine 1481, home 857, time travel 304, new mexico 297, year 1960 283, time machine 70, instructions 41, year 2018 17, reception 14

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1960

That Thursday morning began not much different than most most summer mornings. The TV was still displaying the test pattern with elevator music before regular programing began.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STZ9PBxrLxU

Morning TV News [Page 4] by moyomongoose

The day started out warm, and it was a clear sunny day, though a little windy. The front door was left open along with the windows being open due to the weather being so warm. By the way, there was no worry about the wind slamming or springing the front door due to it being open. The door opened inward, plus the front door was located in a porch recession, thus being in away from the wind.

Floor Plan of Al and Marge Coyote's Home [Page 2] by moyomongoose

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For breakfast it was; sunny side up eggs, cantaloupe, pancakes with honey, tangerine juice and coffee...Pancakes are always a popular hit among the cubs.
This was the day Al had off from work so he can be present with Marge while registering the cubs for the 1960-1961 school year.
"What time do you want to head out to Estancia?", Al asked Marge.
"It's still early in the morning", Marge answered. "If we leave in about another hour, that will get us there by mid morning".
Jed mentioned, "We might see Sheryl and Dotty there today".
"Most likely so", Al replied to Jed. "Being that Frank and Wanda are getting them registered this morning for school too".
"Oh, I had a dream about Sheryl last night", Clarence said.
"Clarence has been having strange dreams lately", Marge said to Al.
"I'll say. This one was strange too", Clarence noted, then explained, "In my dream, it was the year 2010, January 13th which was the day after I was born. I dreamed my mom and dad let Sheryl hold me for a minute. And Sheryl was all grown up and kind of old...and already married with grand cubs too".
"Well, Sheryl will become 59 years old in the year 2010", Al mentioned.
"Precognitive dream?", Marge asked Al.
"According to scientific principal, precognitive dreams aren't possible", Al stated, then admitted, "But then, until several years ago, time travel was deemed as not possible either".
"Who would have ever thought ten years ago", Marge replied.
"I wish summers were longer", Donna interjected. "Summer is my favorite time of year".
"Yea, I know. Summer's almost over too", Jed replied to Donna.
Marge suggested to Al, "With only two weeks left to the cubs' summer vacation, what do you say we all do something later today".
Al mentioned, "I figure if we get the cubs' school registration done early enough, we can head over to the Rio Grande and do some fishing".
"Awright! Yeah!", Rex proclaimed.
"It's been a while since we've been fishing", Jed added.
"I'm gonna catch me a whopper", Donna boasted.
By now, Clarence had been already aware that in 1960, the Rio Grand wasn't half dried up due to agricultural demands for water like the way he knew it was someday to be in the 21st Century.
Clarence then asked, "If I catch a really big fish, can we get it mounted for me to take back to 2018 with me?"
"That all depends how soon the time machine is ready", Al replied, then said to Clarence, "But let's talk about that if you do catch a fish worth mounting".
"Okay", Clarence replied.
Marge then suggested, "After we've finished breakfast, you cubs go get the rods and reels in the station wagon. And be sure not to forget the tackle box, nets and cooler".
"Oh boy, were goin' fishing", Rex proclaimed as the other cubs cheered.
It was about that time that regular programing began on KSWS-TV.

As the family were still having breakfast, KSWS-TV morning weather reported on a tropical storm that had developed in the Bahamas the day before.

"Here is an update on that tropical wave that has been in The Bahamas and the Greater Antilles for the past several days. Yesterday at 2:00 pm Eastern Time it had developed into a tropical storm just off of Cat Island, Bahamas, and is now named Cleo. That's noon time Mountain Time. Since Cleo's development, it has been rapidly strengthening yesterday evening and during the night as it heads northeast across the Atlantic Ocean. The United States Weather Bureau predicts the possibility of Cleo becoming a hurricane, but so far poses no threat to land...At noon, we'll have further updates on tropical storm Cleo".

When a commercial break came on, Donna said, "Gee. I hope Cleo doesn't come here".
As the boys chuckled, Al assured Donna, "That storm is in the Atlantic Ocean. And as far away from the east coast as they say it's going, it's most likely about 3,000 miles from here".
Marge also affirmed, "Even if Cleo did start heading in our direction, it would never make it across all the land it has to cross over to get here".
"See? Cleo can't get us, Donna", Rex added.
"Well, now that we got Cleo out of the way, we haven't really discussed what to get Sheryl for her birthday tomorrow", Marge mentioned.
"Yea, that's right. Sheryl turns nine tomorrow", Al affirmed. "And we've been invited...So, any ideas anyone?"
"A go-kart like Ryan Lynx and us got!", Donna cheerfully proclaimed as Jed and Rex laughed and Clarence chuckled.
Al and Marge even got a chuckle from Donna's suggestion.
"So what's wrong with that?", Donna asked the boys.
"For a birthday party, a go-kart would be going a bit overboard", Al assured Donna.
"Besides, the allowance money you cubs get each week wouldn't buy a go-kart", Marge added.
"That might buy the steering wheel to one", Al jested.
"I know Sheryl has said she would like to have some new furniture for her dollhouse", Jed mentioned.
"I could get her that", said Donna.
"That sounds more reasonable", Marge confirmed.
"I know of a cool car model I saw at Ted Badger's Hobby Shop", Jed exclaimed.
"You're shopping for a girl's gift. Remember?", Al reminded Rex.
"Oh yea. That's right", Rex replied.
"What about an aquarium and fish.", Jed suggested. "I've heard Sheryl say how cool that is".
"I've once heard Frank mention she'd like to have one", Al said, then asked Jed, "But do you have enough money saved up for an aquarium and fish?"
"And you'll need an air pump and accessories to go with it", Marge added.
"I can go in on it with Jed, and I think that would be enough", Rex interjected.
"Rex and I together might have enough", said Jed.
"If you boys are short, I can pitch in and it can be from all three of us", Al suggested.
"Oh cool", said Rex.
"Thanks, Dad", said Jed.
"What about you Clarence?", Marge asked.
"The times we been to the drug store in Vaughn to get pictures developed, I've always noticed that really big teddy bear", Clarence said. "I think she would like that".
"If it's the one I think you're talking about, that big teddy bear is really gorgeous", Marge said to Clarence.
"Yea, but I don't have enough allowance money saved up for it", Clarence mentioned.
"What about if I pitch in, and it can be from both of us?", Marge suggested.
"Yea, we can do that", Clarence replied. "Thanks, Mom.
"Sheryl's birthday party will be in the evening tomorrow", Al mentioned. "So that will give you and the cubs plenty of time to go out and get the gifts while I'm at work".
As Al and Marge discussed final details on the plan of the day, the cubs continued having conversation about looking forward to Sheryl's birthday party tomorrow. During which time, Al and Marge noticed the white 1960 Ford Falcon owned by Horizon Innovations pulling up into the drive way.
"That's Woodrow Raccoon", Al mentioned as Woodrow was the first to step out of the car.
"He's got others with him", Marge added as Johnny Ferret, Poindexter Fox and Harold Wolf, who was driving, stepped out of the car.
"Could it be the time machine?", Jed asked.
"I don't know. I'll go see what it's about", Al said as he got up from the table to go to the front door.
Just before Al met the other scientists at the opened front door, Woodrow Raccoon knocked on the door jam and announced, "Hello. Al. Marge".
"Hi there, Woodrow. What's up?", Al greeted Woodrow as Johnny, Harold and Poindexter came walking up.
"Oh hi there, Al", Woodrow replied. "Don't worry about registering Clarence for the '60-'61 school year. The time machine is fully operational and ready to go".
"Oh, that's certainly good news", Al replied.
"Wow!, Rex exclaimed along with everyone's excitement..
"So Clarence is going home", said Marge.
"I'll be going back to my original family again today?", Clarence proclaimed with excitement.
"We tested the machine during the night and the repairs are a success", Poindexter Fox confirmed. "It's ready to take Clarence back to 2018".
"We all are certainly surprised", Al mentioned.
"We were equally surprised to find out the machine worked successfully when Johnny Ferret returned in it a while before dawn a couple of hours ago", Harold Wolf replied.
"I traveled back to 1950 and stayed there for three hours", Johnny Ferret added.
"I don't mind telling anyone those three hours of uncertainty last night before Johnny returned seemed like an eternity" said Harold Wolf.
"I felt a little uneasy at first myself ", Johnny Ferret admitted. "But once I saw it got me to 1950 without a snag, I was confident it would get me back to 1960 okay".
"Had it not got you back, you'd be 37 years old today instead of the age 27 you are now", Harold said to Johnny.
"So would there have been two of you?", Rex asked. "A 37 year old Johnny and a 27 year old Johnny if the machine didn't get you back?"
"No it wouldn't", Harold Wolf explained to Rex as the other scientists got a laugh from Rex's question. "There can't be two of anyone or anything occupying the same place in time. Just like two objects can not occupy the same space geographically".
"So that means...?", Rex interjected.
"I was the one who traveled to 1950 last night", Johnny Ferret spoke up. "I can explain it to the cubs better".
"Well then go ahead, Johnny", Harold Wolf replied.
Johnny then explained to the cubs, "When I went back to 1950 last night, the geographical location was set for my Mom and Dad's house. Mom and Dad were ten years younger than they are now. Before I arrived in the time machine I had been 17 years old in 1950 working on my hot rod Ford in my parents' driveway. Upon my arrival to 1950, I was suddenly 27 years old stepping out of the time machine. I was no longer there as a 17 year old. Three hours later when I left to come back to 1960, the year 1950 was again the time when I was 17 years old...Thus through the years I am now 27".
"Ohhhh, so that's how it works", Jed pondered in amazement.
"What did your mom and dad think back then", Donna asked,
"Yea, did they think you were a stranger who kidnapped you when you were 17?", Rex asked.
"We knew ahead for me to bring pictures and information with me to prove to my parents it was me", Johnny answered. "They eventually recognized me anyway. And the time machine where it landed in the back yard helped to convince them too".
"Johnny Ferret's parents are at the time machine landing site off of Highway 54 now with Poindexter's Uncle Nick and Jamar Mongoose", said Woodrow Raccoon, "Once we all get to the laboratory, Johnny's parents can give you a first paw account of Johnny's visit ten years ago".
"Well, there goes the fishing trip", Jed remarked in jest.
"May be true", Al replied. "But this now became a priority".
"Oh well. Raining on fishing trip plans today was bad timing I guess", Woodrow Raccoon jested as everyone chuckled.
"I can still catch a big fish in 2018", Clarence proclaimed as everyone again chuckled.
As everyone was going to prepare to head out to the time machine, Harold Wolf mentioned, "We have to go to the lab first so you can get a company vehicle. Remember we can't have personal vehicles out there".
Yea, that's right", Al affirmed.
"I have to admit, the tail end of my Edsel being visible there from the highway two weeks ago got that policy going again", Woodrow Raccoon admitted.
"Well stop by and pick up Johnny's parents on the way", Harold Wolf said, then instructed, "Al. You, Marge and the cubs go ahead and head straight out to the lab".
"Okay, Harold. We'll meet you there", Al replied.
"Clarence will need to attend a brief instructional session while we're at the lab", Woodrow Raccoon mentioned.
"But when do I get to go to the time machine?", Clarence asked with eager enthusiasm.
"Not before you get instructions on how to properly operate it", Harold Wolf replied to Clarence Coyote. "You're not ready for that trip until you know what you're doing".
"Not knowing what you were doing is what got you stranded here in 1960 in the first place", Woodrow Raccoon reminded Clarence.
"Jamar Mongoose and my uncle are still at the site to keep curiosity seekers from meddling with the machine", Poindexter Fox informed Al and Marge. "We had to tear the utility building down last night that was built to conceal the machine in order for it to take off".
"We'll send reliefs for them later this morning", Harold assured Poindexter. "I know we all had a long night last night".
With that all said, Al turned off the TV as Marge collected up the plates of unfinished breakfast to get the dished in the sink.
"Well see you all at the lab", Harold Wolf said to Al and Marge as he and the other scientists headed back to the company car.
After closing the windows around the house, Al, Marge and the cubs got in their 1960 Plymouth Fury Station Wagon to head on down Route 3 to the laboratory complex where Al works in Encino.

Mom and Cubs on a Day Outing by moyomongoose

By this time, Harold Wolf and the three other scientists already headed up Highway 54 to stop at the time machine landing site and pick up Johnny Ferret's parents...Despite Ford Falcons being small cars for the day and time, they were design to be able to seat 6. Thus it still was not really too crowded with Harold Wolf driving, Woodrow Raccoon and Poindexter Fox riding on the front seat, and Johnny Ferret sitting on the back seat with his mom Nora and dad Elliot.
Just before leaving the time machine site, Harold Wolf assured Jamar Mongoose and Professor Nickolas Fox, "After I get back to the lab, I'll send Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval to relieve you two guarding the time machine".
"Yea, we are getting tired", Nickolas Fox commented.
"It's been a long night for all of us", Harold Wolf replied. "I myself will still have to give Clarence some instructions on how to operate the central energy column levers before I get some sleep".
"We have Clarence's departure time set for nine o'clock tonight", Nickolas Fox mentioned. "That should give me plenty enough time to get some sleep, then I could go over those instructions again with him this evening".
"If we all all get some sleep this morning and early afternoon, we all should be refreshed by this evening", Woodrow Raccoon mentioned.
Realizing that staying around talking is getting no one any sleep, Harold Wolf mentioned, "Well nothing's getting done sitting here. I'll have those reliefs here for you two shortly".
With that said, Harold Wolf had Woodrow Raccoon walk up to the highway and check for approaching cars. Being no cars were coming, Woodrow motioned the all clear. Harold Wolf then drove the Falcon from behind the rock formation to the roadside to let Woodrow get in, then they were headed to the lab.

By the time Harold Wolf and the others arrived in the Ford Falcon, Al, Marge and the cubs were already waiting in the laboratory workshop where Al works. Al and Marge along with Greg Otter and Lenard Wolverine were having coffee and conversation while waiting for Harold and the others.
At one point, Greg Otter noticed Rex and Donna meandering around the workshop area and made mention of it.
"Rex. Donna. Get over her. You know better than to mill around here", Al called them down.
Greg Otter's son, Danny was also there, and told Rex and Donna, "I've started an apprenticeship here Monday. And although I have a confidential level security clearance, even I'm not allowed to just go anywhere I want in here".
"Danny's right", Al affirmed to Rex and Donna. "So what makes you cubs think you can run anywhere you want?"
About that time, Harold Wolf came into the workshop, accompanied with Woodrow Raccoon, Poindexter Fox, Johnny Ferret, and Johnny's mom and dad...And you could tell they were tired from a long night of making final repairs to the time machine, then running the three hour test on it. Johnny Ferret's parents were at the site during the night to know if Johnny makes it back to 1960.
Johnny Ferret's dad mentioned, "You know...Now that Johnny had traveled back in time to see us ten years ago, it feels weird that I've known about that time machine since 1950".
"That was before any of us ever thought of designing a time machine", Harold Wolf mentioned.
"Kind of makes us feel privileged, Elliot", Johnny's mom said to his dad. "We knew about that machine before those scientists who designed ever it knew about it".
"It sure does, Nora", Johnny's dad replied. "But that's because we got a glimpse into the future ten years ago".
Johnny's mom, Nora Ferret, then asked, "Now if the time machine never got Johnny back here. would he be gone today".
"I wondered that myself ", Johnny's dad, Elliot said.
Harold Wolf then explained, "According to theory, Johnny's absents among us in this day and time would have been only for a few years. Remember, had Johnny not made it back, he would have gone through the 1950s with you all over again, but being ten years older. In a few years, Johnny's existence would have caught up through the time continual to where a few years from now he would finally come into synchronization with where he should be in time as though he had never made the trip. But he would still would have been ten years older at any given time than he would otherwise be.
"What about the time machine if something went wrong and that had happened", Marge asked out of concern that Clarence could have been stranded in the present day and time if things had gone wrong.
"The same thing would hold true with the time machine", Harold Wolf assured Marge. "Though we would have been waiting a few years to see it again, which at such time we would have had to try to find out what went wrong with it".
"And likewise the time machine would be much older in such a case", Poindexter Fox mentioned.
"In such a scenario, Clarence would have been with us a few years longer", Woodrow Raccoon mentioned.
"Had that been the case, we would also have hoped nothing would have happened to the time machine from 1950 until such time we saw it again", Lenard Wolverine added.
"Wow, all that happening sure would be a full blown life changer", Danny Otter mentioned.
"Well, at least it didn't come to any of that during the test", Woodrow Raccoon mentioned.
"That's right. We are so grateful for that", Harold Wolf replied as everyone agreed.
Woodrow then reminded everyone who were out at the test site during the night, "We should be getting some rest if we're going to be alert when Clarence leaves this evening".
"You're right", Harold replied, then instructed everyone who were at the landing site, "It's now zero eight twenty (8:20 in the morning). Go on home and get some rest, and report to the time machine landing site at twenty hundred hours (8:00 at night) this evening".
As the night crew was leaving, Harold Wolf added, "Oh, and we can drive our personal cars out there tonight. With the time machine leaving tonight, cars being seen from the highway will no longer be an issue".
Johnny Ferret's dad asked, "Would it be okay for Nora and I to be there tonight?"
"You're welcome to if you want, Elliot", Harold Wolf assured Johnny's parents.
"Can we be there too?", Donna asked.
"You should", Harold Wolf answered Donna. "After all, he's been your step brother".
After those who were on the night team left to go home and get some sleep, Poindexter Fox waited around for his uncle, Professor Nickolas Fox to come back from guarding the time machine.
"You're not sleepy too?", Clarence asked Poindexter Fox.
Poindexter replied to Clarence, "I'm waiting for my uncle to get here to ride with me to my house. He rode with me here in my car last night".
"Oh yea. I didn't know that", Clarence admitted.
Harold Wolf then phoned the workshop building where Gaylord Serval works to have him come over.
Once Gaylord arrived to the door of the workshop, Al opened the door to let him in...Scientists and other employees don't usually have keypad entry codes to other buildings they don't normally work in.
"I take it it's the relief detail we arranged yesterday", Gaylord Serval said as he came on in.
"It is", Harold Wolf replied, then instructed Greg Otter, "Here are the keys to the Falcon. You and Gaylord be sure to get a water keg and cups to bring out to the time machine landing site. It's going to be hot and windy today. And bring a roll of toilet paper in case you need it. You do know behind the rock formation is out of view of the highway..."
"Yeah. Nobody wants to be Mr. Sticky Butt", Rex interrupted as the other cubs laughed.
"Rex", Al called Rex down. "Harold Wolf is trying to give instructions to Greg and Gaylord. Do you mind?"
"Oh. Sorry, Dad", Rex replied.
"You cubs need to behave. And laughing about it doesn't help", Marge added.
"Thank you", Harold Wolf said to Al and Marge, then continued instructing Greg and Gaylord, "Okay...As you know, you'll be relieving Jamar Mongoose and Professor Nickolas Fox from guarding the time machine. After you get there, Jamar and Nickolas will be driving both the Falcon and the panel truck back here. Ward Lynx's crew will need the panel truck on a test site today, and we'll need the Falcon here at lab complex".
"Got it", Gaylord Serval acknowledged as Greg Otter agreed.
Harold Wolf then reminded Greg and Gaylord, "Lenard Wolverine and Calvin Fox will be relieving Gaylord and you at fourteen hundred hours (2:00 pm) this afternoon".
"Okay", Greg Otter replied as he and Gaylord Serval went to fill a keg with ice and water.
"I presume we have a way of getting in touch if we need to...being we won't have a vehicle out there?", Gaylord mentioned as he approached the ice maker.
"We've set up a long range, two way radio out there last night", Harold Wolf assured Gaylord Serval.
As Greg and Gaylord began making preparations to head on out, Al and Marge gave the cubs a lecture that they were not there to act up and misbehave".
Five minutes later, Greg Otter backed the Ford Falcon to the door outside the building and opened the trunk lid. Then Gaylord placed the five gallon keg of ice water and package of paper cups in the trunk. And after making sure they had a roll of toilet paper with them (just in case), Greg closed the trunk lid and they headed out to relieve Jamar Mongoose and Nickolas Fox from guarding the time machine.
Five minutes later, Greg Otter backed the Ford Falcon to the door outside the building and opened the trunk lid. Then Gaylord placed the five gallon keg of ice water and package of paper cups in the trunk. And after making sure they had a roll of toilet paper with them (just in case), Greg closed the trunk lid and they headed out to relieve Jamar Mongoose and Nickolas Fox from guarding the time machine.
Harold Wolf then told the Coyote Family, "Before I head on home myself, I should get Clarence acquainted with the controls to the central energy column. That has to be regulated manually while the machine is in transit".
"Bet you didn't know that when you fooled around with it in 2018", Lenard Wolverine said to Clarence.
Clarence had no come back for Lenard's remark.
"Well, let's get started", Harold said as he rolled out a technical drawing showing the machine's three regulator levers at the top of the central energy column.
"Uh, Harold. That tech drawing does contain classified material you know", Lenard Wolverine said.
"A cub his age can't interpret this drawing anyway", Harold assured Lenard. "Clarence does need to see an accurate depiction of the regulator levers while I'm explaining things to him.
Harold then called Clarence over, pointed out the levers to him on the drawing, and explained to him, "These three levers are the controls you are going to be concerned with on your way back to 2018. You will not, nor will you have the need to, touch any other controls, except for a large red button on the left control console. And you'll press that only one time to set the machine into motion".
"I remember that big red button", said Clarence. "Just before I left 2018, I wondered what it does, and I pushed it. That's when the door closed and the machine took off ".
"The machine must have been in stand-by loop mode", Harold Wolf surmised.
"That's what it sounds like", Lenard Wolverine agreed.
"When you pushed that button, that's what set the machine into motion", Harold said to Clarence.
Harold then explained to Clarence, "Now...The center lever controls the thickness of the center core beam in the column. And that should be maintained between one and a quarter inch and two and a quarter inches in diameter".
"Well, how can you measure it", Clarence asked.
"I realize it's impossible to measure it. So, you do know about how big a shovel handle is, don't you?", Harold asked Clarence.
"Yea, I know the size of a shovel handle", Clarence answered.
"If you keep that core beam the size of a shovel handle, that will work", Harold  Wolf explained to Clarence. "Just envision a shovel handle"
Harold then continued, "You move the center lever to the right if you have to increase size of the beam and to the left to reduce it. And it's important you move the levers slowly and do not jerk them. The size of that beam never changes rapidly anyway".
"What controls the colour?", Clarence asked.
"The colours in the energy column are always changing", Harold answered Clarence. "The colours don't matter".
"Okay", Clarence acknowledged.
"Does that beam ever look like a rainbow?" Donna asked Harold Wolf as Jed and Rex chuckled.
"Donna, don't interrupt. This is very important", Al got on to Donna.
"Yes it definitely is", Harold affirmed.
"The next cub who interrupts Harold Wolf goes out to the car", Marge warned Donna, Jed and Rex".
That got the attention of the cubs, thus they were then on good behavior after the warning.
Harold then continued to instruct Clarence, "Now we get to the two outer levers. They control the opposing streams of energy bands. The left lever controls the speed in which the streams of bands travel up and down the column, and the right lever controls how far apart the bands are spaced".
"I don't know if I can remember all that", Clarence admitted.
"Well have an instruction sheet printed up for you to take along for reference" Harold assured Clarence. "What I'm doing now if giving you an introductory to controlling the central energy column".
Clarence pondered a few seconds, then proclaimed. "I just thought of something".
"That is?", Harold Wolf enquired.
Clarence suggested, "Couldn't one of you scientists take me to 2018 in the time machine, then come back to 1960 after dropping me off?"
"That would have been a good idea, Clarence", Harold Wolf admitted, but then explained, "However, in the compromised condition the machine is still in, there's a risk that the machine may fail to begin a return journey back to 1960, and leave who ever takes you to 2018 being stranded there in your day and time".
Lenard then added, "Not only that. "If who ever takes you to 2018 can get back here to 1960, who's going to take the machine back to 2018 where it belongs?"
"Oh...I guess I didn't think about that", Clarence admitted.
"You need to get familiar with these central energy column controls", Harold assured Clarence. "You'll have to pilot this machine solo".
"When Johnny Ferret went to 1950, didn't he come back okay", Rex asked.
"Johnny Ferret was lucky", Harold replied to Rex.
"I hope the machine works for me", Clarence said.
"Yea, we are concerned about that", Marge affirmed.
"If it doesn't, Clarence will still be with us like he was for the past six months anyway. Nothing gained, nothing lost", Harold Wolf assured Marge. "We would just have to do more work to get the machine working again if that were to be the case".
Lenard Wolverine mentioned, "Even if the machine were to go into emergency mode during Clarence's trip back home, it would set down in a year between now and 2018".
"If that were to go wrong, Marge and I could take Clarence back in during what ever year that would happen", Al further assured.
"Or one of us could if we were already grown up and married", Jed jested.
"That would seem strange", Lenard further jested.
"Well as for now, we do know the time machine works", Harold Wolf assured everyone.
Harold then continued, "Okay, Clarence. Now with that out of the way...The right lever regulates the spacing of the bands surrounding the core beam. The spacing between each band in both the ascending and descending streams is eight inches with a tolerance of two and a half inches give or take. It can be five and a half to twelve and a half inches".
"What's that mean?", Clarence asked. "I mean, ascending and descending?"
"That means the rings going up, and the rings going down", Harold replied, then assured Clarence, "Before you leave tonight, we'll mark the column shell every eight inches with a magic marker to show you how far apart the rings should be".
"That would make it easier for me", Clarence said.
"We figured it would when we thought of that idea", Harold Wolf replied, then continued, "Now if you have to bring the ring spacing closer, you move the right lever in toward the center. To spread the spacing, you move the lever out toward the right".
Clarence then asked, "What do I do if the rings going up are getting too far apart, at the same time the rings going down start getting too close?...Or the other way around?"
"The rings will never do that", Harold Wolf assured Clarence. "They can't. Those rings are regulated in unison".
"Now for the left lever", Harold Wolf continued. "That regulates the speed of the rings. If you have to speed up the rings, you move the left lever out toward the left. To slow the rings down, you move the lever in toward the center. The prescribed timing for the rings is for a ring to move eight inches every one and a half seconds. But you do have a tolerance that allows for a time of nine tenths of a second to two seconds for a ring to move eight inches...You have some play room there on that one".
"I might need to bring a stop watch with me, huh", Clarence mentioned.
"I was just getting to that. You won't need one", Harold said to Clarence. "If you count casually, one, and two, and three, and four, and one, and two, and three, and four, a ring passing a magic marker spacing on each count will pit the timing close enough to every one and a half seconds".
Harold Wolf then had Clarence say a time count.
"Okay", Clarence replied, then counted, "One, and two, and three, and four. How's that?"
"You have to slow it down a little bit", Harold said to Clarence.
Clarence then tried it again, but this time a bit slower.
"That's perfect", Harold said. "If you do a count at that pace while watching a ring pass the magic marker marks about every half a minute, that will keep good tabs on the speed of the rings".
"I'm still trying to remember all of that", Clarence said.
"You won't remember it all first time. Nobody does", Harold Wolf assured Clarence, then said, "We're going to go over it again".
Al then suggested, "It might be a good idea to mark the ceiling of the time machine with that magic marker near the levers with directional arrows worded, faster, slower, more space, closer space, increase core beam and decrease core beam".
"I have to admit, Al. I never thought of that", Harold Wolf admitted. "That's good thinking".
"That would make it real easy for me", Clarence proclaimed.
"It would", Harold agreed.
Harold Wolf then explained to Clarence, "Later this morning, you'll go with your family and Lenard Wolverine out to the time machine landing site. Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval are out there now. What they will do is disengage the drive systems of the time machine so you can practice on the actual energy column levers in the machine".
"Wow! That makes me feel like I'm getting closer to my home day and time already", Clarence proclaimed.
"Practically speaking, you now are", Marge assured Clarence.
"I know that has to be a good feeling", Danny Otter said to Clarence after being quiet for a while.
"It sure is", Clarence replied to Danny.
"Even though Clarence will make mistakes at first practicing on the energy column, it won't damage anything as long as the machine's drive systems are disengaged", Harold Wolf affirmed. "As for the energy column, though it's a reactor core, it's not readily prone to meltdown like nuclear power plants are".
Marge then expressed concern to Harold, "Now that you mentioned reactor core, that concerns me about having Clarence being careful of radiation".
Harold Wolf assured Marge Coyote, "It's nothing to worry about, Marge. The clear casing of that energy column is heavily impregnated with hydrogen atoms. That blocks any outgoing radiation down to the same safe level of what emits from a television set".
Harold then again went over the operating instructions with Clarence, then had Clarence recite them. Clarence got about 80% of the instructions right. However, this was a situation where even 99% right would have the same catastrophic results as 0% right.
Harold then assured Clarence that he would catch on to it much better out at the time machine landing site when he gets actual, paws on, practical application of regulating the time machines central energy column.
"You'll be able to actually observe how the core beam and energy rings react to how you operate the levers", Harold assured Clarence.
About that time, Jamar Mongoose returned in the Ford Falcon with Professor Nickolas Fox following in the 1957 Ford panel truck from being relieved at the time machine landing site. Lenard Wolverine opened the entry door let Jamar Mongoose and Nickolas Fox in being they didn't have an entry code for that particular building.
"It's been a night", Nickolas Fox said upon entering the building.
"That it has", Harold Wolf agreed. "I've been going over the operating instructions of the central energy column with Clarence".
"Has he learned anything?", Nickolas Fox asked as Jamar Mongoose set down the keys to the Falcon on a project table.
"He's making progress", Harold replied.
"I hope he also has learned to leave stuff alone he has no business messing with when he gets back to 2018", said Lenard Wolverine.
"Oh that's for sure", Jamar Mongoose agreed. "I know you guys have worked on that time machine a long time even before my team was called in on it".
Jamar then said to Clarence, "I know you're glad to be going back to your home time era though".
"Oh I am", said Clarence. "I'll miss everyone here I know, but I'll be so happy to finally go home".
"Can't blame you there", Jamar Mongoose replied.
"Here are the keys to the panel truck Ward Lynx and his crew will need this afternoon", Nickolas Fox said to Harold Wolf.
"I can take them to Nathan Collie", Poindexter offered.
"We appreciate it", Harold Wolf replied as Nickolas Fox pawed the panel truck keys to his nephew, Poindexter.
Once Poindexter returned from turning the keys in, he proclaimed, "Ready, Uncle".
"We'll see you all at the time machine landing site at twenty hundred tonight (8:00 pm)", Nickolas Fox said as he and his nephew, Poindexter, began leaving to go to Poindexter's house.
"Same here", said Jamar Mongoose as he also left. "I've been up since twenty two thirty (10:30 pm) last night".
"I too need to head on home", said Harold Wolf. "If I don't get some sleep, I'll have been up for 24 hours when Clarence leaves tonight".
"I guess we might as well head out to the landing site right now", Lenard Wolverine said to Harold Wolf.
"You could. Now would be the time", Harold replied to Lenard, then said to Al, "I don't want any personal cars out at that site just yet. So Marge, you and the cubs take the Land Rover out there".
"Carolyn Bear's team has the Land Rover out at White Sands today", Lenard Wolverine reminded Harold Wolf.
"Yea, I just about forgot about that", Harold Wolf replied, then said to Al, ""Well, Al. The micro-bus is available. Go ahead and take the micro-bus".
"Okay, Harold", Al replied as he started on his way to the administrative building to see Nathan Collie about getting the keys to the company owned Volkswagen micro-bus.
"And you all might want to bring another water keg", Harold suggested. "With Greg and Gaylord, they'll be nine of you out there".
"I'll take the Falcon being that I'll be coming back by fourteen hundred to get Calvin Fox", Lenard Wolverine said as he grabbed the keys to the Ford Falcon.
"Alright, you can use the Falcon for now", Harold agreed. "But after Calvin Fox and you relieve Greg and Gaylord this afternoon, the Falcon has to stay here until it's needed for your relief ".
Harold then exclaimed, "Oh, hold up a minute, Al. There's still plenty of time before Clarence leaves tonight, and I've thought one thing".
"That is?", Al asked as he hesitated from stepping out of the workshop to go get the Volkswagen micro-bus keys.
Harold Wolf then explained, "After Clarence leaves tonight, there will have to be an explanation for his sudden disappearance. The school board and county courthouse are going to wonder what happened to him".
"Holy smokes. You're right, Harold", Al exclaimed. "No one there knows about the time machine".
"Lenard stated the obvious, "They're surely going to assume that Clarence had died, or met up with foul play and was disposed of ".
"We can't have them think that", Marge retorted.
Yea, they'll be questions we won't have answers for", Al replied.
"Couldn't I leave a note telling what actually happened?", Clarence asked.
"It wouldn't work", Al said to Clarence. "Anyone can leave leave a note".
Harold Wolf composed his thoughts for a few seconds then said, "Okay...Lenard. You'll be bringing the Falcon back here before fourteen hundred (2:00 pm) to get Calvin Fox so you and him go out to the site and relieve Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval".
"Okay", Lenard acknowledged.
Harold then instructed Al and Marge, "Al. Marge. After Greg and Gaylord drop the Falcon off here, have them ride out with you to the Torrance County Courthouse and try to invite anyone you can to attend Clarence's departure".
"You mean like officials and the alike", Al replied.
"Exactly", said Harold. "And that's why I'm having two other scientists go with you all, so as to lend some validity. There's enough room for Greg and Gaylord to ride with you all in that micro-bus".
"When we get back here to the lab, we can take our car", Al offered. "It's a nine passenger station wagon".
"No, Al. I don't want to do that", Harold Wolf insisted. "It would be better if you all showed up in a vehicle belonging to Horizon Innovations. Being in an official vehicle would lend more credibility".
"You got a point there", Harold affirmed. "We'll take the micro-bus to Estancia".
Harold continued, "And if you can possibly get them to invite Clarence's school teacher and principal out there tonight, then do so. But don't tell them anything about a time machine, portable phones and laptops just yet. They'll find that out when they get out there".
"Okay. We'll try", Al replied.
"I hope they think we're cuckoo", Donna said.
"Okay, Donna. that's enough", Marge mentioned to Donna.
"If you can't convince them, give the rest of us a phone call", Harold further instructed. "We'll get up out of bed this afternoon to go talk to them if we have to".
"I'm sure Professor Nickolas Fox can convince some educators to show up out there tonight", Lenard Wolverine mentioned.
"That's what I've been thinking...with his renowned reputation as a professor ", Harold Wolf agreed.
"Just think", said Jed. "When we start school again, we'll be celebrities".
"Being had a stepbrother from the future, I would say so", Danny Otter replied as everyone agreed. "You all will be the coolest cubs in school".
"Well, we need to get to it", Harold Wolf said. "I'll see you all at the landing site tonight".
As Al went to get the micro-bus keys from Nathan Collie at the admin building, Harold Wolf contacted Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval on the long range radio to notify them that Clarence was to get some practice on the central energy column controls, then that they were accompany them to the courthouse with Al and the family after they get off of their guard shift.
Harold Wolf then gave Danny Otter the rest of the morning and afternoon off.
"There won't be anyone else in this department for a few hours", Harold Wolf said to Danny Otter. "And with your security clearance still being low level confidential, I can't leave you here alone".
"That's cool", Danny replied, then asked, "See you at the site at eight then?".
"See you at twenty hundred", Harold Wolf affirmed just before Danny left for the day.
"I got the micro-bus keys", Al announced as he returned with the keys.
"We're gonna ride a bus out there?", Donna asked.
"It's a little Volkswagen bus", Jed said to Donna.
"I got the water keg", Lenard Wolverine said as he brought out a five gallon keg of ice water.
"One more thing, Lenard", Harold Wolf said as he pawed a thick nib magic marker and a tape measure to him. "Let's go ahead and mark the ceiling with the operating directions like we discussed, and the eight inch intervals on the column shell".
"Okay, I got it", Lenard replied as he took the marker and tape measure.
Harold then said to Lenard, "Don't mark the directions on the ceiling of the machine right away. I want Clarence to get familiar with the controls first with out relying on directions marked on the ceiling. Then once Clarence has a good grasp on it, go ahead and mark the ceiling with the directions".
Harold Wolf then announced, "I'm outta here. See you all tonight".
After Harold left, Rex asked, "What about toilet paper?"
"Yea, we don't wanna be Mr. and Mrs. Sticky Butts if we have to go potty", Donna said as the cubs laughed.
"We'll have the micro-bus with us", Al assured the cubs. "If anyone has to potty, we can make a run in it to Duran".
"Come one. Let's go", Marge said to the cubs. "Lenard and your dad can't leave until we're out".
As Lenard set the water keg down by a curbside to pick it up in the Falcon, Al, Marge and the cubs made their way to the micro-bus.
As the Coyote Family approached the micro-bus, Donna mentioned, "It's the kind that has the little windows above the regular windows. That's cool".
"Wow. this is our first time riding in a Volkswagen bus", Rex proclaimed as they arrived to the micro-bus.
"Something different", Al replied as he unlocked the doors.
Al had to be designated as the driver being that it's a company vehicle, and Al works for Horizon Innovations. Clarence got in on the middle of the front bench seat, and Marge got in on the passenger's side.
"This is a neat little bus", Jed said he, Rex and Donna got in on the next bench seat by the side double doors.
"It has room, but I still like my station wagon", Marge said.
"Where is the motor?", Clarence asked.
"It's in the back", Al answered.
"In the back?", Clarence asked as he turned to look.
"It's under the rear part of the floor", Jed said.
"Oh I see where the floor is raised", said Clarence. "I always thought the motor on these vans was up front, under a box between the front seats".
Being that Ford, Dodge and Chevy vans were not yet a thing in 1960, Al replied, "No one's ever seen a van built that way before".
Clarence replied, "I remember in my day and time, I've seen some really old vans that were made in the 1960s. But I guess they're not made yet in this day and time. Those vans have the motor between the front seats".
"I'm sure we are yet to see them when they get built", Al surmised.
Al then depressed the accelerator petal and pulled the choke knob on the dash, then cranked it up.
"Sounds almost like a lawn mower", Donna commented as the micro-bus started.
"Here we go", Al said as they pull up behind Lenard Wolverine who was driving the Falcon.
Lenard stopped beside the water keg long enough to put it in the trunk, then proceeded out of the lab complex with the Coyote Family following him in the micro-bus. It was a short way south on Highway 285, then left onto Highway 60.
As they headed out on Highway 60 heading out of Encino toward Vaughn, the cubs began to remark how sluggish and slow the micro-bus is.
"It doesn't have much power, does it, Dad?", Jed mentioned.
"It's only got a 25 horsepower motor", Al replied.
"I hope they never put this micro-bus in a race", Donna said as the other cubs laughed. "It'd loose".
Lenard Wolverine, realizing how slow Volkswagens were in that day and time, kept his speed in the Falcon down to 50 mph so the micro-bus can keep up.
"Is 50 all this thing can do?", Rex asked as he leaned forward from the mid seat to see the speedometer.
"That's all it's designed for", Al said.
As they rode east along Highway 60, the 50 mph speed they were traveling almost seemed like a crawl compared to the speeds the family were accustom to. On two occasions, they and Lenard Wolverine were passed by other cars...One was a 1959 Lincoln traveling at 70 mph, and the other was a 1958 Oldsmobile traveling at 80 mph.
"I've seen these vans before", said Clarence. "But I never knew they were this slow".
"It has enough to do jobs it's intended for", Al assured Clarence, then said. "Though I have to admit I do like some get up and go when I put the petal down".
"Same here", Marge added. "I like the room a micro bus has, but I'm not too thrilled with how slow they are".
"They should have called this the turtle bus", Rex remarked as the other cubs laughed.
Eventually, they arrived just south of Vaughn. Shortly after following Lenard Wolverine over the Southern Pacific Railroad crossing, they arrived at the T intersection of Highway 60 and and Highway 54.
At the intersection, Marge pointed out the stretch of vacant land across Highway 54, and said to Clarence, "Just think. After tonight, you'll see the home of your original family sitting on that piece of land".
Marge's statement made Clarence feel really good inside.
"I know you're looking forward to it", Al said to Clarence as Lenard up ahead turned south onto Highway 54.
"I sure am", Clarence replied as Al then turned south onto Highway 54.
As the Volkswagen micro-bus gradually accelerated following the Ford Falcon, Donna recited the line from the story, The Little Engine that Could, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can".
The cubs laughed as Rex chimed in with Donna on that line from the story.
"Well, it can anyway", Marge chuckled.
It wasn't long before they arrived to the time machine landing site. Drivers of both vehicles looked down the road ahead and checked the mirrors to be sure there were no other approaching. Had there been, the procedure would be to continue to Duran, then turn around and again approach the site. No other cars were in site, thus Lenard Wolverine and Al Coyote pulled off of Highway 54, then drove behind the large rock formation that hides the time machine from view of the highway. And there was the time machine, surrounded by the remains of the utility building that was torn down from around it the night before.
"Not much left to that utility building, is it?", Marge mentioned.
"It looks like a tornado hit it", Rex remarked. "And left the time machine there".
"The building already served it's purpose anyway of keeping curiosity seekers from seeing the machine", Al said as the family continued onto the landing site.
Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval had the door of the machine open so they could have a place to sit and relax in the doorway. And there was also the long range, two way radio that had been there since the night before.
"Greg Otter stepped down off the doorway of the machine, followed by Gaylord Serval. Then they walked over, stepping over the railroad tie foundation of what was the utility building, to greet Lenard Wolverine and the Coyote Family.
"Harold radioed us, and told us what's planned this afternoon", Greg Otter said to Al as everyone were getting out of the vehicles.
"Meanwhile, Clarence is to practice on controlling the central energy column", Lenard Wolverine mentioned to Greg and Gaylord as he got the water keg out of the trunk of the Falcon.
"After Harold informed us of that, Gaylord and I disengaged all the drive systems", Greg Otter said. "It's all ready for Clarence to have a go at it".
"I'm going to mark eight inch intervals on the column first", Lenard said as he set the water keg up inside the machine beside the keg that Greg and Gaylord had brought out earlier.
"Okay", Greg replied as Lenard went to the Falcon to get the magic marker and tape measure.
After stepping over into the railroad tie building foundation, Lenard climbed up into the machine and marked lines across the clear column shell every eight inches.
"You remember how to time when any given ring passed these marks?", Lenard called out to Clarence from inside the time machine.
"Yea, I do. By saying, one, and two, and three, and four", Clarence replied.
"Okay. How far apart will you keep the rings?", Lenard asked Clarence.
"I think Harold said as far apart as the marks you made are...I think", Clarence answered.
"There's no room for, I think, here", Lenard affirmed to Clarence. "Once you're traveling through time, all it takes is one mistake to put this machine in emergency mode with more damage done to it".
"So how far apart?", Clarence asked.
"You were correct", Lenard replied. "But I didn't feel comfortable about you being so unsure".
Greg Otter then told Clarence, "It's important you learn how to operate that energy column and do it right. You're going to be making this trip alone. Once you leave 1960, you're on you're own until you arrive in 2018. No one's going to be on this trip to help you".
What Greg Otter had to say hit Clarence with a sense of reality sinking in.
"During that trip, that machine will be in your complete control", Gaylord Serval reminded Clarence.
Lenard then asked Clarence, "How big will you maintain the core beam?"
"Harold told me the size of a shovel handle would work. I'm sure of that one", Clarence answered.
"That is correct", Lenard replied. "Come on in and have a go at it".
Clarence hesitated at first, then Al said, "Go on Clarence. Get up in the machine".
Clarence then walked over and climbed over the building foundation made of railroad ties, then to the time machine. Clarence then grabbed a paw rail, placed one foot in the step stirrup, then hoisted himself up into the time machine. As Clarence walked over to to the operator's seat where the three leavers were at the top of the energy column, Al, Marge and the cubs gathered around outside the door of the machine.
Noticing a large metal box like panel with many pin sockets and many vacuum tubes inside the machine, Clarence asked, "What is all that? I know it wasn't in here when I came to 1960".
"It's a vacuum tube assembly we had to design to replace components you destroyed on your way here to 1960", Lenard answered Clarence.
"Some of parts that got destroyed were of technology we don't yet have in this day and time", Greg otter added. "We were however able to design alternate components that perform the same function".
Clarence looked in awe at the large vacuum tube assembly, which was secured in place with industrial grade mounting rails, with bundles of many wires and several cables leading in and out of it. The wire bundles and cables from the vacuum tube assembly went into various places where the machine's wall access panels and a floor panel have been removed. There were also other 1960 technology components integrated into many of the machine's electrical circuit boards.
"Well, your concern on the way back to 2018 won't be that vacuum tube assembly", Lenard Wolverine said to Clarence. "It will be the central energy column and the controls to it.
"Oh, I was just hoping this machine with all that stuff will get me home okay", Clarence replied.
Gaylord Serval assured Clarence, "This machine carried Johnny Ferret to the year 1950 last night, then back here to 1960 before dawn this morning. It works".
Lenard then set some adjustments to the energy column to duplicate a power requirement load.
"I've now got the central energy column operating as though it was supplying power needs while the machine is in transit through time", Lenard Wolverine said, "This is what Clarence will experience keeping it in control".
"Well, Clarence. Give it a try", Al coached Clarence.
"Okay", Clarence said as he observed the energy column, then exclaimed, "Everything looks okay according to what Harold taught me".
"It won't stay that way for long", Lenard assured Clarence. "Conditions inside that energy column change slowly. It's not a quick thing...fortunately".
And sure enough, the bright lime green center core beam began to slowly increase in size.
"There you go Clarence", said Lenard. "Go ahead and correct it".
"The center lever", Clarence said as he grabbed the center lever, but moved it to the right.
"Correct lever, but the wrong way", Lenard exclaimed as the beam increased in size even larger.
"Oh yeah! That way!" Clarence exclaimed as he quickly thrust the lever all the way to the left.
"Don't jerk the lever!", Lenard exclaimed to Clarence.
Clarence by now got the core beam down to the size of a piece of twine, so he moved the lever all the way to the right.
"No! That's too far the other way!", Lenard exclaimed as the core beam expanded enough to entirely fill the space inside the column shell.
"The rings are gone", Clarence retorted.
"They'll come back", Lenard assured Clarence. "Now move the lever to the center".
Clarence moved the lever to center as instructed, and the core beam went down to a size slightly larger than a baseball bat.
"Hey the rings are back", Clarence said as the rings returned.
"Okay. Now move the lever to the left, but slowly", Lenard instructed Clarence.
As Clarence slowly moved the lever to the left, the core beam began to reduce in size.
"It's working", Clarence proclaimed.
"Keep it slow", Lenard instructed Clarence.
"Don't get too far ahead of the change in the size of the beam", Greg Otter interjected to Clarence.
"That's right. Move the lever patiently. Let the change catch up", Lenard added.
Greg Otter then reminded Clarence, "Now if this had been an actual journey through time when you did that, the machine would have begun to suffer damage and go into emergency mode".
"And you would have ended up in the 1970s, 1980s or who knows", Lenard added.
"Watch your rings", Gaylord Serval spoke up to Clarence as the outer rings began drawing closer together.
"Oh yeah", Clarence said as he slowly moved the left lever outward only to find out the the rings sped up a little.
"No wait. That's not it", Clarence exclaimed as he then slowly moved the right lever outward, thus putting the spacing of the outer rings back within operating specs.
"You got it", Lenard complimented Clarence, then asked, "Remember what you did to the ring speed?"
"Oh, when I pushed the left lever", said Clarence.
Clarence started to slowly move the left outward, and upon seeing it sped the rings up even more, he slowly moved the lever to center and the rings slowed down.
"Remember how to time them?", Al asked Clarence.
"Yea I do", Clarence replied, then recited while moving the lever, "One, and two, and three, and four. One, and two, and three, and four. One, and two, and three, and four".
Finally, the rings were moving at a speed within specs.
Gaylord Serval also mentioned to Clarence, "Now usually when you've adjusted the ring spacing, you'll have to recheck the ring speed. A change in spacing alters the count rhythm".
Then the core beam began to reduce in size, and was now a bright deep aqua colour.
"The beam is getting bluish", Clarence said.
"The colour is not an issue", Lenard said to Clarence. "Just fix the beam".
Clarence began to slowly move the center lever to the left only to see that the beam continued to shrink. Thus, Clarence slowly moved the lever back the other way, increasing the beam to the size of a shovel handle.
"It looks like you're starting to getting a grasp on it", Greg Otter complimented Clarence. "But you still have a way to go yet".
"Gee whiz. Can we try it?!", Rex asked with much enthusiasm.
"Yeah. That looks like fun", Donna added.
"I should say not. You're not the ones going to 2018", Marge retorted to Rex and Donna.
"Besides, that machine is classified", Al reminded the cubs. "The only reason Clarence is allowed in the machine is because he has to get back to his home day and time".
The scientists had Clarence practice on controlling the time machine's central energy column for about 15 more minutes, in which Clarence got a lot better at it.
After 15 minutes of Clarence practicing on the control levers, Greg Otter suggested, "Let's take a break for now".
"Sounds good to me", Al agreed.
"Yea, why not. We can use a break", Lenard Wolverine added as he set the energy column back into idle mode.
"Come on out for a while, Clarence", Al said.
After Clarence, Greg and Lenard stepped down out of the machine, everyone relaxed while sitting on the railroad tie foundation having friendly chit chat, and enjoying some ice water.
At some point during the conversation, Lenard Wolverine asked Clarence out of curiosity what things will be different in the 21st Century.
"Different in general, or around here?", Clarence asked Lenard.
"Well, around here to begin with", Lenard inquired.
"Where we're at now looks the same to me as I know it in 2018", Clarence replied. "Except the middle line on the highway will be yellow like solid lines are.  The lines on the road shoulders will still be white though".
"It's already that way in some states...except on divided highways", Greg Otter mentioned.
"Highway 54 will be four lanes going through Vaughn", Clarence continued. "And there will be an airport in Vaughn".
"So someday, we won't have to go to Albuquerque to catch a plane", Gaylord Serval surmised.
"Oh, it will just be for small planes", Clarence informed Gaylord.
"From what Clarence had once told me, it will be for private owned planes", Al mentioned.
"Well...Nice thought anyway", Gaylord Serval replied.
"Oh...And where the Santa Fe Railroad crosses the Southern Pacific Railroad in Vaughn", Clarence explained. "One day they'll build up this big dirt ramp for the Santa Fe Railroad to go over the Southern Pacific Railroad as a bridge...or like an overpass".
"A flyover", Lenard said.
"And the railroad here will the Union Pacific Railroad instead if the Southern Pacific", Clarence added as he pointed to the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks beyond the other side of  Highway 54.
Marge said, "Clarence has told us his biological father in the 21st Century will be a locomotive operator on that same line".
"I can picture that", Gaylord Serval said.
Donna then mentioned, "Clarence said, lightning will also strike The Hop one night and burn it down. That will happen a few years from now".
"I know we'll miss it when that happens", Jed said.
"In my day and time, I once heard old timers talking about when The Hop burnt down", said Clarence.
"Clarence has told us the W. M. Hindi store in Duran will be out of business by the 21st Century", Al mentioned.
"That's almost hard to believe", Greg Otter added.
Clarence further added, "When I came here to 1960, it was the first time in my life I ever saw the W. M. Hindi store as a store still in business".
It was about that time everyone heard a car slowing down as it approached from the north on Highway 54. The car then pulled off of the highway, then proceeded toward the landing site behind the rock formation.
"Who could that be?", Al asked.
"It's Danny", Greg Otter said as he recognized Danny Otter's Studebaker Golden Hawk.
As Danny pulled up and parked, Greg went over to meet Danny.
"Danny. You know the rule about personal cars out here", Greg told Danny.
"Oh sorry, Dad", Danny said. "I just figured that...".
"It won't make a difference after tonight anyway", Lenard interjected.
"Yea. Right", Danny said. "That's what I was figuring".
"Okay" Greg agreed, then said to Danny, "But pull your car up a little more. The tail end of it can still be seen from the highway".
"Oh yea, okay", Danny agreed, then pulled up enough for his car to be completely hidden from the highway.
After Danny drove his car out of view of the highway, he exclaimed, "Holy mackerel. That building really got plastered".
"They had to tear it down last night so the time machine could take off', Greg Otter replied.
"I heard that Harold and Woodrow got the panel truck and a tow rope out here last night long enough to pull the walls down once the crew got the roof dismantled", Lenard Wolverine mentioned.
"By the way, Harold Wolf gave me the rest of the day off ", Danny said to his dad, Greg.
"I so much as figured being no one would be at our department right now", Greg replied to Danny. "So what's up?"
"I'd just thought I'd drop by", Danny answered.
"Well, you should have gotten permission first", Greg replied. "But being you're already here, you're welcome to stay around a while".
"Clarence was telling us how different things will be years from now", Al said to Danny.
"Oh, wow. Neato", Danny replied as he took a seat with the others on the railroad tie assembly that was once the building foundation. "That sounds interesting".
Thus Danny then joined in on the friendly chit chat among the others.
At some point during a conversation, Danny Otter mentioned, "I bet Clarence and his little girl friend, Sheryl, will miss each other when he leaves".
"Oh...Clarence and Sheryl were gettin' naughty in our treehouse the other night, doing nastiness", Donna said.
"Donna! That's none of anyone else's business", Marge reprimanded Donna.
"That's already been dealt with, Donna", Al added.
Lenard then said to Clarence, "You're lucky you and your girl friend are not old enough to conceive a cub. Had you two did, I would have seen to it you would never get into this time machine".
"Dad?", Clarence solicited support from Al.
"I'd stand behind Lenard all the way on that one, Clarence", Al made it clear to Clarence. "If Sheryl and you had conceived a cub...That is if you two had been old enough, you wouldn't be leaving that cub behind in the 1960s without a father".
"Well I know that didn't happen", said Clarence. "But if it did, you know a cub could have always been aborted".
"What?!" Marge gasped.
"Did I here you correctly, Clarence?!", Al retorted.
"That's murder of an unborn cub", Lenard immediately responded.
"It certainly is", Greg added. "And it carries prison time too".
"The electric chair in some states", Gaylord Serval added.
"Yea..That's not cool", Jed briefly remarked to Clarence.
"But...But I thought it was legal", Clarence exclaimed.
"Who told you that, Clarence?", Al inquired of Clarence.
"Isn't there some kind of Roe and Wade law or something like that?", Clarence replied, almost forgetting the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision had not yet taken place prior to 1960.
"Someone who's full of it has been telling you a load of crap", Lenard advised Clarence.
"I'd expect a wild tale like that coming from Biff and those other smart alecks with him", Marge interjected.
"No, that didn't even come from anyone in this day and time", Clarence assured Al and Marge. "I once heard about that in history class when I was still in the 21st Century...But I guess that musta not happened yet in this day and time".
"I never heard of it", Al said.
"Still in the future no doubt", Greg Otter replied. "Why none of us had heard of it".
Gaylord Serval then surmised, "From what Clarence had told us, we can only presume that abortion will become legal between now and 2018".
"Oh, wait a minute. I remember now when they said that was", Clarence recalled. "Our teacher in my day and time said it was legalized in 1973...Or will be in 1973".
"That's 13 years from now", Lenard mentioned.
"Yea, I almost forgot that year is 1973", Clarence mentioned.
"Probably why you thought it was already legal in this day and time", Al said to Clarence.
"Yea. I was thinking it was by now", Clarence replied.
"Well, Danny. What's your thoughts on this?", Lenard Wolverine asked Danny Otter.
"I don't want to say", Danny replied. "Kind if a sticky subject".
"Well, the main thing was, Clarence and Sheryl are too young to have cubs anyway", Al concluded.
"Right", said Greg Otter. "As for Clarence and Sheryl, the possibility of pregnancy is still a moot issue at their age".
"It is", Marge agreed. "I suggest we move on past this discussion".
After about ten more minutes of friendly chit chat, Lenard Wolverine said to Clarence, "Let's get some more practice on those control levers. I'll go ahead and set energy column back into power requirement mode".
Thus, Greg Otter, Lenard Wolverine and Clarence Coyote stepped over inside railroad tie parameter foundation of the torn down utility building, and climbed up into the time machine. And once Lenard set the central energy column into power requirement mode, Clarence was back to practicing at keeping the energy column properly regulated.
Three minutes into the practice session, Gaylord Serval noted, "Clarence seems to be doing better this time around".
"I've noticed that too", Greg mentioned. "Clarence is getting to be a pro at it".
"To bad this machine is classified", Al said. "I would like to have gotten movies of Clarence practicing at the controls".
"Oh that would have been nice", Marge replied.
Lenard then said to Clarence, "There's something I need to also mention. Johnny Ferret said while he was traveling in this machine last night, images and sounds from moments in time would appear all around him in the machine".
"That must have looked weird", Jed interjected.
"Wow", Clarence mentioned in anticipated awe.
"Well, wow is right", Lenard further said to Clarence. "Now I don't know if that same phenomenon will happen during your trip back to 2018. If it does, don't get distracted by it. Be sure to keep focused on that central energy column and the levers to control it by".
"Oh okay", Clarence replied as he continued regulating the energy column, then mentioned, "When I first came here to 1960, I thought I did see some of those kind of images in the machine like Johnny told you about".
"Those apparitions Clarence and Johnny said they experienced are probably a normal phenomenon associated with time travel", Greg Otter surmised.
"I'm thinking the same thing", Lenard Wolverine replied to Greg. "And I don't think it's the machine itself having anything to do with causing those apparitions. But like you said, a normal time travel phenomenon".
"I suggest we should strike up conversation to get Clarence use to ignoring those distractions Johnny made  mention about while operating this machine", Gaylord Serval suggested.
"I believe you got a good idea there, Gaylord", Greg said as everyone agreed.
Thus, everyone engaged in conversation, and occasionally interacting with Clarence in conversation as he continued practicing on regulating the energy column. And despite of what would be potential distractions, Clarence was still doing very well with it.
Lenard also mentioned, "When we take our next break, I'll go ahead and mark the directions we talked about on the ceiling near the levers"
Hearing that gave Clarence a feeling of further confidence.
By around 11 o'clock that morning, Clarence had been practicing for about 18 minutes since the last time he started, thus everyone agreed to take another break. Everyone got a cup of ice water from the kegs, then sat along the building foundation made from retired railroad ties, and made more conversation. Everyone talked about several different things, though most of the conversation centered around the times they had since Clarence's arrival to 1960 a little over six months earlier.
At about 11:15, Danny Otter said, "I gonna run for now. I'll see you all here tonight".
"Let someone spot the road for you before you pull out", Greg reminded Danny.
"Jed, go check for cars so Danny can pull out", Al said to Jed.
"Okay. Got it", Jed said as he jogged toward the highway, while Danny backed his car around in position to drive out.
While waiting for Jed to get up to the highway, Danny tuned his car's radio to a groovin' instrumental tune.
ERNIE FREEMAN Raunchy 1957
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4j1wO5Td9g
Once Jed got to the highway, and with no cars approaching for miles from either direction, Jed waved and called out, "You got it, Danny".
Once Danny drove out to the highway, he called out to Jed over the car radio playing, "See you all tonight, Kiddo".
"Later, gator", Jed replied.
Danny then made a right onto Highway 54 to head north toward Highway 60 near Vaughn. Danny Otter always did like to show off with that Studebaker Golden Hawk of his, and that moment was no different. Thus, once Danny got about 100 feet down the highway, he floored it, taking off like he was running a competition race down a drag strip as he burnt tire marks on the pavement and smoking the rear tires halfway through 1st gear. In about 22 seconds, give or take, Danny was already speeding away down Highway 54 with that Golden Hawk running at 120 mph.
"Danny's really burning up the road, isn't he", Lenard Wolverine remarked.
"I just hope he watches what he's doing", Al added. "Danny still is a young driver".
"Marie and I have worried about Danny since we got him that car", Greg Otter said. "Danny's starting a good future with Horizon Innovation. I'd hate to see him throw it all away".
"Wow jeepers! Did you see Danny hot rod it outta here?! That was cool!" Jed exclaimed as he came running back from the highway.
"Yea, we all did", Al replied to Jed.
"I wouldn't worry too much, Greg", Gaylord Serval assured Greg Otter. "Danny's still young like we all were at one time. He'll grow up".
"You know, I had a weird dream one night about two weeks ago", Clarence said. "I dreamed that Danny was a truck mechanic at a truck stop".
"Wouldn't be Danny", Jed commented. "What a dream though".
"Yea, I know", Clarence confirmed. "Imagine that".
"Well, Danny's starting to pursue something bigger and better than being a truck mechanic", Greg added.
"Clarence had been having strange dreams lately like the one he had just mentioned", Marge mentioned.
"Like the one Clarence said he had about Biff and Richie crashing their dad's Cadillac?", Donna asked.
"That would serve them right", Rex proclaimed.
"No...Biff and them are jerks, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone", Marge admonished Rex.
"Active imagination maybe", Gaylord Serval surmised. "The dreams that is".
After everyone had been talking a while longer, it was already going on 11:30.
"Ready for another practice session?", Lenard Wolverine asked Clarence.
"It about half past eleven", Marge announced. "Why don't we get some lunch for now?".
"Yea, I'm gettin' hungry", Donna said.
"Me too", Rex added.
"We didn't finish breakfast this morning", Marge reminded Al.
"We could make a run to the cafe' just up the road in Duran", Al suggested.
"I guess I'll go for that", Lenard agreed.
Being that Gaylord Serval and Greg Otter were on shift guarding the time machine and could not leave the site, Al asked if they want anything brought back. Thus Greg and Gaylord placed their orders what they wanted from the cafe'.
"What do you say we also get ours' to go too, so we can all dine together with Greg and Gaylord?", Marge asked.
"That will work", Al said as Lenard agreed.
It was shortly after 11:30 by the time Greg and Gaylord placed their orders, then Al, Marge and the cubs, got into the Volkswagen micro-bus, along with Lenard Wolverine who sat on the very back seat.
"Lenard's riding with us", Donna asked.
"There's plenty of room for Lenard", Al said to Donna. "There's no need to take two vehicles".
Then they had Greg Otter walk out to the highway to spot for approaching cars. Greg had to have them hold up a moment until a 1958 Oldsmobile station wagon heading toward Vaughn went by. Once the station wagon had gone way down the road, Greg gave the all clear, and they headed south down Highway 54 to the cafe'.
"Putt putt putt putt putt putt", Jed jested as the micro-bus laboriously began it's slow acceleration with it's classic lawnmower engine sound.
"I think I can. I think I can", Clarence, who was sitting up front between Al and Marge, added.
"We thank you all for riding turtle bus lines", Rex jested as the other cubs laughed.
"This is the pokey pony bus", Donna proclaimed as the micro-bus gradually made it's way to 50 mph.
"Well you know this bus wasn't made for racing", Lenard reminded the cubs. "It was designed as a work bus".
"It's slow, but it does do the job it was intended for", Al further reminded the cubs as he drove along.
After traveling several miles south down Highway 54, they were finally arriving to the community of Duran. The cafe' was on the right on Highway 54 as they entered town.
"Can we get ice cream for desert?", Donna asked as they were pulling into the parking lot of the Cafe'.
"Not now", Marge replied to Donna.
"Awww", Donna complained.
Marge explained, "We're getting this to go. And ice cream will melt by the time we finish lunch".
"Especially on a hot day like today", Al added.
"Frank and Wanda are here", Marge mentioned as she noticed the green, 1955, two door, 6 cylinder, Chevy station wagon belonging to Frank and Wanda Coyote.
"Some of your neighbors I take it", Lenard mentioned.
"Frank and Wanda Jenkins Coyote", Al said to Lenard. "They live just a few doors down from us".
"Maybe Sheryl's here too", Clarence said.
"If her mom and dad are here, you know she would be too", Jed said to Clarence.
"Yea, duh", Donna jested.
"Alright. That's enough of that", Marge said to Donna as everyone got out of the micro-bus.
As they entered the cafe', Al and Marge greeted Frank, Wanda and Sheryl who were having lunch.
"Oh hello, Al. Marge", said Frank.
"Hi there", Wanda added.
"Seems we met before", Frank said to Lenard.
"I remember now. At the landing site, at the time your son got married", Lenard replied. "How are they by the way".
"Jerald and Cindy are doing well", Frank answered. "They're expecting a cub too".
"Give them my congratulations when you see them", Lenard requested.
"We will", Frank assured Lenard as Wanda also assured with a nod.
"Dotty's not with you all today?", Marge asked.
"She's out with her boy friend, Buddy, right now", Wanda answered.
"After we got back today from registering Dotty and Sheryl for the upcoming school year, Buddy dropped by in his dad's car to pick up Dotty", Frank said.
"We have a daughter in law since Jerald got married this summer", Wanda proudly said. "If things keep going good with Buddy and Dotty we'll eventually have a son in law as well".
"Come over and sit with me, Clarence", Sheryl invited Clarence.
As Clarence came over to sit beside Sheryl, he didn't know how to go about telling her that this was the night he would be leaving to go back to 2018. However, Clarence knew Sheryl was about to find out when the adults break the news.
"Sitting with Sheryl will have to be short", Al said to Clarence. Remember we're getting orders to go".
So as Clarence took a seat beside Sheryl, Al Coyote mentioned to Lenard Wolverine, "I know we can trust Frank and Wanda to know about tonight".
"Well...Obviously their little girl and Clarence are boy friend and girl friend", Lenard surmised.
"They are", Al replied.
"Been for some time", Marge added.
"Then they really should know", Lenard replied.
"Know about what, Al?", Frank asked.
"Let's pull some chairs up to your table", Al said to Frank and Wanda. "We've got some news to talk about.
"Okay. Sure", Frank replied.
"Wonder what it could be", Wanda said as Al, Lenard and Marge moved some chairs from an empty table to the table where Frank, Wanda and Sheryl were sitting at.
In a voice tone low enough not to be overheard by other patrons, Al then began, "At breakfast this morning, we were notified that the machine is now fully operational. Clarence is leaving for home at nine o'clock tonight".
Lenard added, "Myself and three other scientist from the lab complex brought the news to Al and Marge about an hour after dawn this morning".
"Boy oh boy, this is a sudden surprise", Frank proclaimed.
"Oh that's wonderful", Wanda added.
"I'll miss you, Clarence", Sheryl said to Clarence with tears beginning to well up.
"I'll always love you, Sheryl", Clarence replied as he and Sheryl hugged. "I'll miss you too".
"Well, Sheryl. You have to realize that Clarence's rightful place is in the 21 Century", Wanda said to Sheryl.
"Not too loud, Wanda", Frank reminded his wife, then said to Sheryl, "Clarence is from the future after all".
In a lower tone, Wanda mentioned, "I believe Frank and I will miss Clarence too".
"I think we all will", Marge added.
Lenard then instructed Frank and Wanda, "Oh, and this is important. Let Al, myself and other scientists from the lab decide who we'll tell about what happens tonight".
"I'll let Lenard know which of our neighbors can be trusted with the information", Al assured Frank and Wanda.
"That's right. Let us use the discretion", Lenard affirmed to Frank and Wanda. "We absolutely do want let others know as to account for Clarence's disappearance tonight. But we don't want that news being by means of spreading from neighbor to neighbor to neighbor to neighbor".
"I understand. We'll keep it hush and let you guys tell who you think should know", Frank promised Al and Lenard.
"Same here", Wanda affirmed.
"You hear that don't you, Sheryl", Frank said. "You don't mention a word of this to the other cubs".
"You promise?", Wanda asked Sheryl. "Let the scientists do the talking about that?"
"I promise an' cross my heart", Sheryl affirmed, but still in a sad tone knowing Clarence will be going away that night.
The waitress on shift that day, Victoria Lynx, then came to the table.
"Oh hello, Al. Marge", Victoria Lynx greeted. "I would have waited on you sooner, but it looked like you all were having an important meeting for a moment there".
"Oh that's okay", Marge replied.
"She's another one of our neighbors", Al said to Lenard. "Victoria Lynx".
"She's Ryan and Janice's mom", Donna proclaimed.
"Okay, Donna. Don't be rude", Marge called Donna down.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure", Lenard Wolverine said to Victoria Lynx.
"This is Lenard Wolverine", Al said to Victoria. "He's one of my fellow scientists at the lab".
"Pleased to meet you", Victoria said to Lenard.
"Pleasure's mine all the same", Lenard replied.
"I feel comfortable telling Victoria and her family", Al said to Lenard.
"You know your neighbors better than I do, Al", Lenard admitted. "I trust your judgement here".
"Comfortable telling me about what?", Victoria asked.
Al then explained, "First of all, this is not to be passed along from neighbor to neighbor".
"Exactly", Lenard said to Victoria. "Let us scientists from the lab pass this along. Okay?".
"Yea. Sure. Okay", Victoria acknowledged.
Al then told Victoria, "The time machine is now operational as of last night. Clarence is going home tonight. Nine o'clock".
"Oh my gosh! It all seems so sudden! Can Anthony and I come there with the cubs too!", Victoria proclaimed.
"Not so loud. No so loud", Al said to Victoria. "And yes. You all can be there tonight".
"We need to keep it low tone, Victoria", Lenard added.
"Oh, I'm so sorry", Victoria apologized. "It's just that I feel so excited for Clarence".
Marge then reminded Al and Lenard, "I'm sure Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval are waiting for us to bring lunch back".
"Oh that's right", Al acknowledged, then said to Victoria, "We're getting nine orders to go".
Thus, the food orders were placed for the cook to begin preparing them.
"Any drinks to go with that?", Victoria came back and asked.
"No drinks. We have two ice water kegs out at the site", Al said.
"We can't get a Coke?", Donna retorted.
"Yeaaah", Rex added.
"We have ice water", Marge told the cubs. "That micro-bus belongs to the company your father works for, and we don't need sodas spilled in it".
Frank then looked toward the window and noticed the white, Volkswagen micro-bus with the Horizon Innovations logos in the parking lot.
"Gee, Al. I didn't think it was like Marge and you to be driving a Volkswagen bus", Frank jested, knowing they like fast cars.
"It's the company bus we were assigned to go to the site with", Al replied.
"Aw, Al. I was only teasing you", Frank admitted.
"It's a slow poke too", Donna said.
"Yea, they're not allowing us to drive our personal cars out there", Lenard affirmed. "However, that won't be enforced tonight".
Al mentioned to Frank and Wanda, "Back at the beginning of this month, one of our scientists had his personal car parked at the site in such a way the tail end could be seen from the highway".
"So I take it that's when they banned personal cars from the site", Frank said.
"Yup", Al replied.
While still waiting on their lunch orders, Tabetha Skunk came into the cafe' with her cubs, Gail and Dennis. Shortly after they entered the cafe', Al, Marge, Frank and Wanda greeted and waved to Tabetha as she greeted in return.
"More of your neighbors", Lenard mentioned to Al.
"Yes, she's Tabetha Skunk with her two cubs", Al replied.
"Can we trust them?", Lenard asked in a low tone.
"I wouldn't", Marge interjected.
"I'd trust her husband, Pete", Al said in a low tone. "But Tabatha is a bit crazy. And I've heard it from our cubs that their daughter Gail can't keep secrets".
"Well as I said, Al. You know your neighbors better than I do", Lenard said.
"I definitely would not tell them about tonight", Al affirmed, then added, "I am aware they know about Clarence's drawing tablet and Laptop. And I suspect they've known about the time machine. But how much they don't yet know I want to keep it that way".
At some point during the conversation, Tabetha Skunk, her daughter Gail, and her son Dennis overheard a mention made of what things Clarence will be taking with him.
"Where is Clarence taking stuff to?", Gail asked from the table that she and her brother and mom were sitting at.
"Is it a buncha cool toys and stuff?", little brother Dennis added.
"Are you all taking a trip?", Tabetha inquired.
"California", Lenard Wolverine abruptly replied.
Sensing Lenard's answer was a facetious remark, Tabetha broke off from the conversation.
"She should learn to mind her own beezwax", Donna said in a low tone as the other cubs laughed.
"We can discuss that later", Marge said to Donna.
About 20 seconds later, little Dennis Skunk asked, "Mama. Where is California?"
"On the moon", Rex interjected in a tone almost loud enough for Tabetha, Gail and Dennis hear it.
As the cubs were laughing, Al reprimanded Rex, "Rex. Don't be starting anything".
Before long, the lunch orders were finally ready.
"Here they are", Victoria Lynx proclaimed as she brought out the brown paper bags containing the meals to take back to the landing site.
"Mmm, that smells good", Donna said.
"It does, Marge replied, then told the cubs, "And no digging in the bags on our way back".
The bill for the eleven lunch orders to go was 12 dollars and 32 cents, which was the going price in the year 1960, back when things cost only a tenth as much as in the 21st Century.
Just before Al paid the bill, Lenard suggested, "Get a receipt so we can know what we owe you for our part of it".
Al replied, "That's okay, Lenard. I'm buying. It's the least I can do for time and work you all put in to get Clarence home".
"Oh, I appreciate it", Lenard replied as Al paid the bill.
"We'll see you tonight", Frank said as Lenard and the Coyote Family were leaving.
"See you then", Marge replied back.
Once everyone were back aboard the Volkswagen micro-bus, it was back to the time machine landing site. Needless to say, on the way back, there were more peanut gallery comments from the cubs about the micro-bus being so under powered and slow.
Upon arriving to the rock formation that hides the time machine from the highway, Al checked the mirrors to be sure there were no vehicles behind within sight. Precautions were still being taken to avoid anyone seeing vehicles entering and leaving the highway at the landing site.
After Al parked the micro-bus, Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval approached the driver's window where Al was still sitting behind the wheel.
"Nathan Collie radioed us while you all were making the lunch run", Greg said to Al and Lenard. "He said that Ho Yang Panda and Calvin Fox calculated the readings the crew got last night from the time machine. With the repairs we had to make to the machine lacking future technology, they estimate Clarence's journey to 2018 will have a duration equivalent to 26 minutes".
"Under normal circumstances, one could travel to prehistoric times in a shorter duration equivalent than that", Lenard Wolverine called out from the back seat of the micro-bus.
"Well, these are not normal circumstances remember", Greg replied while standing by the driver's door of the micro-bus.
"True. The machine is partially crippled but does work", Lenard Wolverine said, "I just didn't think it would take that long".
"Actually, none of knew before the calculations were run", Gaylord Serval added while standing beside Greg Otter.
"Does this arise a concern Clarence should be aware of ?", Al asked while still in the driver's seat at the wheel.
"I was just about to get to that", Greg answered. "Nathan recommended that each one of Clarence's practice sessions should last for 26 minutes, so he can be accustom to how long he'll have to regulate the energy column when he makes his journey".
"Well, you hear that, Clarence", Marge said. "You'll have to go 26 minutes".
"We want to be sure you can hold up that long once you leave here tonight", Gaylord Serval said to Clarence.
With all that said and out of the way, everyone exited the micro-bus to begin having lunch.
"How much do we owe you, Al", Greg Otter asked as the lunch orders were being given out.
"Don't worry about it. It's on me.", Al answered. "You all worked a lot repairing the time machine for Clarence. It's the least I can do".
"Well thank you", Greg replied.
"Thank you very much", Gaylord added.
It was about 10 minutes past noon as everyone began enjoying their time out for lunch as they sat on the railroad tie parameter that use to be the foundation of the utility building that once secured the time machine.
While everyone were still having lunch, Lenard Wolverine said to Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval, "In an a little more than an hour, I'll be leaving in the Falcon to get Calvin Fox so we can relieve you".
"Gaylord and I will continue to conduct Clarence's practice sessions after you leave", Greg mentioned.
"There's less than two hours left before we get off of guard duty", Gaylord Serval mentioned to Al and Marge. "That's when we go with you all to Estancia once Lenard and Calvin relieve us".
"I'm hoping we can convince a lot of them at the courthouse to attend Clarence's departure", Al said.
"Especially the animals who overseen Clarence's adoption for us", Marge further said.
"How true", Lenard added. "It is important they know what Clarence's disappearance will be all about".
"Two hours doesn't leave a lot of practice time left for Clarence", Greg Otter said.
"Yes. I'd recommend shorter breaks for Clarence to get more practice time in before fourteen hundred", Gaylord replied.
"I'm all for that", Greg added.
In about 35 minutes, everyone had finished eating lunch. By then it was 12:45 in the afternoon, and Lenard Wolverine had Clarence get more practice time in on regulating the central energy column. Being that the directions for the levers were already written with a magic marker on the ceiling of the craft, that made the practice sessions easier for Clarence.
"Remember. You'll have to go at it for at least 26 minutes at a time", Greg Otter reminded Clarence Coyote.
The practice may have seem repetitious by now. However, it was crucially important that Clarence was able to do everything right. After all, even if the time machine was in mint condition, it is still a very dangerous machine to anyone who doesn't know what they're doing. During Clarence's journey back to 2018, there would be absolutely no room for error. This particular practice session went from 12:50 to almost 1:20...Nearly 30 minutes.
"Okay. Go ahead and take five, Clarence", Lenard said, then set the energy column back into idle mode.
"He's getting to be a pro at this", Gaylord Serval proclaimed.
"Clarence certainly is getting a grasp on it", Greg Otter affirmed.
Lenard then mentioned, "It's thirteen twenty already. I'll have to leave now if I'm going to get Calvin Fox back here with me at fourteen hundred".
"Gaylord and I will continue with conducting the practice sessions", Greg said to Lenard as Lenard made his way to the Ford Falcon.
"Okay. I'll be back with Calvin as soon as I can", Lenard replied, then asked Al, "Can you spot for me?"
"Sure" Al replied as he began making his way to the highway to watch for approaching cars.
Once Al was at the highway, he held up his paw signaling to wait.
"You have a truck coming", Al called back as he stepped back around the rock formation out of view of the highway.
Sure enough, it was a Diamond REO semi tractor pulling a tandem axle refrigerated trailer, northbound approaching from Duran. After the tractor trailer rig sped by at 70 mph, Al walked back out to the highway to see if any more vehicles were approaching.
"All clear", Al called as he motioned it was safe to pull out without being seen.
Lenard then drove the Falcon toward Highway 54, then pulled out heading north on his way to the lab complex to get Calvin Fox. At that time, there was 40 minutes left before Lenard Wolverine would have to be back with Calvin Fox at two o'clock.
In the meantime, everyone then enjoyed some conversation during the five minute break which went until 1:25.
At 25 minutes after two, when the break was over, Greg Otter said to Clarence, "You have time for one more practice session before Lenard and Calvin get back here. Then we'll all be heading out to Estancia".
With that said, Greg, Gaylord and Clarence climbed up into the time machine. Greg then set the central energy column in power requirement mode, followed by Gaylord supervising Clarence.
"You've gotten good at this by now", Gaylord Serval said, which gave Clarence a sense of confidence as he continued regulating the energy column.
"Reminds me of those Russian cosmonauts training for a mission", Rex remarked.
"Well, it shouldn't be long before we get an American into space", Greg Otter proudly proclaimed.
"Don't distract him", Marge said to Rex.
"Remember, Marge", Al said. "Distractions will get Clarence use to ignoring the sounds and images Johnny said he experienced on his trip through time".
"That's right", Gaylord Serval affirmed. "Some distractions right now are a good thing".
"Being Clarence will experience those distractions during his journey to 2018, he'll need to practice ignoring distractions now", Greg further reminded Marge.
At 1:35, which was ten minutes into the practice session, a northbound Southern Pacific freight train could be heard approaching on the tracks that ran parallel on the other side of Highway 54.
"A train coming!", Donna proclaimed.
"Let's run over to where we can see it!", Rex suggested as he, Donna and Jed ran to a spot where the rock formation would not obstruct their view of the freight train going by.
"Be careful not to let passing motorists see you all", Al called out to the cubs.
"I can't see the train from here", Clarence said as the locomotives began passing by beyond the rock formation and Highway 54.
"Pay attention to the energy column", Gaylord Serval said to Clarence Coyote.
"Wow! They got four engines pulling that train!", Rex proclaimed from near the highway with Jed and Donna.
"Wow, cool", Donna added.
"Gee. I'm missing that", Clarence replied from inside the time machine.
"Never mind the train", Gaylord retorted to Clarence. "Watch what you're doing regulating that energy column".
During Clarence's distraction, he had allowed the core beam to reduce to the size of a pencil. And the energy rings began to draw in closer than the Magic Marker spacing marks that were made earlier on the outer shell tube.
"You're lucky this isn't you actual journey home right now", Greg told Clarence.
"Oh", Clarence replied as he noticed what he had allowed to happen, as the sound of the freight train can still be heard going by.
"They're close enough to be seen from the highway", Marge said to Al about Jed, Rex and Donna.
"You cubs come back here to behind this rock formation", Al called out to the cubs.
"Aww, we're gonna miss the rest of the train", Donna retorted.
"You can always watch trains later", Al replied to Donna, then said, "You cubs get back here now".
Thus, the cubs came back away from the highway and came over to where the time machine is.
As the freight train continued going by, Gaylord Serval lectured Clarence, "It's important you ignore all distractions. According to what Johnny Ferret said about his journey to 1950 and back, you're going to encounter images and sounds of events as you travel to 2018. You got really distracted by that train going by out there. Keep in mind, that train can't take you to 2018. But this time machine can".
"This time machine can... Provided you operate it right", Greg Otter further said to Clarence.
"That's right", Gaylord Serval added. "Like all machines, this machine is no better than it's operator".
Gaylord then instructed Clarence, "See if you try getting the core beam and energy rings back to where they should be".
"Okay", Clarence replied as he began operating the three levers at the top of the energy column.
"Well, we missed the caboose", Donna said as the last of the freight train could be heard going away.
Much to everyone's satisfaction, Clarence did get everything within specs promptly in a timely manner. In almost no time at all, he had the core beam back to the size of a shovel handle where it should be. He also had the ascending and descending series energy rings spaced according to the Magic Marker lines on the column shell. And he had the speed of the rings adjusted as well to where any one chosen ring would pass any given Magic Marker mark on the column shell at a rate of 'one and two and three and four' before passing by the next Magic Marker mark.
"You have certainly gotten good at it, Clarence", Gaylord commended Clarence. "What you have to work on now is ignoring distractions".
"I noticed too, you got a little too close for comfort to that assembly of electronic tubes", Greg also mentioned to Clarence. "You definitely do not want to bump against that".
"Oh yea. I guess I wasn't watching out for those", Clarence replied.
"I guess so", Greg added.
Jed then asked, "Will Clarence see any images of trains in the time machine on his way to 2018?"
"We don't know", Greg Otter replied to Jed. "But if he does, he'll have to ignore them".
"Due to the distraction, I'd feel better about extending this practice session until thirteen fifty five", Gaylord Serval said as Greg Otter agreed.
"What time would that be?", Donna asked.
"That's five minutes till two", Al replied to Donna, then looked at his watch and said, "Twenty five minutes from now".
The practice session went smoothly during those 25 minutes, which afterwards, Gaylord call for a break.
"I'd say by now, you got this thing down pat", Greg commended Clarence as he set the central energy column back into idle mode.
After Clarence, Greg and Gaylord climbed back down out of the time machine, Greg mentioned, "There wouldn't be any point in beginning another practice session by now. Lenard and Calvin should be here before long".
"Right", Gaylord agreed. "It would be a short session if we did".
Thus, this break would be longer than five minutes. During that break, everyone had noticed by two o'clock that Lenard Wolverine had not yet returned with Calvin Fox.
"It's fourteen hundred", Gaylord Serval mentioned.
"With Lenard leaving here only 40 minutes ago, I didn't expect they'd be back by now", Greg Otter replied.
"Shouldn't be long though", Gaylord added.
"Yea. Anytime", Greg further added.
Five minutes later, everyone heard what sounded like the Falcon barreling in a hurry as it approached, then began to slow down.
"I believe that's Lenard and Calvin now", Al said.
"Sounds like Lenard was highballing it too", Greg mentioned.
Sure enough, it was the white, company owned, Ford Falcon, driven by Lenard Wolverine, and Calvin Fox riding with him.
After Lenard parked the Falcon, he mentioned, "A few minutes late I admit. But we're here".
"Al checked his watch and said to Lenard, "You must have been really pushing that little Falcon pretty good".
Lenard replied, "I'll just say, I had all six cylinders stretching it".
"That Falcon gets up and goes pretty good for a six cylinder", Calvin Fox complimented about the car as he got the ice water keg out of the trunk that he and Lenard brought out with them.
"Well, it's out to Estancia for the rest of us", Al said.
"Nathan said they'll need the Falcon back at the lab complex", Lenard mentioned.
Greg Otter and Al Coyote then loaded the water kegs they had brought out to the site earlier in the trunk of the Falcon.
"I'll drive the Falcon back to the lab, Al. And you all can pick me up there", Greg Otter said to Al.
"Okay. We'll follow you", Al said to Greg.
"In the turtle bus", Rex added as the other cubs giggled.
"It get's us there", Al replied to Rex as the Coyote Family and Gaylord Serval got aboard the Volkswagen micro-bus.
"Getting you there is what counts", Gaylord Serval further said to Rex upon boarding the micro-bus.
"I guess that's it. We're ready to pull out", Greg Otter said as he cranked up the Falcon.
Lenard Wolverine had Calvin Fox walk out to the edge of the highway and spot for approaching vehicles.
Once Calvin saw that the highway was clear in both directions, he signaled for Greg and Al to pull on out.
"See you tonight", Al called out from the micro-bus to Lenard.
"See you then", Lenard replied.
Greg then proceeded in the Falcon, and Al cranked up the micro-bus and followed behind Greg.
While the vehicles were still proceeding toward the highway, Lenard remembered something in time and called out to Calvin, "Calvin! The time change! Tell them about the schedule change!"
As Greg was about to pull onto the highway in the Falcon, Calvin had him pause a moment.
"Lenard and I forgot to tell you all. But the time for us to be here has been bumped to an earlier time", Calvin Fox told Greg Otter. "Back at the lab, Nathan told us that Professor Nickolas Fox wants us and the others to be here at nineteen hundred this evening".
"I'll pass that on to Al and the others. Thanks for telling me", Greg replied, then pulled out onto the highway.
Al with the family and Gaylord then followed out in the micro-bus onto the highway behind Greg.
Everyone was then on their way to the lab, with Greg Otter leading the way, before they would head out to Estancia.
Along the way, Rex told Gaylord, "We made up some slow poke names for this bus".
Donna said, "I called it the pokey pony bus".
"So I've heard", Gaylord said with a smile. "Lenard told me before he left to get Calvin".
Before long, they came to where Highway 60 goes west off of Highway 54.  Al and Marge mentioned to Gaylord Serval that off to the right beyond the intersection would be where Clarence's biological family will someday have their home.
"It's home, but not yet home", Gaylord mentioned.
"It still gives me a lonely feeling when I see there's nothing on that land", Clarence said as everyone then headed west on Highway 60.
"It won't be after tonight", Al said to Clarence.
"I'm still gonna miss Clarence", Donna said.
"We all will", Marge replied.
"I'll still miss you all too", Clarence said. "But I'll sure be happy to be back with my original family".
"Well, Clarence. You'll still see those of us who will still be alive by 2018", Al assured Clarence.
"We'll just be a lot older by then", Marge said.
"Just think, Clarence. You might be seeing our cubs and grand cubs for the first time once you get back", Jed said to Clarence.
"It won't be for the first time", Gaylord Serval corrected Jed.
"How do you mean?", Jed asked.
"Clarence's presents in this day and time will alter what will be future acquaintances", Gaylord answered Jed.
"I actually changed what's going to be?", Clarence asked in amazement.
Al then explained to Clarence, "Not completely on your part. You see, being that we promised you we will get to know your parents before you are born, you will have known us all your life. We'll be playing a role in that too".
So does that mean Clarence will grow up with our grand cubs?", Rex asked.
"Absolutely", Gaylord interjected. "It's what's called an alteration in the time continual. By the time Clarence gets back to 2018, he and his family will have always known us".
Clarence then asked, "So when I get back to 2018...What about when I didn't yet know you all before I came here to 1960?"
"The acquaintances between your family and us will already exist years before 2018", Gaylord assured Clarence. "The years prior to 2018 will no longer be a time your family and you never knew us".
Al further assured Clarence, "Those future acquaintances have already been set into motion. Knowing all this now in 1960 affords us the opportunity to meet your parents early in the 21st Century".
"That's one thing about future years", Gaylord Serval added. "Things that are yet to happen are still contingent on what those of us will do between now and then...unlike those years already behind us are".
"That is so true", Marge agreed with Gaylord. "And you know, Gaylord. Clarence will not have those years leading up to his birth year of 2010 to work with. But we will have those years to work with".
"And in that day and time, we're not about to let that opportunity slip by us either", Al assured Gaylord.
Gaylord Serval then congratulated Al and Marge, "Well...I guess 40 years from now give or take, you have my congratulations on what you'll be doing for Clarence".
"We already promised Clarence we would make that happen when the time comes", Marge further assured Gaylord.
"I'm so glad Dad and you will", Clarence said to Marge. "That way, our good byes tonight won't have to be good bye forever".
"Aww, Clarence. That's the sweetest thing you said all day", Marge replied.
"Just think, Clarence", Al mentioned. "After tonight, you won't be calling Marge and I 'Mom and Dad' ".
"Actually, 58 years from now", Gaylord Serval added. "Though it will be after tonight for Clarence".
"With all this time I've been here in 1960, it might take me a while to break that habit though", Clarence said as everyone aboard the micro-bus laughed or chuckled.
"Well...Clarence will always seem like a brother to me", Jed mentioned as Rex and Donna agreed.
"And he was one of our sons for these past six months", Marge said to Al.
"He has", Al agreed.
Before long, everyone arrived to Encino, where Greg Otter turned right onto Highway 285 in the Falcon, with Al following in the micro-bus, to drive the short distance to the Horizon Innovations laboratory complex. Upon entering the complex facility, Greg parked the Falcon in a an appropriate company vehicle parking spot, and Al parked the micro-bus in a way to easily continue forward.
After Greg stepped out of the Falcon, he came over to the micro-bus and mentioned to Al, "Calvin Fox stopped me on our way out and passed it on to me that the time for us to be at the site tonight will now be nineteen hundred. It's no longer twenty hundred".
"We did notice Calvin had you hold up a moment", Al acknowledged. "Did he say why?"
"He didn't know", Greg answered. "He said Professor Nickolas Fox's wanted everyone there earlier".
Greg then said to everyone, "I've been thinking of something convincing to present those county officials in Estancia. When I go to Nathan Collie to turn the Falcon keys back in, I'm going to try to get authorization for us to bring some of our technical drawings of the time machine for them to see".
"Greg. I'm not sure Nathan will approve of that", Al exclaimed.
"Those drawings are classified documents", Gaylord added.
"I'm aware that they are. And I admit it's a stab in the dark", Greg replied. "But under these unusual circumstances, it doesn't hurt to try".
"Okay, Greg", Al replied. "It's been said, special circumstances call for special measures. I guess the worst Nathan can do is say no".
"I'm sure it will come with a lecture though", Gaylord added.
"If it comes to that, I'm prepared for it", Greg affirmed.
After a ten second pause, Al mentioned to Greg, "Might as well go for it".
"I'll be back", Greg said as he left to take the Falcon keys to Nathan Collie.
Ten minutes later, Greg Otter returned to the micro-bus, accompanied by Nathan Collie.
"I take it the answer was no", Al said to Greg as he and Nathan approached the driver's side of the micro-bus.
"It was", Greg affirmed.
Nathan Collie then lectured to everyone, "Hey look. There's absolutely no way on Earth I can allow those drawings to fall into the paws of those who are not authorized to hold them or to see them. I'm sure you all are fully aware of what top secret classified document means. It's bad enough we're going to have to tell them the time machine even exists to begin with".
Nathan then told Greg, "And you should have known better than to have even asked me for such a thing".
"Well...I did figure these were special and unusual circumstances", Greg Otter replied.
"I realize desperate times call for desperate measures. I get that", Nathan Collie said to Greg. "But classified documents are classified documents. Besides that, those county officials wouldn't understand what they're looking at anyway".
"We were concerned they wouldn't believe us", Gaylord Serval mentioned.
"You have to admit, Nathan", Al explained. "Telling anyone the reason why Clarence won't be around after today does sound far fetched".
"Okay okay. This is what I can do", Nathan Collie explained. "If you see you all are not getting through to them, give me a call. Call me. If they don't let you use their phone, find a pay phone and call me. If I have to, I'll have everyone who has ever worked on Project Courier show up at the courthouse to verify what's going down tonight. As the administrator of this complex facility, I'll even show up there myself if I have to".
"I'd have to say, that much clout would have to be indisputable", Al acknowledged.
"It would", Nathan said, "But hopefully, it wouldn't have to come to that".
"Well, we're on our way if you're done", Al said to Nathan.
"Oh, one more thing", Nathan concluded. "They'll have to know a time machine exists in order to explain Clarence's disappearance. But if any of those officials ask how the machine works, it's classified information...I'm done. Go ahead and take off ".
As Nathan walked back to his office, Al said to Greg, "Nathan didn't sound to happy for a moment there".
"He wasn't", Greg replied. "You should have heard the ear full he gave me in his office".
"Oh, I bet", Al added.
Greg then made his way around to the passenger's side loading doors of the micro-bus.
"Well, we have quite a bus load here", Greg commented as he got in and took a seat on the very rear bench seat beside Gaylord Serval.
"We thank you for riding turtle bus lines", Rex jested to Greg Otter as he and the others laughed.
"Admittedly, I do have to say this is our slowest company vehicle", Greg replied to Rex. "But it's better than walking".
"You should have heard the cubs making fun of it on the way here", Gaylord said to Greg as Al cranked the micro-bus up.
"I can very well imagine", Greg replied.
It was then off to Estancia to try to convince county officials to come to the landing site and actually witness Clarence leaving in the time machine, so there would not be any suspicions of foul play surrounding Clarence's sudden disappearance. Upon leaving the complex, it was a left onto Highway 285 for a short distance south to Highway 60. Then a right onto 60 going west toward Estancia.
Despite carrying eight occupants including the driver, that Volkswagen micro-bus equipped it's 25 horse power motor was still able to chug along at 50 mph on the way there. They continued west along Highway 60, passing through Willard, then shortly past Willard they turned north on State Route 41. From there, it wasn't very far to Estancia. It was 3:25 pm, still well before the county offices would close for the day, when the Coyote Family with Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval arrived in Estancia.
"I just hope those county officials don't look at us like we've flipped our wigs when we tell them about a time machine", Marge mentioned as they turned off of route 41 to proceed to the county courthouse.
"That's why we have Greg and Gaylord with us to verify what will take place tonight", Al assured Marge.
"Even then, I have my fingers crossed", Greg affirmed.
"Same here", Al added.
"Gee. I hope they won't throw us all in a nut house", Donna said.
"I'm sure it won't come to that", Marge assured Donna.
"As scientists, Greg, Gaylord and I do carry some clout", Al further assured Donna.
"And remember what Nathan said", Greg said to Donna. "If they don't believe us, they'll have to believe everyone Nathan gets down here".
"Well. Here we are", Al said as they arrived in the parking lot of the Torrance County Courthouse.
As Al parked the micro-bus, Marge made sure to tell the cubs, "When we go inside, let Greg, Gaylord, your father and I do the talking".
"And its not yet time to let them know about Clarence's laptop computer and portable telephone", Greg added.
The cubs agreed, then everyone got out and walked to the courthouse building. By then it was soon to be 3:30 that afternoon.
After entering the courthouse, everyone went to the clerk of court's office.
"Hello Al. Marge", Clerk of Court Linda Mink greeted Al and Marge. "I see you have company with you".
"Hello, Linda", Marge returned the greeting.
"With us are Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval", Al introduced them to Linda.
"I recognized Greg", Linda Mink replied. "You both work at Horizon with Al, right?"
"Yes we do", Greg answered.
"Yes", Gaylord affirmed.
"So what can I do for you all?", Linda inquired.
"Is Judge Badger in right now?", Al asked.
"We would all like to speak with him in private", Marge said.
"All of you?...Well, Judge Marvin Hodges Badger is available", Linda Mink replied. "I'll page him for you".
It was Judge Marvin Hodges Badger who presided over the hearing for Al and Marge to adopt Clarence back in February.
"Oh, hello there", Judge Badger greeted Al and Marge. "And how's little Clarence been getting along".
"I'm doing very well", Clarence happily replied.
"Who we have with us are two fellow scientists from Horizon Innovations", Al said to Judge Badger. "Greg Otter and Gaylord Serval".
"How do you do?", Judge Badger greeted Greg and Gaylord. "We have met before".
"We have. I'm doing very well, thank you", Gaylord Serval said.
"Doing fine", Greg said. "By the way, my younger son, Danny, is entering an apprenticeship with us at the lab".
"Oh, well, congratulations", Judge Badger congratulated Greg. "Hopefully that should keep Danny out of trouble".
"Yea, I do know Danny has stood before you a couple of times for highway racing", Greg admitted, then mentioned. "Though Marie and I feel that Danny should be getting to that age now where he's making a turn around".
"Well, we've all gone through that age in life", Judge Badger assured Greg.
"That's for sure. Tell me about it", Marge commented.
Judge Badger then complimented Al and Marge, "And you know, I'm so happy to see two loving parents like yourselves give Clarence a family and a place to call home".
Judge Badger then invited everyone to follow him into the judge's chambers.
Once in the privacy of the judges chambers, Judge Badger asked, "Well, folks. What's on your mind?"
There was a pause for about 15 seconds as Judge Badger waited for a reply from someone.
"I don't know how to begin", Greg said to Al. "Do you want to tell him?"
"I something wrong?", Judge Badger asked.
"Not at all", Marge replied.
"There's something you need to know about Clarence", Greg told Judge Badger.
"I can testify to it as well", Gaylord Serval added.
Al then explained, "I know this will sound bazar, but it's every bit true. Clarence is not from this day and time. He accidentally arrived in a time travel machine from the year 2018".
Judge Badger was flabbergasted beyond belief as he stood a few seconds with his mouth wide open.
"What Albert Coyote had told you is true, your honor", Greg Otter confirmed.
"It is", Gaylord further confirmed.
"I am from 2018", Clarence affirmed. "In this day and time, my actual mom and dad haven't even been born yet".
Judge Badger then said, "I would have to say you all are pulling my chain aren't you? But I can see you are very sincere".
"Do you believe us?", Marge asked.
"That's hard to believe. Though I am trying to believe it", Judge Badger answered, then asked, "So if this were true, why hasn't Clarence simply returned to 2018".
Greg answered, "The time machine was damaged on Clarence's way here to 1960 because he didn't know how to properly operate it".
Gaylord added, "It took us six months to repair the machine. It's now repaired, and we've taught Clarence how to operate it".
"That machine has been behind a rock formation off of Highway 54 for the past six months", Al affirmed.
"Ho boy...I don't know. I really don't know", Judge Badger pondered, then admitted to Al, Greg and Gaylord, "But I do know you three are reputable scientists".
"We're telling you this now, so when Clarence returns to the year 2018, there'll be an explanation for why he is no longer around", Marge said.
Judge Badger admitted, "Well now. If this is all true like you all say it is, I can very well understand how Clarence disappearing without explanation would present a pretty big problem. Especially being he is adopted".
"Remember what Nathan Collie told us before we left the lab complex", Greg reminded Al.
Al then said to Judge Badger, "If we can use your phone, I'll call our administrator and he can verify what we've been telling you".
"Normally this phone is for county use only", Judge Badger mentioned, then agreed, "But considering these unusual circumstances you all are telling me, you're welcome to use it".
"We appreciate it", Marge interjected.
"Al. Hold up before you dial", Judge Badger said as he got a telephone directory out of a side drawer of his desk.
"Okay", Al replied.
"Not that I don't trust you, Al. Don't get me wrong", Judge Badger said to Al. "It's just that this is all so incredible, I want to look up the phone number myself. Then compare it to the number as you dial".
"I have no problem with that", Al replied as Judge Badger found the phone number.
"You can go ahead and dial now", Judge Badger said to Al.
Al then dialed the Nathan Collie's office number, using the rotary dial, land line phone on Judge Badger's desk.
After the first ring tone, Nathan Collie picked up and answered, "Horizon Innovations Laboratories. Nathan Collie administrator speaking".
"Hello, Nathan. Al here", Al replied.
"Are you all at the courthouse?", Nathan asked.
"Yes we are", Al answered.
"How did it go?", Nathan asked.
"We're speaking with Judge Badger in private in the judges chambers", Al reported to Nathan. "We're only halfway getting through to him though".
"Put him on the line for me", Nathan told Al.
"Nathan Collie want's to speak to you", Al said to Judge Badger as he pawed the phone receiver to him.
"Hello, Nathan", Judge Badger said. "Three of your scientists tell me that a coyote cub I granted adoption to Al and Marge back in February is actually from the future".
"Marvin, hear me out. Everything they have told you is true", Nathan Collie affirmed to Judge Badger. "Clarence being from the year 2018. And the time machine. It's all true".
Judge Badger was silent for a moment.
"Hello...Marvin...You still there?", Nathan asked.
Judge Badger broke silence, "I uh yea...I...I didn't think it to be possible".
"Scientifically, nothing can be proved impossible", Nathan assured Judge Badger. "And we are scientists here".
Judge Badger then admitted, "Well...Come to think of it, there was a time that telephones, TV and airplanes would have been thought to be impossible".
"If it had not been for Clarence's situation I wouldn't be telling this, Marvin, so don't spread this around", Nathan said to Judge Badger. "But the time machine now here in 1960 is the very same machine we've been designing since 1956. It's not planned to actually be built until 1970".
"But...Yet it's here now", Judge Badger replied.
"Remember, Clarence came from 2018 in it", Nathan affirmed to Judge Badger. "That's 48 years after the time machine will have been built".
"Oh yea yea, that does make sense", Judge Badger acknowledged, then requested, "You know, Nathan. I've never seen plans for a time machine before. I wouldn't mind having look at them".
"As much as I'd like to let you see them, I'm sorry to say I can't", Nathan Collie told Judge Badger. "Those are classified documents that can only be viewed by those who have a top secret security clearance".
"Oh, in that case, I shouldn't see them then", Judge Badger acknowledged.
Nathan Collie then invited Judge Badger, "But if you come out with us at seven o'clock tonight, you can see the actual time machine when Clarence departs for 2018. The machine is behind a rock formation near Highway 54 between Vaughn and Duran. Right now, I have two scientists guarding the machine. But in a couple of hours, I'm going to radio them to let everyone see the machine".
"Seeing something like that would be an experience I will never forget as long as I live", Judge Badger said, then asked, "Who else will be there?".
"Invite everyone you know", Nathan replied. "That's who else will be there".
"Yea, sure, okay", Judge Badger said. "Well. You're the 4th scientist who told me of this so far".
"How late is the courthouse open?", Nathan asked.
"We're here 'till five thirty", Judge Badger answered.
"It's three forty five now", Nathan said. "I can have other scientists be there before five to verify what we've told you".
"I'm beginning to believe it now", Judge Badger affirmed. "But I would still like to hear it from other scientists".
"I'll have them there. I'll be there too", Nathan Collie assured Judge Badger, then requested, "Go ahead and put Al back on for me".
After Judge Badger pawed the phone back over to Al, Nathan explained to Al what he had told Judge Badger.
"I picked up on some of it while Judge Badger was on the phone with you", Al acknowledged.
"I believe I convinced Marvin pretty good about all of this", Nathan replied, then instructed Al, "Have everyone wait nearby, or if they'll let you all use the lounge. I and other scientists will be there before five o'clock".
"Okay, we'll be here", Al said.
"We'll see you in an hour", Nathan replied just before him and Al hung up.
"So what's the plan?", Greg Otter asked.
"Nathan and other scientists will be here in an hour", Al answered.
"So what do you want to do until then", marge asked Al.
"Nathan said for us to stay nearby", Al replied.
"That's gonna be boring", Donna said.
"You all can use the lounge if you want", Judge Badger said to everyone. "If anyone says anything, tell them I said it's okay".
"We appreciate it. Thank you", Marge thanked Judge Badger.
As everyone began leaving the judges chambers to go to the lounge, Judge Badger mentioned, "Well. I guess considering this is all so incredible, everyone here might think I've gone loony toony when I tell them. But I'll start inviting everyone here just the same to come out with you all tonight".
"If they get the notion you're going loony toony, Your Honor, we'll verify everything", Al assured Judge Badger.
In the courthouse lounge, there were vending machines with sodas, candy and snacks. And one of the secretaries gave some typing paper and pencils to the cubs so they can doodle and draw to pass the hour waiting for Nathan and the others to arrive. Marge was sure to thank the secretary, as the cubs were delighted to receive the drawing supplies.
"Just imagine...It would be cool if we had Clarence's drawing tablet with us", Rex whispered as Jed, Clarence and Donna agreed.
"Not here. Not now", Al said to Rex. "Nathan said not to mention those gadgets yet".
When Judge Badger told some of the county staff about the time machine, and Clarence being from 2018, they thought he was joking with them at first. After all, Judge Badger has been known to have a good sense of humor. However, the staff members became somber and curious when Al, Greg and Gaylord verified it was actually they who had broke that news to Judge Badger. Members of the county staff, though being skeptical, were never the less curious as it what this was all about. Thus some of them did agree to come out to the time machine landing site that night.
In the meantime, Marge would occasionally come to the lounge to make sure the cubs were not misbehaving. The cubs in deed were behaving well and enjoying making their drawings.
At about ten minutes before five o'clock, Nathan Collie arrived with the other scientists, all of whom were driving their personal vehicles as there were not enough company vehicles to accommodate them all.
"They're here", Greg Otter announced, being the first to notice their arrival.
"Poindexter's uncle is here too", Al said as he noticed Professor Nickolas Fox parking his Rambler.
"They'll believe us now, I betcha", Rex proclaimed as he and the other cubs came out the lounge cheering.
"You cubs need to act respectfully while you're here", Marge told the cubs.
"Oh, they're okay. They're not hurting anything", Judge Badger assured Marge as everyone made their way to the entrance lobby.
"Hi there, Marvin", Nathan greeted Judge Badger upon entering the courthouse.
"We meet again. It's a pleasure", Judge Badger greeted as he and Nathan Collie shook paws.
"Here are the others I mentioned during our phone conversation who are here", Nathan said as Woodrow Raccoon stepped forward.
After shaking paws with Judge Badger, Woodrow testified, "I was among those who assisted in repairing that time machine that Al and the others told you about. And yes, there is a time machine right now just off from Highway 54 north of Duran. And Clarence did travel from the year 2018".
"Clarence won't be born until 2010", Al interjected.
Jamar Mongoose then testified, "I was called on to back engineer a replacement part that didn't yet exist in our day and time".
"Amazing", Judge Badger exclaimed. "I'm wondering what kind of part that could have been".
"I can't tell you that because it's classified information", Jamar Mongoose replied. "But I can tell you it's a part not known to our present day technology".
Archer Weasel, the county tax assessor, exclaimed, "I have to say it's mind boggling to me how you guys can figure out all this technical stuff ".
One of the secretaries, Alma Coyote, admitted, "I'd be lucky if I could repair a toaster, much less repair a time travel machine".
Harold Wolf replied to Alma Coyote, "We even had to construct an assembly of electronic tubes to substitute for damaged components that haven't been invent yet. That assembly now sits held inside the machine with rack runners and ties".
Johnny Ferret then stepped forward and proclaimed, "I myself traveled back to the year 1950 in it last night to test it after we completed the repairs".
As members of the county staff gazed at Johnny in amazement, Poindexter Fox affirmed, "Johnny Ferret did in deed leave this day and time for three hours last night. He was in deed in the year 1950 recently.
"He certainly was", Johnny Ferret's dad, Elliot, testified as he was holding an old mantle clock. "A couple of hours after midnight, my wife and I witnessed Johnny leave in the machine, then return a while before dawn. And we also remember that for three hours back in 1950 Johnny was the age he is now".
"We didn't recognize Johnny at first...Back in 1950 that is", Johnny's mom, Nora added, "One minute, Johnny was a teenager working on his hot rod. And next thing we knew, he was the age he is now and wasn't anywhere around his hot rod".
Daddy Elliot Ferret, still holding the mantle clock, continued, "And when Johnny had already gone back to 1960, he wasn't really gone at all. He was back to being a teenager again. And then Johnny said to us, 'Mom. Dad. You might think I'm crazy, but I was from 1960 for a while there there'. Then I told Johnny, "You're not crazy, Son. That actually happened' ".
"I remember that", Johnny Ferret said. "I was in my parents' driveway working on my hot rod. Then I suddenly found myself stepping out of the time machine being ten years older, and knowing the things I know now. And I thought to myself, 'Wow. I was just working on my hot rod a second ago'. Not to mention having a glimpse back then of  how I'll be ten years in the future".
"I thought Elliot's jaw was going to drop to the ground when we first saw the time machine back in 1950", Nora Ferret said.
"I bet it did", Judge Badger added.
"It felt like it would", Elliot agreed.
Judge Badger then said to Al, "And actually, It felt like my jaw was going to drop to the floor when you told me about that time machine a while ago".
"I have to admit, it's incredible to believe", Al replied. "But you'll have the opportunity to actually see it tonight".
"Oh, Dad", Johnny Ferret said. "Tell them what you told Skyler Poodle the time machine was while it was in our back yard".
"I remember him", Nora interjected. "Mr. Nosey Pooch".
"Oh that nosey neighbor we had back then", Elliot recalled with a laugh, then affirmed, "I told him it was a weather balloon. It had already gone back to 1960 by then".
Everyone got a good laugh about Elliot Ferret telling Skyler Poodle back in 1950 that the time machine was a weather balloon.
"Like what they called that UFO that crashed in Corona thirteen years ago", Justice of the Peace, Brett Retriever laughed.
"You should have seen the look on Mr. Nosey Pooch's face when my dad told him that", Johnny said.
"It was funny", Elliot Ferret affirmed.
"Oh, Elliot", Nora exclaimed. "Have Alma come over here to see your grandpa's old clock".
"You've been holding that clock a while", Clerk of Court Linda Mink commented to Elliot Ferret.
"That is a nice clock", Brett Retriever complimented.
"Alma", Elliot Ferret called secretary Alma Coyote over. "We've all known each other since fifteen years ago. Nora and I know you remember my grandpa's old mantle clock".
"Yes I do", Alma Coyote affirmed as she came walking over.
Alma then carefully looked over the clock while Elliot held it.
Alma Coyote then said in astonishment to Elliot and Nora, "Over the years, we've been in each other's homes lots of times, and I'd know that old clock anywhere. But somehow, I remember it was broken a few years ago. That time you two were moving that bureau and the clock fell off and broke".
"It never happened", Elliot assured Alma.
Nora added, "It would have happened if Johnny had not taken it straight to 1960 with him".
Johnny then explained, "After my parents recognized who I am back in 1950, and they saw the time machine, it was easy for me to convince them what was destined to happen to this clock someday".
Elliot confirmed, "A while before dawn this morning was the first time in ten years Nora and I have ever seen this clock. But as you can see, it's still in A number one shape".
County tax assessor, Archer Weasel, remarked, "Basically, that clock skipped the 1950s".
Judge Badger also noticed there were no signs what so ever that the clock had once been broken or repaired.
Judge Badger then asked, "Alma. Did you actually remember for sure that mantle clock was once broken?"
"I would have sworn under oath to that, Your Honor", Alma Coyote replied.
And being that Alma held a position of notary public, her reply in itself hit like a revelation to everyone who worked at the courthouse.
Nickolas Fox, who had be silent at first, introduced himself, "Hello everyone. Some of you may already know who I am. I'm Professor Nickolas Fox. I have a laboratory facility at Groom Lake, Nevada in Area 51 where two colleagues of mine and I have been working on a related project. For security reasons, I can not tell you what that project is. I can tell you this though. The expertise we gained through experiments we performed at Area 51 were most beneficial to the other scientists before you here today".
Harold Wolf then mentioned, "Back in April, we ran into a hurdle we were unable to overcome. We were about to give up on repairing the machine and let Clarence begin the rest of his life growing up through the 1960s. Had it not been for Professor Fox and his colleagues, Clarence wouldn't have been going home tonight".
"I firmly believe what you all are telling me now", Judge Badger acknowledged. "There are enough of you reputable scientists who can verify it".
Judge Badger then asked Al and Marge, "Back in February when you came to me to adopt Clarence, you never did tell me he was from the future".
"Would you have believed us?", Al asked.
"Now that you mentioned it. No. I wouldn't have", Judge Badger replied.
Nathan Collie also mentioned, "A concern on our part as well is the existence of the time machine had to be kept secret for as long as possible. It is a top secret project we've been designing for the U. S. Air Force. And anyone who had known Clarence was from the future, would also have to have known there was a means of time travel in which to get here".
Harold Wolf then added, "The only reason you all are now being told about the time machine, despite it's top secret status, is because Clarence's disappearance back to 2018 has to be accounted for. Had it not been for Clarence's situation, I can guarantee none of you all here would have ever heard of the existence of a time machine".
About that time, a raccoon came into the courthouse to have a deed recorded to a parcel of land he had recently paid off.
"My goodness. Is there a convention here?", the raccoon asked.
"Should we tell him?", Greg Otter asked.
"I have an idea how to put it to him", Nathan Collie said.
"Put what?...What is it?", the Raccoon asked, then said, "I can come back another time".
"That's okay. That won't be necessary", Judge Badger assured the raccoon.
"Nathan Collie then said to the raccoon, "Something special and big is going to take place off of Highway 54 just north of Duran at 9:00 tonight, and we're inviting everyone we can to witness it".
"What is it?", the raccoon asked.
"Come on out and see", Harold Wolf invited the raccoon. "And invite everyone you know".
"Are we being visited by extraterrestrials?!", the raccoon then asked with enthusiasm.
"Not quite that", Harold answered the raccoon, then gave directions on how to get out there.
"Okay. I'll be there with the wife and cubs", the raccoon said.
With that out of the way, the raccoon was shown the way to the office to get the deed to his land recorded.
Once the deed was recorded, the raccoon said on his way out, "I'll see you all tonight then".
After the raccoon left, Marge suggested, "I'm sure Clarence's school teacher, Glenda Otter, would like to see him off ".
"We almost forgot", Al mentioned. "Speaking about school, we'll need school manuscripts of Clarence's attendance here in the 3rd grade".
Marge also mentioned, "He'll need that in 2018 so he won't be made to repeat the 3rd grade over again".
"I'll see to it to get that for you", Judge Badger promised Al and Marge.
Judge Badger then mentioned, "By the way, I can invite every member of the school faculty who wants to attend. Maybe we could convince them tonight's event will have some educational benefit to it".
"That would be great", Nathan Collie replied. "And you have a team of reputable scientists to verify what you have to tell them".
"I'm wanting everyone to be out there at nineteen hundred", Professor Nickolas Fox announced. "That's seven o'clock for the rest of you all. It's twenty minutes after five o'clock now. That's a little more than an hour and a half from now".
Nathan Collie then instructed the other scientists, "Stay here a while to help Judge Badger invite more animals to come out to the site tonight. But leave here in time to be there yourselves at nineteen hundred. I have to leave here right now so I can authorize Lenard Wolverine and Calvin Fox to allow others to see the machine".
Al mentioned, "We need to go to the house to collect Clarence's belongings to take with him".
"You and Marge go ahead and get that taken care of ", Nathan said. "But return the micro-bus first and take your station wagon. There's plenty of time to still do that and be there by nineteen hundred".
"Okay, we're out of here", Al said. "We'll see you at the time machine".
"Come along everyone", Marge said to the cubs.

"Professor Nickolas Fox mentioned to Nathan Collie, "I'm heading on out to the time machine now. I want to do a double check inspection of the settings and calculations before Clarence leaves tonight".
As Nathan Collie and Professor Nickolas Fox made their way to their cars, Nathan Collie mentioned, "It's getting closer to that time now".
Nickolas Fox replied, "Yes it is. In a little more than three and a half hours, Clarence will be on his way home".
As Al, Marge and the cubs were boarding the Volkswagen micro-bus, Marge called to Nathan and Nickolas, "We'll see you there tonight".
"See you there", Nathan said as he got into his Mercury.
"We'll be there", Nickolas Fox said just before he cranked up his Rambler.
Once Al, Marge and the cubs were aboard the micro-bus, Al cranked up that 25 horse power Volkswagen motor and they were on their way to the Horizon Innovations laboratory complex to get their Plymouth station wagon.
As they began heading south on Route 41, Donna remarked, "I hope this pokey pony bus gets us there on time".
"We still have an hour and a half to be there yet", Marge assured Donna.
"It's still three and a half hours before Clarence actually leaves", Al added.
"Clarence won't be stuck in this day and time if we miss getting there will he?", Rex asked.
"I think we'll make it", Jed surmised.
"What Rex said won't happen if we miss it, will it?", Clarence further asked.
"It would just delay everything for another day is all", Al answered Rex and Clarence. "Professor Fox would have to recalculate and reset the departure and destination times, and set other various settings. But despite this bus being slow, we're still not planning on missing it anyway".
"Let's think more on the positive, shall we", Marge suggested to the cubs.
"That's right", Al added.
Of course, as the family continued down Route 41 in the micro-bus on their way to Highway 60, Nathan Collie was able proceed way on ahead in his 1960 Mercury, and in almost no time was out of sight. Even Professor Nickolas Fox was eventually able to leave the micro-bus behind in his Rambler.
"There they go", Rex commented.
"Poor little pokey pony bus can't keep up", Donna added.
"This bus will still get us there", Al assured the cubs.
"I'm glad this bus doesn't have feelings", Marge jested as everyone laughed.
"Oh yea", Al laughed, "It would have broke down on us a long time ago".
Before long, they came to Highway 60, where they turned east to proceed to the lab facility in Encino. Nearly an hour after leaving Estancia, the family was finally arriving in Encino where the lab complex is. The driving distance between those two towns is 48 miles, and that micro-bus wasn't designed to be driven over 50 mph.
"We're here", Jed proclaimed as Al was pulling into the parking area of the lab complex.
"Yeahhhh", Donna and Rex cheered.
"You see. That bus got us here", Marge said to the cubs".
"I glad we're getting back into our Plymouth though", Al added as everyone exited the micro-bus.
Nathan Collie met the Coyote Family in the parking lot.
"It's almost eighteen twenty" (6:20 pm), Nathan said to Al and Marge. "Professor Fox should be arriving to the site any time. And everyone else who are going to be there are on their way now from Estancia. I'll go ahead and take the micro-bus keys here to save you time".
"We still have to get Clarence's belongings at the house", Marge said.
"At least Duran is only 15 miles from here", Al added.
"And now were not stuck with that ole pookey pokey pony bus any more", Donna remarked as everyone laughed including Nathan Collie.
Nathan then said to Al and Marge, "I know that micro-bus being slow took up some time coming from Estancia. If you can't make it to the site by nineteen hundred (7:00 pm), I explain that to Professor Fox. Clarence isn't scheduled to leave until twenty one hundred (9:00 pm) anyway".
"Okay. We'll get there when we can", Al said to Nathan as the family was getting into their station wagon.
"See you all there", Nathan replied as Marge cranked up the station wagon.
Right away, the family headed out from the lab complex, through Encino, across the Santa Fe railroad tracks, then along Route 3 to Duran.
Traveling at 65 mph, and 70 mph in some places along Route 3, certainly made better time than if they still had that Volkswagen micro-bus.
"We're cruising good now", Jed commented.
"I have to say though, that Volkswagen bus was an experience for me", Clarence admitted.
"I would like to have taken pictures of it to take back with you", Marge said to Clarence. "But we didn't have the time for it today".
"Yea, time's running tight now", Al added.
It was about a minute past 6:30 when they arrived to Duran, and from there it was a left onto Cedar Street, then a short way to their house.
As Marge was pulling up into the driveway, Al mentioned to the cubs, "You know we won't have time to play around. We need to start getting Clarence's things together".
As everyone was getting out of the station wagon, Marge suggested, "We have some empty boxes in the laundry room for Clarence's things".
"Good idea", Al acknowledged. "That would keep everything in place during his journey".
After Al unlocked the front door to the house, Marge and Jed got some boxes out of the laundry room.
"Gee, Mom. Who would have thought a long time ago these boxes will be going to the future", Rex said.
"Who would have thought. Right", Marge replied.
Al made a phone call to Frank and Wanda to let them know the time to be out at the site had been bumped from 8:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
As Al and Frank greeted each other over the phone, Al could hear music from a radio in the background.
The song was; Private Party, by Sonya and The Capris (1959).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf06LFf-hc8
"Hold up a second, Al", Frank said, then told his teenage daughter, "Dotty, turn that radio down. I'm on the phone".
"Okay Daddy", Al could hear in the background as the music was turned down.
"Okay, Al. What's up?", Frank asked.
Al informed Frank, "The time for us to be at the time machine site has been bumped up to seven o'clock. We're preparing to leave shortly".
"It's not far from seven o'clock now", Frank mentioned.
"We'll be a few minutes late getting out there", Al said to Frank. "We're still collecting up Clarence's belongings right now to go with him".
"Do the other neighbors know about the time being bumped up?", Frank asked.
"There's no time for us to call them now", Al replied. "It's not important for our neighbors to be there by seven anyway".
"Okay then. I'll tell Wanda about the schedule change", Frank replied before he and Al hung up. "We'll see you all out there".
"See you out there, Frank", Al replied.
In several boxes, Clarence's Tonka toy size trucks and toy construction equipment were packed. Some of those toys were acquired from the S&H Green Stamp store in Albuquerque. And all of them were the kind made of real steel with real rubber tires and had realistic looks. These were brands such as Tonka, Buddy L, Nylint and Structo.
"I just thought of an idea about these toys", Al said to Marge.
"That is?", Marge asked.
Al then suggested, "If we keep them put away here in safe keeping with us through the years, we could give them to Clarence when he's still a toddler".
Clarence began to picture how cool that would be to have had possession of those toys since being a much younger age of four or five years old.
However, Marge mentioned, "That would be nice, Al. But we would have no way of knowing what could happen to those toys over the years between now and 2013 or so".
Thus it was agreed it would be best for Clarence to take his toy trucks and toy construction equipment in the time machine with him. At least Clarence did acquire those toys at age eight.
"My slot car also", Clarence mentioned as he fetched his 1/24th scale slot car fashioned after a 1960 Chrysler 300 that he use to race with the other cubs on the track at Ted Badger's Hobby Shop.
"We should put your slot car in a box for smaller things so the larger toys don't crush it", Al said to Clarence.
There was a box for all the photos and 8mm movies that were taken throughout Clarence's stay in 1960. As for the brand new 8mm Revere movie projector Al and Marge got for Clarence to take back to 2018 to play his home movies on, that projector was still in the box it came in, along with a case of replacement projector lamp bulbs.
Al suggested to Clarence, "When you get back to 2018, you should let your parents operate this projector after they read the instruction manual".
"Don't try to run it yourself unless your parents show you how", Marge further said to Clarence.
"I bet that will be the world's only brand new movie projector in 2018", Rex remarked.
"It willbe", Clarence agreed. "They won't be making them in my day and time".
"And out of the box for the first time 58 years later", Jed added.
"It will be a brand new antique", Donna proclaimed as everyone agreed.
Clarence also made sure to pack his laptop, drawing tablet, stylus, flashdrives and cell phone in his backpack, which were the things he arrived to 1960 with.
"You don't want to forget your school clothes and shoes", Donna said to Clarence.
"Yea, I don't want to forget that", Clarence replied.
Clarence knew, as well as the other family members knew, those clothes and shoes wouldn't exactly be the latest styles in 2018, though there were cool just the same. Thus Clarence's new clothes and shoes, presently in style in 1960, were also packed for Clarence to take with him to 2018.
Clarence was presently wearing different clothes from what he was wearing when he arrived to 1960. As Clarence was packing other clothes, Rex noticed the Bruno Mars Bear T shirt Clarence had worn when he arrived to 1960.
"That Bruno Mars Bear shirt is so cool. I wish those were around now days", Rex complimented Clarence about the shirt.
"I can always get another one in 2018", Clarence assured Rex, then offered, "I'll give you this one if you want it".
"Oh wow. Cool", Rex accepted Clarence's offer.
"What do you say to Clarence?", Marge asked Rex.
"Oh, thank you, Clarence", Rex thanked Clarence.
Thus the Bruno Mars Bear T shirt was to stay behind in 1960 for Rex to have.
Looking out of the glass patio doors of Al and Marge's bedroom, Clarence noticed Al taking another box of toys out to the Plymouth nine passenger station wagon.

Floor Plan of Al and Marge Coyote's Home by moyomongoose

+24

As Al came back into the house to get another box, Clarence mentioned, "Oh, Dad. I want to go to the landing site in the Chrysler 300".
"The station wagon has more room", Al suggested to Clarence.
"Why do you want to take the Chrysler?", Marge asked Clarence.
Clarence explained, "When you all first picked me up in January when I came here, it was in the Chrysler. I would like to go back to the time machine in the Chrysler".
Realizing that meant a lot to Clarence, everyone agreed they'll take the Chrysler 300. Thus Al went back out to the station wagon and transferred the boxes of Clarence's belongings to the trunk of the Chrysler.
"You know. We haven't eaten supper", Rex mentioned.
"We didn't have time", Marge said to Rex. "I'll make some sandwiches. But they're to take with us".
"Okay", Rex agreed.
"We can't have one now?", Donna asked.
"They're to take with us", Marge affirmed as she began making the sandwiches.
After Al came back into the house from transferring the boxes to the Chrysler 300, he asked Marge, "Are you sure we have time to have sandwiches right now?"
"We haven't eaten supper, and the cubs are hungry", Marge said to Al. "But as I told them, the sandwiches are to take with us".
"Well then, that will work", Al replied, then said, "We have enough Cokes in the frigidaire for everyone. I'll grab those to go with the sandwiches".
"Don't forget the bottle opener like we did that time last year", Marge reminded Al.
"I got it", Al assured Marge. "I'm not making that mistake again".
"We should also bring the cameras to get photos and movies of Clarence leaving", Marge mentioned.
"Night sensitive film needs to be loaded in them though", Al mentioned.
"We do have some for the Rolleiflex and the Revere", Marge assured Al.
"Just bring it for now. We can load the cameras when we get to the site", Al said to Marge. "But let me get permission from Nathan Collie before we take any pictures of that time machine".
"Needless to say, Clarence would have no way to take those pictures and movies with him", Rex said.
Al mentioned to Rex, "The idea for those pictures and movies would be to keep them in a safe place for Clarence until 2018".
Jed added, "Yea, that's right. We'd have them through the years, then present them to Clarence when he arrives in 2018".
"Yea, those pictures and movies won't even be developed in time to leave in the time machine", Donna said.
"So those pictures will actually be old by the time I see them", Clarence added.
"Well enough about the pictures", Marge said to the cubs, then asked Al, "Do we have everything?"
"This here is the last of it", Al affirmed after packing the sandwiches, cold Cokes and the bottle opener in a styrofoam cooler.
Thus everyone took the last of Clarence's things out to the Chrysler 300, along with the sandwiches and Coca-colas, and along with the cameras which were the Rolleiflex 35mm and the Revere 8mm movie camera.
Everyone then got into the Chrysler 300, with Al driving, Marge on the front passenger's seat with Donna on her lap, Jed on the right rear seat, and Rex sharing the left rear seat with Clarence...Just like it was on that cold rainy morning of February 9th when the family first met Clarence. It was 7:16 pm when Al cranked up that 375 horse power Chrysler, and then they were on their way to the time machine landing site.
After turning off of Cedar Street onto Route 3 toward Highway 54 and the railroad crossing, Clarence got his last look at the furniture store that would be a boarded up building in 2018.

A Short While Before Sunset in Duran, New Mexico [Page 2] by moyomongoose

A Short While Before Sunset in Duran, New Mexico by moyomongoose

And just before they went over the Southern Pacific Railroad crossing near Highway 54, Clarence got his last look at the W. M. Hindi store still being in business. In 2018, that store had long since been a dilapidated old building.
Once past the railroad tracks, it was then a left turn to head north on Highway 54, then only a few miles to where the time machine is.
A song playing on the radio of the Chrysler 300 was;
My Little Corner of the World by Anita Bryant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ZI7HUrZ5Y

It was already nineteen minutes past seven pm, thus a short while before dusk as the Coyote Family proceeded along Highway 54 to the time machine landing site.
"In about 25 minutes from now, this will be the last sunset in 1960 you'll be seeing", Al said to Clarence as they proceeded along Highway 54.
"I feel a little nervous with everything being so soon and all, but I'm glad to finally be going home", Clarence cheerfully said.
"A little more than an hour and a half from now, you'll be on your way home", Marge said to Clarence.
"Just remember what everyone taught you about regulating that central energy column, and you'll make it back home okay", Al assured Clarence. "Professor Fox and the others have the rest of the controls set so you won't have to worry about those".
It wasn't much more than five miles from Duran to the time machine landing site, in which the Coyote Family made it there in another four minutes or so. It was by now going on twenty five minutes past seven, being 17 minutes before sunset.
"Wow, look at all the cars", Jed said as they were approaching the site of the time machine.
Al replied, "I bet there's never been this many cars parked along Highway 54 in one place before".
Both sides of Highway 54 near the time machine landing site were lined up with parked cars, some of which were double parked. And there was a big crowd of anthro-animals milling around, Among the crowd were also several state law enforcement officers who stopped by to render traffic control due to so many cars and pedestrians being present on the highway.
"I guess it's without saying we don't need to practice the entry and exit procedures any more", Rex added.
"That's right. That procedure no longer applies", Al assured Rex.
As the Coyote Family was about to pull off the highway toward where the time machine is, they noticed there was no place to park beside or behind the rock formation.
"Looks like we'll have to park along side the highway", Marge said to Al.
Just as Al was about to drive over to park further down on the shoulder of highway, Harold Wolf approached the car.
"You won't find a place to park back there", Harold said.
"We noticed that", Al replied. "I see we have a big crowd here tonight".
"It's a good thing", Harold said. "Makes it less likely for anyone to question why Clarence will no longer be around".
"You're right about that", Al said. "Coming up with an alibi for an unexplained disappearance of a missing cub has a way of being tough".
"This way, seeing is believing", Marge added.
Al then mentioned to Harold, "Of course, once Clarence leaves, I'm sure Nathan and the rest of us will have to explain why everyone here knows about a top secret classified machine tonight".
"That machine will be back in the future", Harold Wolf mentioned. "Like in the case with Clarence, that machine will not yet exist in this day and time".
"Good point there, Harold", Al replied. "I get what you're saying. No one can assign a security status to something that doesn't exist".
"Right.", Harold affirmed. "After twenty one hundred tonight, it will go back to being only our research, development and technical drawings being classified. Hence why Nathan denied authorization for Greg to take technical drawings to Estancia earlier this evening".
There was then the sound of dual tone horns from behind. It was a 1958 Chrysler DeSoto that couldn't get by. Al's 1960 Chrysler 300 was blocking the northbound lane of the highway.
"I'll have to get this car off the highway and go park", Al said to Harold.
"Okay", Harold replied, then offered, "I get you all some assistance for any of the things you need to take to the time machine".
"We'll appreciate it", Al replied just before he drove over to a place to park off the highway.
As Al parked the car, the family recognized the cars of others they know who have come to see Clarence leave. The atmosphere of crowd being there felt almost like that of a carnival.
"I see Frank and Wanda's station wagon", Al mentioned, noticing their green, six cylinder, 1955, Chevy wagon.
"That means Sheryl is already here", Clarence said, knowing this will be the last good bye with Sheryl being his same age.
As everyone was getting out of the car, Donna noticed Anthony and Victoria Lynx's red and white, 1959, Chevy, Impala station wagon.
"Ryan Lynx and Janice Lynx are here", Donna said. "I see their mom and dad's car".
"Jed, bring the cooler with the Cokes and sandwiches in it", Marge said to Jed.
"Okay, Mom", Jed replied as he grabbed the styrofoam cooler.
Al also grabbed the Revere 8mm movie camera as Marge Grabbed the 35mm Rolleiflex camera, along with the night sensitive film for both cameras.
"Al. Marge.", a young adult male coyote called out.
"Over here", followed by a young adult female coyote.
It was Jerald and Cindy Coyote.
"Oh hello, Jerald. Cindy", Marge
"Where's Frank and Wanda?", Al asked Jerald and Cindy.
"Mom and Dad are over by the time machine", Jerald answered. "Sheryl is there with them. So is Dotty and Buddy".
Cindy mentioned, "We saw Professor Fox and Woodrow Raccoon making last minute adjust...Ohh".
"What is it?". Marge asked Cindy.
"The little one's been starting to kick by now", Cindy answered.
"You'll be proud parents before long", Al congratulated Jerald and Cindy.
"When is the cub due?", Marge asked.
"We're thinking in mid September", Jerald replied.
"That's only a month away", Al added.
"Can we teach him how to drive our go cart?", Donna asked as the adults laughed.
"It could be a girl, you know", Marge said to Donna.
"Well, her...If it is a her", Donna said.
"That will still be a few years away yet", Cindy assured Donna.
"That's right", Jerald added. "The little one needs a chance to grow up some".
"You're that cub from the future", the mother of a cat family said to Clarence.
"Wow, cool", one of her male cubs exclaimed as her other cubs also look on in amazement.
Daddy cat had already walked on up ahead.
"Harrison", Mama cat called to her husband. "That coyote cub from the future. He's over here".
"Oh wow", Harrison cat exclaimed as he came walking back to greet Clarence.
As the cat family greeted Clarence, Clarence said, "Gee, I guess I feel like a celebrity".
"You are to us", a female cat cub replied as she shook paws with Clarence".
"It would seem that way", Marge said.
"Well. It's getting past seven thirty five already", Al mentioned upon looking at his watch. "We might as well be making our way to the machine".
As everyone agreed to start making their way to the time machine, a 1953 Plymouth station wagon pulled up and parked on the shoulder of the highway. It was Rufus Opossum and his wife Laura, with their cubs 14 year old Lisa, 11 year old Vince, 8 year old Lester, 7 year old Dora and 6 year old Sheila.
"You're Clarence", Rufus Opossum said to Clarence as the Opossum Family was getting out of the station wagon.
"We didn't know you were from the year 2018", Lisa said.
"And I was in Clarence's 3rd grade class", Lester proclaimed.
Rufus mentioned, "All the times I've seen Clarence while doing my cleaning chores at the school, I would have never guessed he was from the future".
"What's in the cooler box?", little Dora Opossum asked Jed.
"We haven't had supper yet, so this...", Jed began to answer.
"Not to cut the conversation short", Al interjected. "But we were expected at the machine more than thirty minutes ago".
"Oh, yea. Okay", Rufus Opossum said. "We'll go ahead and follow you down there".
Thus everyone again began to make their way to the time machine. As the coyote family, opossum family and cat family proceeded from the highway to the time machine, many anthro-animals pointed out Clarence and mentioned about him being "that coyote cub from the future".
Upon arriving to the time machine, Frank and Wanda Coyote greeted the family, along with their daughter Sheryl, and teenage daughter Dotty and her boy friend Buddy.
"I guess this is good by for now", Sheryl said to Clarence as they both hugged.
"I know you'll be all grown up the next time I see you after tonight", Clarence said to Sheryl.
"Will I be all grown up and everything by then", Sheryl asked her parents.
"That will be at least 50 years from now", Frank answered Sheryl.
Clarence then said to Sheryl, "You know. Last night, I dreamed you were grown up, and you were holding me after I was born".
"Clarence told us about that dream this morning", Marge said to Frank and Wanda.
"It would be possible", Wanda replied.
Frank then asked Jerald and Cindy, "How is the yet to be born member of your family doing?"
"Doing well, Dad", Jerald said to Frank.
"I felt the little one kick a while ago", Cindy added.
Also at the time machine among the large crowd of anthro-animals, was Nathan Collie there to greet them as well.
"Hello Al. Marge", Nathan said. "Professor Fox was understanding when I explained to him why you'd be late".
"We appreciate it, Nathan", Al replied, then mentioned, "I noticed everyone is standing back away from the machine".
"We felt it best to keep the crowd at least 20 feet away being the machine is classified", Nathan replied. "Except for us scientists that is".
"What about the cubs and I?", Marge asked.
Nathan assured Marge, "We've also made special exception for you and the cubs being that you all are Clarence's step family".
"Clarence does have some friends playmates here too", Al reminded Nathan.
"Depending on who they are, I'll make judgement calls on a case by case basis", Nathan promised Al.
Nathan then asked Al, "By the way, were you able to get all of Clarence's things packed?"
"We did. We got everything in the trunk of the car", Al replied.
"And we packed a supper too", Jed proclaimed as he held up the cooler.
"Okay, Jed. Your father and Nathan are talking right now", Marge said.
"I told Al I'd get them assistance carrying Clarence's things to the machine", Harold Wolf said to Nathan.
"Oh my gosh", 3rd grade teacher, Glenda Otter exclaimed. "Clarence. I never thought in my wildest dreams I'd teach a student in my class who's from the future".
"Yes I sure am, Mrs. Glenda", Clarence replied. "I just couldn't let anyone know it back then"
"That's what they told me", Glenda Otter said to Clarence.
"We never thought we would have adopted a cub from the future", Marge Coyote said to Glenda Otter.
"Oh, I hear that", Glenda replied to Marge. "Those were experiences for all of us".
Glenda's husband, Dexter, had for the past ten minutes, been looking in awe over the outside of the machine, though keeping his 20 foot distance as he had been told by Woodrow Raccoon.
"Dexter. Over here", Glenda called her husband. "Here's that student of mine who's from the future".
"So that's Clarence?", Dexter Otter asked as he came walking over while keeping his 20 distance from the railroad tie foundation of the former utility building that surrounded the time machine.
"This is him", Glenda assured Dexter, then briefly introduced the Coyote Family to him.
"I bet you're glad to be going home, young fella", Dexter said as he shook paws with Clarence.
"I sure am. But I'm going to miss everyone here", Clarence replied.
"Oh. Yea, I can understand that", Dexter affirmed.
Judge Badger then stepped forward and said, "Al. Marge. I got the copies here of the 3rd grade school manuscripts I said I'd get for Clarence".
"Oh thank you. We appreciate it", Al said as Judge Badger pawed the manuscript document copies over to him.
"That needs to be put with Clarence's belongings to go with him", Marge said of the manuscript copies.
"Greg. Johnny,", Harold Wolf called out to Greg Otter and Johnny Ferret. "Can you two go help Al, Marge and their cubs bring Clarence's belongings here to the time machine?"
"Sure thing", Johnny replied as Greg agreed.
"Where do I put our supper so another cub doesn't get a hold of it", Jed asked.
Professor Nickolas Fox assured the coyotes from inside the time machine, "You can set that cooler and the cameras here in the machine until you get back. They'll be safe here".
"Before we do that, I want to get a few pictures of the sunset with the cubs in it", Marge said as Al pawed a roll of 35 mm film to her.
"This is the last sunset in 1960 Clarence will witness, and the sun is about to set now", Al added as he began loading the Revere 8mm movie camera.
It was only a couple of minutes away from 7:42 pm, which is when the sun was to set on August the 18th.
"I take it you'll have to hold on to these pictures for Clarence until 2018", Danny Otter said to Al.
Al replied to Danny, "Well yea. Once the time machine is gone, the only way these pictures can get to 2018 is being kept with us through the coming years".
The evening was warm with a gentle breeze, and with a clear sky overhead as the sun was about to set.
"It's a beautiful sunset this evening, I must say", Lidia Otter mentioned.
"Oh it is", Danny agreed Lidia. "They'll be lots of stars out tonight too with the sky being so clear".
Danny Otter and his girl friend, Lidia, had just recently arrived.
Anthony and Victoria Lynx asked Al and Marge if their cubs, Ryan and Janice, can be in the pictures, which Al and Marge agreed. It was also agreed to let Sheryl be in the pictures and movie standing beside Clarence.
A couple of minutes later, the sun finally set as Marge took pictures, and Al got movie footage of the cubs with the sun setting on the western horizon in the background. Now that the sun had set, that was the last sun set in 1960 Clarence will ever witness. The next sun set Clarence was to witness would be in 2018.
"I know these pictures and movie will turn out great", Al said after the sun had gone down.
"Can you have some extra copies made for me when you get them developed?", school teacher, Glenda Otter asked. "That would mean a lot to me".
"I don't see why not", Al replied.
"Sure. We can", Marge assured Glenda.
The cooler and cameras were then placed in the time machine for temporary safe keeping long enough for the Al, Marge and the cubs to bring Clarence's belongings from the Chrysler 300 to the time machine with the help of Greg Otter and Johnny Ferret.
"Lenard. Calvin", Nathan Collie said. "How about lending them a helping paw with Clarence's stuff if you would".
"You got it", Lenard agreed along with Calvin.
"Oh Clarence", Professor Nickolas Fox said. "Let them bring your belongings here. I'd like for you to get some more practice on regulating that central energy column".
"Go over with Nickolas and Woodrow in the time machine", Al said to Clarence. "The more practice you can get on that, the better".
"Okay, Dad", Clarence agreed.
Clarence then made his way to the time machine as he walked across one of the fallen walls to what use to be the former utility building that once housed the machine.
"Hey, kiddo. We have to stay back 20 feet from that wood layout around the machine", a ferret said to Clarence.
"It's okay. He's that coyote cub from the future", a cougar informed the ferret.
"Oh, so that's him", the ferret acknowledged. "I didn't know".
"He's with us", Woodrow Raccoon called out from inside the time machine to the ferret, then said to Clarence, "Come on".
Clarence then continued toward the machine, then climbed over the railroad tie foundation. As Clarence climbed up into the time machine, those anthro-animals who had cars parked near the machine positioned their cars facing the machine, then turned their headlights on to provide light for those in the machine. Also, they left the engines of their cars running so batteries don't run down with the lights on.
"Well, we have plenty of light now", Woodrow Raccoon proclaimed.
"You all with your car lights on. We're greatly appreciating this. Thank you", Professor Fox called out thanking those who used their cars to provide light.
"It's ready", Woodrow Raccoon said. "It's in power requirement mode".
"It's all yours, Clarence", Professor Fox said as Clarence began regulating the energy column.
"Is he getting ready to take off to the future now?", a teenage beaver with a group of other teens asked.
"Not for another hour yet", Woodrow Raccoon answered the beaver, then told him and the other teens he was with, "You cubs need to back away from this machine, and 20 feet beyond the outside of the wooden foundation perimeter".
Professor Fox then told the teenagers, "Get back outside the wooden perimeter now. And stay back 20 feet away from it".
The group of four teenagers were standing inside the railroad tie foundation perimeter and right up at the door of the machine.
"Yea, but...We're not hurtin' nothing", a teenage squirrel in the group insisted.
"Only those with a security clearance can be this close to this machine", Professor Fox told the teenagers. "You were told to back away".
"But little Flash Gordon coyote cub is actually in the machine?", a teenage bobcat in the group argued.
"Special circumstances. Back away now or face getting arrested", Woodrow Raccoon warned the bobcat teen and other reluctant teenagers.
Nathan Collie, who was standing not far from the machine, told the teenagers, "You heard what you were told".
"We're not touching nothing", the teenage beaver retorted. "What's the big spiel?"
Others in the crowd had already begun commenting things like, "Those teenagers don't know how to follow rules, do they", and, "They'll wished they had when they get in trouble", and, "Where are their parents anyway?".
Nathan Collie then got the attention of a New Mexico state police officer, Sergeant Alton Wolf, who was nearby.
"I see what's going on", Alton Wolf assured Nathan Collie, then told the teenagers, "Right now, if these scientists want you youngsters arrested on federal espionage charges, I'd have to do it".
"Oh shit", the teenage squirrel exclaimed.
"Choice is yours", Woodrow Raccoon sternly warned the group of teenagers.
That got the attention of the group of teenagers real quick, thus they stepped back outside the foundation perimeter, and backed off 20 feet away from it and the machine like they were told to do to begin with.
By now, nearly everyone else was giving the four teenagers crossed looks as they had already made a spectacle of themselves.
"I noticed Clarence wasn't distracted when we were dealing with those four youngsters", Woodrow Raccoon mentioned to Professor Nickolas Fox.
"I made sure to just pay attention to the energy column", Clarence proclaimed as he continue regulating the central energy column.
"That's the way to do it", Professor Fox complimented Clarence.
Sergeant Alton Wolf then said to the four teens who had refused to step away from the machine, "You cubs, over here".
"Are we in trouble?", a teenage fox in the group asked.
"Not now", Alton Wolf replied to the fox teen, then ordered all four of the teens, "Come over here a minute".
The officer then gave the teens a five minute lecture how serious of a matter it is to enter restricted areas, as well as snooping around things that are classified top secret.
"Did you teenagers know you were flirting with a ten year federal prison sentence doing what you were doing over there?", Sergeant Alton Wolf asked the teens during the lecture, mostly just to scare them though.
"T-T-Ten years?!", the teenage squirrel asked, trembling with fear.
"Yes. Ten years", Alton Wolf  affirmed. "I'm not even allowed near that machine, except if I had to go there to arrest someone, namely you guys".
State Trooper Dave Bear was also there, and walked by noticing the lecture Sergeant Alton Wolf was giving the four teenagers.
"I see we got four little bad guys here", Dave Bear remarked.
"Trying to talk them out of going bad anyway", Alton Wolf replied.
"Oh, you guys will love it in the Crossbar Hotel", Dave Bear said to the teenagers.
"Yea, you don't want to go there do you?", Alton Wolf asked the teenagers.
"No...No, sir. I don't", the teenage beaver answered Sergeant Alton Wolf.
"Well actions speak louder than words, sonny boy", Trooper Dave Bear replied to the young beaver.
After the lecture was over, the four teenagers were then on much better behavior.
It was about this time that Al, Marge, Jed, Rex, Donna, Greg, Lenard, Johnny and Calvin returned from the Chrysler 300 with the boxes of Clarence's belongings. By then it was five minutes till eight o'clock.
Al, Marge, Greg, Lenard, Johnny and Calvin then carried the boxes to the time machine and loaded them aboard as Clarence continued practicing regulating the energy column.
"Place the boxes over on this side away from the electronic tube assembly", Woodrow Raccoon ordered.
"Right", Professor Fox added. "We don't want those boxes bumping that assembly".
After all of the belongings Clarence has in 1960 were loaded aboard the time machine, Rex commented, "Loading all of Clarence's stuff in the time machine reminds me of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs' tombs".
"How did you derive to that, Son?", Al asked Rex.
Rex answered, "You know how when a pharaoh died, they put all his belongings in his pyramid with him so he could have all his stuff in the afterlife?"
"Oh, I get it", Al replied. "We loaded Clarence's belongings in the time machine here in 1960 so he can have them in 2018".
"Clarence, our little pharaoh", Donna jested as everyone within earshot chuckled.
Clarence practiced on regulating the central energy column for about 12 minutes longer. Then, shortly before 8:15 pm, Professor Fox made the call to conclude the practice session.
"That was the last practice run we have time for", Professor Fox said to Clarence as Woodrow Raccoon set the energy column back to idle mode. "The next time you'll be doing this, it will be the real thing".
"I noticed you all brought a dinner out here with you", Woodrow said to Al and Marge.
Professor Fox said, "You might as well take a short break for dinner while Woodrow and I make some final preparations".
Thus Al, Marge, and the cubs took a seat on the railroad tie foundation perimeter to have the sandwiches and Cokes.
Calvin Fox wasn't completely sure that Sheryl was Clarence's girl friend.
So as Sheryl made her way over to the foundation perimeter to sit by Clarence, Calvin Fox asked, "Is she okay being here?"
"I'm told she's a girl friend to Clarence", Nathan Collie assured Calvin Fox. "She can come over here".
Thus Sheryl took a seat beside Clarence. Al and Marge packed a few extra sandwiches and Cokes, so they gave Sheryl a sandwich and a Coke.
"Oh thank you", Sheryl thanked Al and Marge. "I was getting kind of hungry".
"This is the last meal where Clarence will be with us", Al mentioned.
"Yes, I know", Marge replied. "It felt like this day would never come".
"I'm going to miss you really bad", Sheryl said with tears in her eyes to Clarence as she and him hugged.
"You'll be all grown up and all when I see you again", Clarence replied.
"And I was wanting you to be here for my birthday tomorrow", Sheryl said to Clarence.
"Sheryl turns nine years old tomorrow", Wanda mentioned.
The crowd of the rest of the anthro-animals were emotionally moved seeing how sad that felt that Clarence is going back to 2018, thus he and Sheryl will be parting ways.
Frank and Wanda Coyote were also allowed near the time machine.
"They're the little girl's parents", Nathan informed those scientists who hadn't yet known Frank and Wanda.
Frank and Wanda then took a seat with Al and Marge's family on the railroad tie foundation.
The cameras were still aboard the time machine. And by now, the stars began to show on that warm, gently breezy, summer night.
"Let's get the cameras", Marge said to Al. "I want to get memories of this moment".
As Al agreed, Nathan Collie said to Marge, "If any of those pictures are going to have the time machine in the background, be about 25 feet away from the machine if you would".
"We will", Marge assured Nathan.
Well, that was a 'yes' to photographing the time machine that Al didn't have to ask permission for, but it had to be from 25 feet back. Thus, Al and Marge got pictures and movie footage of some of their last times when Clarence will be in 1960 with them. Of course, Al and Marge also made sure that if the time machine was to be in any of the pictures and movie footage, they would be about 25 feet back away.
From inside the machine, Professor Fox said to Clarence, "I'm getting ready to set the grid coordinates locator. I need to know what will be on that stretch of land across Highway 54 from where your family would be 2018".
"Oh that's the same in 2018 as it is now", Clarence answered. "That land never changed".
Professor Fox asked, "Everything between Highway 60, the railroad and Highway 54?"
"All that land's the same", Clarence affirmed. "Except the intersection at Highway 60 is different. And where the tracks cross the Santa Fe tracks now, they'll be a flyover".
"That's good. I'm not worried about the intersection and a railroad flyover", Professor Fox replied, then explained to Clarence, "We'll set the grid coordinate locator so it will land you in that empty stretch of land across Highway 54 from where your home is in 2018".
Woodrow Raccoon then zoomed the grid map screen to display the appropriate area, and then set the final coordinate locator adjustments for the desired location.
Woodrow then mentioned, "Clarence's landing location will be at coordinates 34.5912 degrees north, by 105.2460 degrees west. Right across the highway from home".
Clarence mentioned, "That's the map screen I played with before this machine took me away from 2918".
"That's the grid coordinates locator", Professor Fox said to Clarence. "That's what determines where you will arrive. The machine itself determines when you will arrive".
"I remember they told me that's what that was when I first got here to 1960", Clarence replied.
"Let's hope nobody parks a truck or something in the way 58 years from now", Jed mentioned.
"That would not present a problem", Woodrow assured Jed. "This machine can automatically alter it's assigned coordinates to avoid landing on an unforeseen obstacle".
"It probably had to do that six months ago to miss that rock formation", Professor Fox conjectured.
Professor Fox's nephew, Poindexter Fox, mentioned, "We can all be thankful this machine didn't adjust it's coordinates west of the rock formation instead of east and set down on Highway 54 that day".
"I can't even begin to imagine what a mess that would have been", Lenard Wolverine added.
"I wouldn't even want to think about that", Al further added.
It was about 8:20 pm, and with the stars shining beautifully in the night sky, when the family had finished the supper they brought with them.
"One thing I'll miss is, how good Cokes taste in this day and time", Clarence commented.
"Coke is not as good in the 21st Century?", Glenda Otter asked Clarence.
"Oh gosh no", Clarence affirmed to Glenda.
Glenda then asked her husband, "Dexter, do we have time to make a run to Vaughn to get several cases of Coke for Clarence to take back to his family in 2018?"
"I believe so. That's an excellent idea", Dexter agreed.
"You'll need to make it quick", Harold Wolf advised Glenda and Dexter. "Clarence will be leaving here in less than 40 minutes from now".
"We'll be back", Dexter exclaimed as he and Glenda dashed out to their car to make the run to Vaughn.
A few minutes after Glenda and Dexter Otter left to get the cases of Coke for Clarence to bring with him, Gaylord Serval noticed an ocelot approaching with a news camera, and was accompanied by a golden retriever and a mink.
"We have a news team out here", Gaylord announced.
"Oh great", Nathan Collie replied.
A news team from KSWS TV had arrived on the scene.
"At least having news coverage would further verify the real reason for Clarence's departure", Frank Coyote mentioned as Wanda nodded in agreement.
"We already have enough animals out here as it is to testify to that", Harold Wolf said to Frank. "The last thing we need is a classified machine being broadcasted on television news tomorrow morning".
"Good evening. I'm Waylon Mink with KSWS TV", the on site reporter announced, then upon seeing the time machine, exclaimed, "Wow! So that's the machine we were told about".
"Turn that camera off !", Nathan Collie ordered the ocelot with the camera.
"We don't want news camera footage taken of this machine!", Harold Wolf added.
"Why not?", Waylon Mink asked as the ocelot complied and turned the camera off.
"Because we said so", Lenard Wolverine replied.
"Hold up, Lenard", Nathan Collie said, then answered the mink, "This machine is classified. That's why not".
"But there's more than a hundred animals out here anyway", the golden retriever interjected. "That doesn't sound classified to me".
"There's a reason for that", Nathan told the retriever, then explained, "That coyote cub in there is from the future, and has been stranded here in 1960 for the past six months".
"Yea, we were already told that tonight", the retriever affirmed.
"He's leaving here tonight to go home", Nathan further explained. "These other animals are here to witness that so a missing cub investigation doesn't arise out of him no longer being around".
"That is understandable I have to say", Waylon Mink agreed.
"It's bad enough it became necessary for all these animals out here to have seen that machine", Nathan said to the mink, "But a TV news broadcast would really be pushing it".
Waylon Mink, not knowing how to take 'no' for an answer at first, retorted, "A hundred animals already seeing your machine, and a few thousand animals seeing it on TV tomorrow morning, what's the difference?"
Nathan got Waylon's attention real quick when he informed him, "I can have the CIA stop you before tomorrow morning".
"Okay okay. We won't do the report", Waylon Mink agreed.
Once dealing with the KSWS news team was out of the way, Professor Nickolas Fox gave further instructions to Clarence, and explained some details about how the settings were made for his journey to 2018.
"The machine has been set for you to travel ahead twenty one thousand, one hundred eighty five days (21,185 days), zero hours, zero minutes and zero seconds beyond your departure time", Professor Fox explained to Clarence."That's the exact same amount of time you traveled back from 2018 when you came here in 1960".
"So that will put me...", Clarence began to ask.
Professor Fox answered Clarence, "Your arrival time in 2018 will be on August 19th, at 9:00 pm sharp. That will be a Sunday".
"Oh but...", Rex began to interject.
"Don't interrupt", Marge said to Rex.
"Yea but I was wondering...", Red continued.
"Well, let him ask", Professor Fox advised Marge. "He'll never know if he never asks".
"Okay. We went to see this movie last month. The Time Machine", Rex said. "H. G. Lynx traveled way into the future and spent days with animals in the future where he fell in love with female lynx named Weena. But when he came back to his own time, it was at the same time when he first left".
"That's Hollywood for you", Lenard Wolverine interjected.
"I do remember you all said I won't be going to the exact time I left in February of 2018?", Clarence interjected.
"That's right. It doesn't work that way in real life", Professor Fox affirmed, then said to Clarence. "You do realize you are six months older now than when you first arrived in 1960".
"Yea...I would be", Clarence acknowledged.
"You are", Professor Fox replied. "And if you had never come to 1960, you would be the age you are now on August 19th, 2018. The moment you'll depart from here, you will have been in the year 1960 for a period of 191 days, 10 hours, 32 minutes and 35.0964 seconds. It will be the same exact amount of time you will have been gone from 2018 when you arrive back to that year".
"Yea, I see that now", Clarence acknowledged. "If I was here for six months, that means I was away from my own time for six months".
"I didn't even think of that", Rex admitted.
"I went to see that movie last month", Johnny Ferret said. "And I thought it was kind of fluky how the time H. G. Lynx spent in the future didn't jibe with the time he was away from 1901".
"Lidia and I saw that movie too", Danny Otter said to Johnny Ferret. "And now that you mentioned it. Yea...".
"It does make sense", Lidia affirmed.
"But now Clarence is arriving off by an extra day isn't he?", Lester Opossum asked. "The 19th?".
"Not really, Son. This is a leap year", Rufus Opossum said to his son, Lester. "I don't think 2018 will be a leap year".
"It won't be", Woodrow Raccoon replied to Rufus Opossum, then said to Lester "And as your dad had noted, we did gain an extra day this year. So we moved Clarence's arrival in 2018 up a day to compensate for that extra day in February".
Ryan Lynx interjected, "So then...the times are still matched?"
Randy Fox, who was with Ryan, added, "Is it?"
Harold Wolf then explained to Ryan Lynx and Randy Fox, "Keep in mind what we're explaining. A calendar is not time itself. A calendar is only a measurement for time. We do have to take leap years into account when setting destination times on this machine. It's not a simple matter of arbitrarily picking out a day and time and saying, there's where I want to go".
Greg Otter further explained to Ryan and Randy, "If I removed the glass from the instrument panel in my car, I could drive at 50 mph while pushing the speedometer needle to 120 mph with my finger. But that wouldn't make my car go 120 mph. It's the same with traveling through time. Date and actual time are not always the same. The date readout in this machine, like a speedometer in a car, merely shows us what date and time we've got it set to".
"Good analogy", Harold Wolf complemented Greg Otter, then reiterated to the cubs, "The way this machine works is, the departure date and time is chosen as a starting point of the journey, then the amount of time travel is set beyond the departure date and time in actual amount of time. In short, the procedure we followed was to set the departure time for nine o'clock tonight, then add 21,185 days as a numerical value beyond the departure time into the future".
"I get it now", Ryan Lynx acknowledged. "The readout displays are like how a wrist watch keeps tract of time, but it doesn't make time".
"That's exactly it", Harold replied to Ryan. "Time would still go on even without clocks and watches".
"How about the time spent while traveling through time though?", Randy Fox asked. "Wouldn't that still throw things off a bit if it's not, like you know...factored in?"
Ryan Lynx then came up with the bizarre assumption, "For all we know, Randy. Maybe we're all normally a few minutes away from each other in time anyway, and we never know it".
"You think so?!", Randy exclaimed to Ryan.
"Not so, boys", Woodrow Raccoon answered Ryan and Randy. "Though theory does have it that you are part correct. We all do vary in our normal places in time. But it's only by a few hundredths of a second".
Woodrow then said to Randy, "And you asked about compensating for the moment traveling through time".
"Yea I did", Randy replied. "Wouldn't the travel time also count?"
Woodrow Raccoon then explained to the cubs, "That terminology, travel through time, is actually a misnomer, though we still do use that phrase. What a time traveler actually transverses is a time void, or time limbo, from one time to another. Anyone, or anything for that matter, does not experience time while in transit through that time void.
Danny Otter interjected, "So, if I understand correctly, Clarence will momentarily stop aging for the duration of his trip to 2018, right?"
"That is correct. Unforeseen events aboard the machine are possible though, but not aging", Woodrow affirmed. "During the journey to 2018, Clarence and the time machine, along with all other contents aboard, will not be in contact with time".
"How far can this gizmo travel through time anyway", KSWS on site reporter Waylon Mink asked.
"Sorry to say, but that information is classified", Harold Wolf replied to Waylon Mink.
"Well, it's getting down to 35 minutes left, and we're running short on time for rap sessions", Professor Fox announced. "I still have instructions I want us to go over with Clarence".
Professor Fox then further instructed Clarence, "Now the only thing you'll have to be concerned with is regulating the central energy column. As for the rest of these controls, you do not touch them. They've already been preset where they need to be, except for the activation button. And I'll tell you when to push that. And don't mess with the grid coordinate locator screen either. I'm sure you don't want to end up somewhere like on Mars".
"In fact, I'm tilting this out of the way now", Woodrow Raccoon said as he pivoted the grid map screen facing away from the operator's seat, then tilted it into it's raised position tucked up against the ceiling of the machine.
"Good thinking, Woodrow", Professor Fox complimented Woodrow Raccoon. "At least that will be one thing out of sight out of mine for Clarence".
The grid map screen was built to be capable of being pivoted away from the operator in case an operator wanted to delegate navigation duties to another crew member (The operator is always the skipper in charge whenever there is a crew aboard). And it can also be tilted up out of the way against the ceiling.
"And what ever you do, don't bump against that electronic tube assembly", Lenard Wolverine told Clarence.
"If so much as one tube gets knocked loose, it would spell disaster", Woodrow further told Clarence. "You need to be aware of that".
"And definitely do not pull that emergency door release while you're in transit", Professor Fox made it clear to Clarence, referring to a red, grab handle, switch partially recessed into the ceiling.
Clarence mentioned, "When I was on my way here to 1960, I almost pulled that switch. Then I saw the warning plate next to it, so I decided not to pull it".
The red warning plate with white print next to the emergency door release handle read, 'Warning. Do not deploy emergency door release during transit. Doing so will result in destruction to machine and death of occupants'.
"You're very lucky you didn't pull that emergency release", Greg Otter told Clarence. "You wouldn't be here tonight if you did".
Harold Wolf further told Clarence, "Had you pulled that handle, you would not have made it here to 1960. The  molecular structure that makes up you and the time machine would have instantly disintegrated under fission from matter to energy".
"In short, you and the machine would have ceased to exist while in transit through time", Professor Fox affirmed to Clarence. "That warning plate means what it says".
It was 8:42 pm, only 18 minutes left before Clarence's departure from the year 1960, when Glenda Otter and her husband, Dexter returned with seven cases of Coke Cola, in which they had help from other anthro-animals carrying the five other cases from their car.
"We got the cases of Coke here!", Glenda proclaimed, then mentioned, "I see there's a news team here".
"They arrived shortly after Dexter and you left", Marge said to Glenda.
"Well anyway, this was all the Coke the drug store had in stock", Dexter added.
"Except what's already on the shelves, I take it", Al commented.
"No. We bought that out also", Dexter said as two other anthro-animals each carried over a large paper grocery bag full of the remaining loose Coke Colas that came off the shelf".
"The only place you can get a Coke at that drug store tonight is at the fountain counter now", Glenda added.
"Oh, we greatly appreciate this", Marge thanked Glenda and Dexter.
"Give it to Al and Marge, or to Clarence's school teacher, to bring to the machine", Woodrow Raccoon said, being that most of the other animals had not been granted an exception to be near the machine.
Thus who those helped Glenda and Dexter Otter carry the Cokes pawed the bags and cases over to Al, Marge and Glenda so they can place them aboard the time machine.
"Wow!", Clarence exclaimed. "I can hardly wait to see what my family and friends back in 2018 think of this Coke Cola".
"You have quite a haul going back with you to 2018", Al said to Clarence.
"The flying goodie wagon", Donna jested.
"Actually, the time traveling goodie wagon", Danny Otter corrected Donna.
It was now 8:46 pm...Fourteen minutes to go.
"Hey! We didn't miss Clarence go, did we?", someone called out.
It was the driver of school bus number 17, Stimpson Mink, and his wife, Emma.
"Fourteen more minutes, Stimpson", Al said as he looked at his watch. "Thirteen minutes now".
"We just now got here", Stimpson Mink said to Al and Marge.
"A neighbor of ours out here drove to a pay phone in Vaughn to tell us about everyone being here", Emma Mink said.
"There's Clarence", Stimpson said as he and Emma noticed Clarence in the time machine with Woodrow and Professor Fox.
As the mink couple made their was to see Clarence one last time, Professor Fox said to them, "For security reasons, you'll have to stay back 20 feet from the wooden perimeter".
"He was Clarence's school bus driver", Al mentioned.
"They're okay", Nathan Collie assured Professor Fox.
"Come on. Come on", Woodrow Raccoon invited Stimpson Mink and his wife over. "Just watch your step on the building debris and as you step over the foundation".
After Stimpson greeted Clarence, and then introduced Emma, Emma exclaimed, "Stimpson and I had no Earthly clue you were from the future".
"And all this time you rode my bus, I never knew", Stimpson Mink said to Clarence.
"Yea I am. I'm getting ready to go back now", Clarence replied.
"That's what we heard", Emma Mink said to Clarence.
"I know you're happy to be going back home", Stimpson Mink said as he and Clarence shook paws.
Clarence then jested, "That invisible cub still going to ride the bus to school this year?"
"Oh that", Stimpson laughed. "The students do that every year when we stop at the railroad crossings".
"Stimpson and I noticed the news detail here", Emma Mink mentioned, then asked, "Will we be on TV tomorrow?"
"Nathan put a stop to that", Lenard Wolverine replied. "It was for security reasons".
"Well, I believe everything here is set to go", Professor Fox said.
"Everything's a go", Woodrow Raccoon affirmed. "We're down to eleven minutes left now".
Thus Professor Fox and Woodrow then stepped down out of the time machine leaving Clarence in the time machine at the operator's seat.
Harold Wolf then instructed Clarence, "We don't expect the time machine to have a failure as it did on you're way here to 1960. But if it does go into emergency mode and doesn't make it to the 21st Century, it will still land you across the highway from where your folks place will someday be. If that happens, you remember where Cindy's family lives in Vaughn don't you?"
"Yea I do. I've been there before, Clarence answered.
Jerald's wife, Cindy, assured Clarence, "If that happens, my mom and dad will take you back to Al and Marge's place".
Harold further said to Clarence, "In the the event of a machine failure, go there, and her dad and mom will take you to Al and Marge's house. Though we're not expecting you'll have to do that".
Harold Wolf also had Clarence recite how to operate the three control levers to the central energy column, in which Clarence recited it perfectly.
Al, Marge and the cubs, as well as everyone else who knew Clarence then came up to the door of the time machine to give their last hugs and good-byes.
"I'm going to miss you", Marge said to Clarence as she stepped up on the entrance stirrup of the time machine and hugged him.
"I'll miss you all too", Clarence replied.
"Here's wishing you a safe trip, Son", Al said as he reached into the machine and shook paws with Clarence.
"I will", Clarence replied, then said, "You all were family to me while I was here".
"If the machine doesn't make it, you'll always still have a home with us", Al assured Clarence just before they hugged.
"You'll always be a brother to me", Rex said as he stepped up onto the entrance stirrup and hugged Clarence
Jed and Donna then took a turn stepping up onto the entrance stirrup to hug Clarence, which they said the same thing to Clarence about him always being a brother to them.
Frank and Wanda with their daughters Dotty and Sheryl came to bid Clarence farewell.
"Godspeed, Clarence", Frank said. "I hope you make it okay".
"We'll all miss you", Frank's wife, Wanda, said to Clarence.
"You're a great kid, Sugar", Dotty said as she hugged Clarence. "It won't be the same without you".
When Sheryl stepped up onto the time machine's entrance stirrup, the hug between her and Clarence was exceptionally emotional. Sheryl then climbed up inside the time machine with Clarence.
"I don't think you should be going in there like that", Frank said to Sheryl.
"Sheryl, get down out of there", Wanda added.
"I want to be with Clarence a few minutes longer", Sheryl said from inside the machine.
"There's still six minutes left", Professor Fox assured Frank and Wanda, then affirmed, "But she needs to be out of that machine in a couple of minutes".
"Okay then", Frank said, then told Sheryl, "You heard what the Professor said. In a couple of minutes".
Dotty's boy friend, Buddy, shook paws with Clarence and said, "Be safe on your way back. We're all glad to have gotten to know you".
The neighbor cubs such as Ryan Lynx, Janice Lynx, Randy, Fox and his siblings, as well others came up to the time machine to bid Clarence farewell.
"There's four minutes left. You need to get down out of the machine, girl", Professor Fox said to Sheryl.
As Sheryl was climbing down out of the machine, Professor Fox instructed Clarence, "It's time now, Clarence. Go ahead push that big red button to your left. That activates the machine, and in a few minutes the door will close and you'll be on your way.
Clarence then pushed the button on the left side control console, thus the machine was now activated and waiting for nine o'clock sharp to take off and go.
About that time, several animals got the attention of the scientists, and other animals.
One of the animals exclaimed, "There's a state police officer out on the highway who has something urgent to tell us".
Nathan Collie, Harold Wolf and Professor Nickolas Fox promptly made their way to the highway to see what it was all about. State Police Sargent Alton Wolf and Trooper Dave Bear also made their way out there being they themselves are state police officers.
State Trooper Cason Coyote, who was driving a 1959 Ford police cruiser, had stopped on Highway 54.
"What's going on?", Nathan Collie asked the trooper.
"What's up, Cason", Sargent Alton Wolf asked.
Trooper Cason Coyote exclaimed while sitting in his cruiser, "Hey! I came by to tell you all, I heard it on my police radio that Roswell Air Force Base has sent a convoy with a crane truck and a low boy flat bed to seize the time machine you all have there".
"Where are they now?", Alton Wolf asked.
Cason Coyote affirmed, "They're coming through De Baca County on Highway 285 right now".
"At the speed military convoys go, they won't be here for another hour and a half yet", Trooper Dave Bear replied.
Professor Nickolas Fox looked at his watch and affirmed, "The time machine will be out of here and gone in a little more than two minutes from now".
"Oh, I'm glad to hear that", Trooper Cason Coyote replied. "I wouldn't want that poor little cub I heard about being stuck in a time era he's not from".
"Those flyboys will be in for a big disappointment by the time they get here", Sargent Alton Wolf proclaimed.
"We need to get back to the machine", Nathan Collie said.
As Trooper Cason Coyote began to continue on down Highway 54, Nathan Collie, Harold Wolf, Professor Fox and others with them hastened back to where the time machine is.
As they got back, Clarence called from inside the time machine, "What happened out there?"
"No time for that now", Harold Wolf replied to Clarence. "One of us will tell you all about it in 2018".
Sheryl then climbed back up into the time machine to hug Clarence one last time.
"The machine will take off any moment now!", Professor Fox exclaimed.
"Sheryl! Get out of there now!", Frank Coyote called out.
"Get out now!" Harold Wolf told Sheryl.
"Just one more hug, Daddy", Sheryl exclaimed.
Then the time machine's door began to close. Sheryl quickly leaped up and jumped out of the time machine with out even a split second to spare. As the door completely shut, it grabbed only a few fur hairs off the tip of Sheryl's tail. Many animals in the crowd gasped at how close of a call that was.
As Frank helped Sheryl back up to her feet, Professor Fox warned, "Everyone back away! This machine emits a powerful energy field!"
Everyone got clear of the machine just in time as a continual, flickering, blue flash surrounded the time machine with an electric pulsating sound.

The Sound the Project Courier Time Machine Makes by moyomongoose

Then to everyone's awe and amazement, the machine launched upward until it reached an altitude of 350 feet. Then the machine suddenly vanished, right at 9:00 pm and zero seconds, making a bang sounding like a muffled cannon as it emitted a small cloud of blue and orange sparks in the night sky. All there was left behind was the demolition debris of the torn down utility building that had once been built to conceal the machine.
After a few moments, Poindexter Fox said while looking skyward, "Clarence is now on his way back home".
"You almost ended up going to the year 2018", Frank Coyote said to Sheryl.
"I didn't know the time machine was going to leave that soon, Daddy", Sheryl replied, then looked up at the stars in the night sky with tears in her eyes, then said, "Clarence is gone...He's gone".
"Clarence isn't gone, sweetie", Wanda assured Sheryl. "In this day and time, he hasn't been born yet".
"I still miss him though, Mama", Sheryl replied.
Teenage sister, Dotty, affirmed to Sheryl, "We would be missing you right now if you hadn't gotten out of that machine in time".
Woodrow Raccoon further affirmed, "The next time you would have seen her, she would still be nine years old and stepping out of the time machine with Clarence in 2018".
"Wanda and I will be in our 90s by then", Frank mentioned.
"Provided we live to be that old", Wanda added, then said to Sheryl, "And when everyone told you to get out of that machine, it was for a good reason".
"You see, Sheryl?", adult brother, Jerald, said. "You could very well have gotten to 2018, then found out that mom and dad had passed away of natural causes years earlier".
"Oh to think how sad that would be", Lidia Otter said.
"Wouldn't it ever", Danny Otter added. "And all of us she knows being older or passed away by then".
"I'm sure Jerald and I will be in our 70s by then", Cindy added.
"Seventy six to be exact", Greg Otter promptly added, him being a scientist and can do mental math.
Jerald mentioned to Cindy, "Our unborn cub will be 58 years old when he witnesses Clarence landing in the time machine in 2018".
Some of the anthro-animals in the crowd had begun to leave now that Clarence had already made his departure from 1960.
"I believe that ocelot was getting news footage during Clarence's departure", Poindexter Fox said to Nathan Collie.
"I thought I saw that too", Gaylord Serval affirmed.
"Well that's no problem", Nathan said. "I'm going to give the local CIA regional office a phone call tonight".
"If I know how quickly those CIA boys can act, that report will never make it on the six o'clock news tomorrow morning", Professor Nickolas Fox assured everyone.
Danny Otter then asked, "But we wouldn't get in trouble would we? For letting this large crowd actually see the time machine?"
"What time machine, Son?", Greg Otter asked his son, Danny. "Can anyone show us that machine now?"
"Well, no, Dad. It's gone now", Danny replied.
"Exactly", Greg assured Danny. "But those agents will take our word for it that the news team filmed what we warned them was a restricted area".
"Oh...I get the picture now", Danny acknowledged with a smile.
"That news team is in for a surprise tonight, I dare say", Woodrow Raccoon affirmed.
Judge Marvin Badger then added, "If any of those agents asks about the little coyote boy, Clarence, tell them to come see me".
As Al, Marge, Jed, Rex and Donna were about to leave, they thanked Judge Badger for all he did for them.
"We also thank you for the copies of Clarence's school manuscripts you got for us", Marge thanked Judge Badger.
"My pleasure", Judge Badger said, "I knew Clarence is going to need them 58 years from now".
"Well", Jed mentioned. "It's back to like we were before we met Clarence".
"True", Judge Badger agreed. "He's no longer Clarence Rhonson Coyote now. He's back to being...I had forgotten that name".
"Claymont", Al reminded Judge Badger.
"Yes, that's it. Clarence Claymont Coyote", Judge Badger acknowledged.
Nathan Collie then announced to those who had not yet begun to leave the site, "Attention, everyone. We all need to be leaving now. There's nothing else to see here. It's over. Let's everyone go home".
"Many of them are still lingering around", Harold Wolf said to Nathan.
"They sure are. I see that", Nathan Collie replied.
"I can get them to clear out", Sargent Alton Wolf assured Harold Wolf and Nathan Collie.
"We'd appreciate it", Nathan said to Alton Wolf.
Sargent Alton Wolf made his way to his patrol cruiser, a 1960 Ford, then switched his mic from police radio to PA speaker.
"May I have your attention please", Alton announced from the PA system of his patrol cruiser. "Everyone needs to clear the area at this time. The Roswell Air Force base has sent a convoy a while ago with the intent of seizing the time machine before it could leave. Now it will be more than an hour before they get here. But the longer we've been gone by the time that convoy gets here, the better it will be. Personally, I wouldn't want to be here when they show up. That is all".
"That got everyone's attention quick enough", Harold Wolf mentioned as everyone began to clear out.
"Yup, their leaving now", Professor Nickolas Fox added. "Sargent Wolf didn't have to announce that a second time".
"We appreciate it. Thank you", Nathan Collie thanked Sargent Alton Wolf.
"No problem", Alton Wolf replied.
As everyone else were leaving, Al, Marge and the cubs also got into their Chrysler 300 to go back home. Al was at the wheel, Marge was on the front passenger's seat with Donna on her lap, Jed was on the right rear seat, and Rex was on the left rear seat.
Once there was an opportunity to pull out with all the other cars leaving, Al got the Chrysler turned around and the family was headed back to Duran. During their way back home on that warm, starry, August night, it didn't feel the same without Clarence. In fact, riding in the Chrysler 300 now felt different without Clarence sharing the left rear seat with Rex as they had done since February 9th, and before they got the station wagon.
Before long, Al, Marge and the cubs arrived home in Duran. Instead of going into the house right away, they stood for a while out on the driveway in front of the garage where their cars are parked. Their Chrysler 300 in which they had arrived back home in still had the windows down and doors open.
As the family gazed at the stars in the night sky, Al mentioned, "Well...Clarence is finally on his way back home".
Marge replied, "It felt like this day would never come. But I know we'll all miss him".
Al had the ignition switch turned in accessory position with the car radio still playing, and a song titled, Homecoming, was presently playing.
Two links to that song are posted below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pECwNXDAQlU
This 2nd link is more like what it would have sounded like on a car radio in that day and time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNxqjWQvJis
"A song about coming home. I bet Clarence would dig that one", Rex said upon noticing what song was playing on the car radio.
As the family continued pondering at the stars in the night sky, Donna asked, "Where up there do you think Clarence is right now?"
"Nowhere up there", Al explained to Donna. "Clarence is traveling through time, not location. He's gone back into the future".
Marge further explained to Donna, "Clarence is gone back to not being born yet in this day and time".
Al added, "As a matter of fact, things that happen between this year and 2018 hasn't happened yet".
"Wow", Jed proclaimed. "That's kind of difficult to wrap your mind around, isn't it".
"For average animals, yes", Al replied to Jed. "But those of us who are scientists have a good perception of things like this".
"So...Clarence doesn't exist right now?", Rex asked.
"Not until he's born in the year 2010", Al replied to Rex.
"Not as of yet in this day and time anyway", Marge added.
"Clarence came to us from a day and time that hasn't happened yet", Al affirmed.
Once the song was finished playing, Al raised the car's power windows closed, then turned the car's ignition switch to off position, thus shutting down the radio. After the car doors were shut, the family went on into the house to socialize a while over some coffee for Al and Marge, and sodas for Jed, Rex and Donna, and some cake for everyone.
At about 10 o'clock, the family then went to bed for the night. Tomorrow would be the day for school registration being it couldn't be done that day.

Meanwhile: Aboard the time machine:
Aboard the time machine, Clarence had already begun to leave August, 18th, 1960 far behind. Like the accidental trip Clarence had going to 1960, Clarence was on his own and by himself returning to 2018. The exception being however, Clarence now had the instruction and practice on controlling the central energy column.
Clarence remembered well how to regulate the central energy column. Of course, because of Clarence's stature being a cub, he had to stand up to operate the three levers, rather than being able to do so while sitting down in the operator's seat. Though despite that inconvenience, and despite the images and sounds from time travel being present in the machine, he was still doing a good job of ignoring distractions from the images and maintaining proper control over the core beam and streams of energy rings. The buzzing sound from the machine's time interface energy field seemed eerie and spooky to Clarence.

And yes, Clarence was encountering those images and sounds coming from time itself like the ones Johnny Ferret had mention back in 1960 he encountered during his trip to 1950 and back.
Since the very start of Clarence's journey back to 2018, holographic images with sounds appeared in the time machine of events, commercials, music, automobiles, television programs, radio programs and so on that took place between 1960 and 2018. As the scientists in 1960 had told Clarence, those holographic images and sounds are not generated by the machine. Those images are generated by passing through time itself. Granted it might be possible for some time machines in existence to operate on an energy field that inadvertently suppresses those images...However, this particular time machine was not one of them.
Among the first images Clarence noticed in the time machine was Biff Pitbull with Richie in their Dad's 1959 Cadillac, with Gaston riding along. They were racing with Danny Otter in his 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk. Riding with Danny were his girlfriend Lidia, along with Carl and Suzan Beaver. They were racing down Highway 54 the night before Christmas Eve of 1960 at speeds well in access of 100 mph.
Clarence never did see images of the outcome of that road race being that different images appeared in it's place inside the time machine, which was of the brand new 1961 Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth automobiles, including the 1961 DeSoto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g98uDJIJCmY
Clarence saw images of Tri-Star Plaza being demolished to make way for more of interstate 40.
Clarence saw images in the time machine of his 1960 sweetheart Sheryl Coyote eventually falling in love with a new boyfriend.
Images from during the Cuban Missile Crisis appeared. Though being that Clarence was 8 years old, he didn't understand why the images showed everyone being so tense.
Seventeen seconds of The Delcos -'Arabia' faded in then faded out in the midst of radio static sound.
https://youtu.be/H7ITqsPM3Lk?t=55
Radio static sounds in the background, along with the buzzing of the time machine's time interface energy field, also accompanied the images and sounds of traveling through time.
https://youtu.be/HNeT1ysvSn4?t=6

Images surrounding Clarence and the central energy column of various events would fade and flash in and out aboard the time machine. Clarence also saw images of the 1963 assassination of President Johnathan F. Kendon Otter in Dallas, Texas...Clarence remembered learning about that in history class in the 21st Century.
From among the radio static sound, nearly all of the 2 minute song, Save Your Heart For Me by Brian Hyland, also played while images of a 1963 Corvette commercial appeared.
Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZm1RNhhKlk
That song brought a few tears to Clarence's eyes thinking about Sheryl.
Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMns_DPVE8
Remnants of a 1965 song, Noregian Wood, by the Beatles, faded in and out inside the time machine along with a commercial for the 1965 Ford Mustang.
Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_V6y1ZCg_8
Car commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZpebnyrdZA
The first 16 seconds of The Last Time by The Rolling Stones began then faded out back into static.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDz4qDOzjA8
Shortly thereafter, parts of another 1965 song was fading in and out.
1965 HITS ARCHIVE: Look Through Any Window - Hollies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKhRXhe6ak8
At the same time "Look Through Any Window" was fading in and out, images of a cubs' TV show appeared hosted by a Labrador Retriever who wore an iconic red sweater and went by the name of Mr. Rogers.
Clarence was almost distracted by images of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, the model trolley and the puppets, Daniel Striped Tiger and Lady Elain Fairchild (who was a black cat in the furry universe) as the song continued fading in and out. However, Clarence still managed to stay focused on regulating the central energy core.
Along with a 1967 Chevrolet commercial, a song from 1967 then played;
Remnants of Don't Blame The Children, by Sammy Davis Jr. faded in and out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttXtAKHRtlA
A Chevy commercial was also imaging at the same time.
First Chevy Camaro Commercial 1967
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAiOt08dgcg
This part of time Clarence was now traveling through was when his adoptive siblings, playmates, and 3rd grade school classmates of 1960 are teenagers. Clarence was witnessing images of the 1960s he would have grown up in had it not been for the time machine being repaired.
Along with images of TV news reports, another 1967 song played.
The Kinks song, Death of a Clown faded in for a short while.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coCjlhyFug8
Clarence so far had did well trying to ignore the historical images and songs that came and went inside the time machine, thus not allowing them to distract him from regulating the central energy column.
Parts of a 1967 Association song, Windy, also played.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPYT9Vyu62A
Along with the images and sounds were the sounds of more radio static.
https://youtu.be/HNeT1ysvSn4?t=39
A Smokey Robinson & The Miracles song, The Tears Of A Clown also played.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51B55OQysj8
Creeque Alley from the Mamas and the Papas also played in the time machine along with a rerun of the Captain Kangaroo show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhsKUwYw8N4

Clarence also saw some really graphic images of the Vietnam War that appeared in the machine...These graphic images were way beyond what 8 year old Clarence had ever seen before, though he still did not let them distract him.
Parts of Pictures of Matchstick Men by Status Quo also faded in and out during the time Clarence saw the Vietnam War images.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yIqbVDf3OU
Most of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by the Beatles then played while the Viet War images were still appearing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7x-0c9jl4Y
The images of three of Clarence's playmates in 1960 also appeared aboard the time machine, who were already young adults around the end of the 1960s. Jed Coyote was in the U.S. Army on his first tour of Vietnam. Younger brother Rex was in the U.S. Navy as a gunner's mate aboard a patrol boat on the Saigon River. The third was Ryan Lynx, who was in the U.S. Air Force as a tail gunner aboard a B-52 bomber participating in air raids over Hanoi. It was during those images it had struck Clarence that if the time machine had never been repaired, he would have grown up in the 1960s and later been drafted into the military to be sent to Vietnam.
Remnants of psychological warfare audio of Operation Wandering Soul also sounded off in the time machine while showing night images of the Vietnam War.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d9H_1ygEv8
The eerie sounds of the ghost tape just about scared the Hell out of Clarence, though he still held his composure enough to continue regulating the central energy column.
The first of the eerie ghost tape sounds Clarence heard had him thinking for a moment that something was starting to go wrong with the time machine.
https://youtu.be/4d9H_1ygEv8?t=77
One image that stuck hard with Clarence was of a tree trunk catapulted up from a jungle by VCs into the rotor of a low flying Huey helicopter, thus taking it down. That image showed when parts of Crimson & Clover by the Shondells faded in and out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4yoJcPI1xc
Following the images of the Vietnam War images, segments of a 1968 song faded in and out.
Ballad Of Forty Dollars~Tom T.Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5te3VkTtQ
A Monkees song from 1969 also played inside the time machine while commercials also played for Jello, Sealtest ice cream, Tang and Maxwell house coffee.
A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You - The Monkees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz-2jckjeHo
During that song, Clarence noticed images of the Pontiac GTO that was modified into the Monkeemobile.
Clarence then saw images of the Apolo 11 Mission, which was the first time Earth animals had set foot on the moon...July 20, 1969...Clarence even heard the words, "That's one small step for animal. One giant leap for animal kind".
He also saw images of the time machine being built by Horizon Innovations in January of 1970.
Thirty-eight seconds of the introductory to the Banana Splits Show appeared in the time machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMl6HnhFFIA
Images of the May 4th, 1970 Kent State University Protests appeared along with National Guard opening fire on the student protesters.
Among several commercials and radio static, 38 seconds of a 1971 song faded in, then back out.
The Year That Clayton Delaney Died~Tom T. Hall
https://youtu.be/1NSVOyhWnXM?t=36
Another 24 seconds of that song then faded in, then back out.
https://youtu.be/1NSVOyhWnXM?t=80
Parts of a 1972 song faded in and out, which was followed by another 1972 song fading in and out. Both of those songs brought a few tears to Clarence's eyes as he reminisced the loved ones he came to know during the six months he was in the year 1960. Clarence realized that he had met some of them for the last time being that not everyone in 1960 will still be alive in the year 2018.
The Statler Brothers: Do You Remember these?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Q3avThV9U
Statler Brothers - Class of '57
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoSOQBhXtsY
During segments of those two songs fading in and out, more Vietnam War images appeared aboard the time machine. Some images were when step brother Rex Coyote, at the rank of Navy petty officer, was placed in charge of the river patrol boat he was on after an ambush resulted in the former skipper in charge loosing part of his leg. Along with those images were also images of when older step brother Jed Coyote was at the rank of Army sergeant, and in charge of a demolition team. At the moment of those images, Clarence realized he had met one of his 1960 classmates, Bucky Beaver, for the last time. Images appeared of Bucky Beaver, a Marine Corps corporal in charge of a fire team, dying in Vietnam due to his M-16 jamming during a frontal assault.
There were also image of a neighborhood playmate Clarence knew in 1960, Randy Fox. The images appeared of Randy Fox attending college, then entering the Navy to become an Officer. Images also showed of Randy later aspiring to become a Navy chaplain.
About 12 seconds of, That's The Way I Like It, by KC and the Sunshine Band faded in, then faded back out.
https://youtu.be/q3svW8PM_jc?t=27
Clarence felt like his mind was being bombarded by the images and sounds of traveling through time. However, back in 1960, the scientists did tell Clarence that the images and sounds of time would materialize aboard the time machine. And Clarence did remember his instructions well on not getting distracted by them. The buzzing if the machine's time interface energy field and more radio static sounds continued.

https://youtu.be/uv2oefPYoRk?t=263
Among the static, eleven seconds of Tangled Up In Blue faded in and out.
Bob Dylan - Tangled up in Blue
https://youtu.be/QKcNyMBw818?t=265
Then the last 37 seconds of Tangled Up In Blue faded in as Images of the Jonestown cult massacre appeared.
https://youtu.be/QKcNyMBw818?t=306
Clarence being only 8 years old didn't understand what the Jonestown images were about.
Sixteen seconds of The Official Historian On Shirley Jean Berrell by the Statler Brothers faded in then faded back away.
https://youtu.be/-KOoqt1WPeY?t=35
Images of the 1979 Iraq Hostage crisis also appeared.
Remnants of a 1979 song also faded in and out aboard the time machine.
Supertramp Take The Long Way Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtUh1PDJT9o
Clarence saw images of the volcanic explosions of Mount Saint Helens.
Images also appeared of the 1980 Tampa Sunshine Skyway disaster...Clarence cringed over the image of the flattened Greyhound bus being raised out of the Tampa Bay.
https://youtu.be/9j9jdXnnJm4?t=34
Images of the introduction of the Chrysler K cars appeared.
1981 Chrysler Commercials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDg_0ORSSI
Several images from the early 1980s rapidly flashed by aboard the time machine, among of which were; a train speeding by, a cargo ship sinking at sea, wild rides at an amusement park, a stunt driving show with brand new 1983 Chevrolet automobiles to name a few.
From out of the radio static sounds, parts of a 1984 song, Let's Go Crazy, by Prince played for a few moments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VINGZV9OUzI
As Let's Go Crazy played, a 1984 Honda scooter TV ad by Devo faded in and out.
https://youtu.be/wffIdh0CZWs?t=42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IT8-wY3z1k
The song lyrics, "Oh no. Let's go", timed in sync with the K-9 members of Devo riding away on their Honda scooters at the end of the TV ad.
Images surrounding Clarence and the central energy column then rapidly faded and flashed in and out of accidents, natural disasters, turmoil in 3rd world countries, construction projects, high profile court trials, TV shows, etc., including the image and sound of a lighting strike.
"AHH!", Clarence gasped as the image and sound of the lighting strike caused him to think for a split second that the time machine had exploded.
All that was along with the buzzing and popping sound of the machine's time interface energy field.

With all the sounds and images coming all at once at Clarence in rapid succession, you'd think it was enough to make one's head explode. However, Clarence remembered the scientists back in 1960 telling him he would encounter these sounds and images during his journey through time, which are not generated by the time machine, but are a side effect of traveling through time. Clarence also remembered the instructions to ignore them as much as possible and stay focused on operating the central energy column.
Images of the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster appeared as the last minute of a Simple Minds song, Don’t You Forget About Me, played.
Challenger Disaster - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfnvFnzs91s
Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoqPy1hk3BI
The fading and flashing sounds and images, along with; radio static, portions of songs, and the sound of the machine's time interface energy field seemed at times scary to Clarence.
From out the radio static, sixteen seconds of Guitar Town faded in, then out.
Steve Earle - Guitar Town
https://youtu.be/otTW0JczoGQ?t=53
Clarence also saw October 1989 images of the double tier interstate freeway collapse in San Francisco due to an earthquake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6ayj3K628
Images then appeared of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the break up of the Soviet Union.
For about 27 seconds, several random segments of a 1990 song faded in and out.
Chasin' That Neon Rainbow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Y15D9m8_I
There were images of Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait from Iran.
Clarence saw images of Hurricane Andrew in south Florida.
Among commercials, TV shows and news reports that continued fading in and out, portions of four songs also played in succession aboard the time machine;
Most of an INXS song, Disappear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvo-bfaVsg0
All of an R.E.M song, Man On The Moon, in it's entirety.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3CR_CxhIeE
Almost all of Linger by the Cranberries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Kspj3OO0s
And all of the TLC song, Waterfalls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIl23kwFUqM
The buzzing sound of the time machine made the songs; Man on the Moon, and Linger, seem more eerie to Clarence.

Along with that too were the continuing radio static sounds.
https://youtu.be/vGjzhPfGEls?t=24
Images of the first Mars rover, Sojourner, also appeared in the time machine, along with remnants of the song, Bitter Sweet Symphony, by the Verve.
Mars rover images - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ZRgfLvVgo
Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ4gV48mlpQ
Clarence witnessed images of the advent of public internet.
Clarence also noticed images of 911 attack on The World Trade Center...He remembered hearing so much about it before he was born. The image of the 2nd plane hitting the South Tower was close up enough to almost cause Clarence to become distracted from regulating the central energy column of the time machine...However, Clarence did manage to still keep the energy rings and core beam in sync, despite the sudden surprise of that image.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsGcIkevyHM
Clarence saw images of Operation Enduring Freedom in Iran.
Clarence also also saw images of Hurricane Charley.
Images of  results of the 2008 housing bubble burst also appeared.
Two Enya songs also played:
Enya - And Winter Came ... - 03 White Is In The Winter Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KfOxHsDGnw
There is a part of that song that impressed Clarence of how the partially crippled time machine with it's 1960 makeshift repairs laboured along trying to get Clarence back to his rightful day and time the best it can.
https://youtu.be/6KfOxHsDGnw?t=114
The other Enya song was;
Enya - And Winter Came ... - 06 Dreams Are More Precious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHaE9ABXPtw
There is a part of that song that seemed to coincide with Clarence standing at the central energy column and regulating it using the three levers near the ceiling.
https://youtu.be/fHaE9ABXPtw?t=156
There were also the images that Clarence saw in awe in December 2010 of himself being born.
There were also images of the Pulse Night Club shooting in Orlando.

One haunting thought that was on Clarence's mind, though he still didn't let it be a distraction, was because the machine built in 1970 was repaired with 1960 technology, many repairs had to be makeshift at best. The most prime example of that was the large, electronic, tube assembly that had been integrated into the original systems of the machine. Back in 1960, it was already speculated by the scientists that the time journey to 2018 would be the equivalent of 26 minutes to Clarence. Had the machine been in mint condition, that trip would be equivalent to 20 seconds, which would be a hop, skip and a jump compared to the 26 minutes.
However, because time travel does not consist of being present in any given time era, there is no aging while traveling through time anyway, thus no time lost while in transit.

The last song that played aboard the time machine during Clarence's journey was one he could really identify with;
Enya - Long Long Journey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laaq6rw9eJ0
...especially the lyrics;  https://youtu.be/laaq6rw9eJ0?t=38

Twenty six minutes after leaving 1960, Clarence heard that muffled boom around the time machine, which at the same time the images stopped.
The time machine then gently landed, followed by the machine's buzzing noise stopping.
The time machine was now at rest, and the present time readout indicated August 19th, 2018 at 9:00 pm, plus the seconds that had already elapsed since arrival...and as the seconds continued to tick on.
When the door opened, there were Clarence's biological family and others waiting to greet him. The time machine had landed in the field across Highway 54/60 from the double wide where the Claymont Coyotes live, as Professor Nickolas Fox had set the coordinates while in the year 1960.
"Clarence!", Alice called out.
"Mom! Dad!", Clarence rejoiced as he leaped out of the time machine to the ground, not bothering to use the step stirrup to climb down.
"We're so happy to have you back with us", Charley assured Clarence as he came running up.
"I sure am too", Clarence added.
Charley and Alice hugged their son Clarence for the first time in over six months.
Siblings, Jack and Rhonda, had also missed Clarence and gave him a big hug.
"I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever see you again", older brother Jack said to Clarence.
Al and Marge were there too, though much older by then.
"Well, you made it", Al congratulated Clarence.
"We're so grateful you did", Marge added.
"I'm so grateful too", Clarence said to Al and Marge, then mentioned, "I see you're so old now".
"Well it's been 58 years", Marge reminded Clarence.
Charley made sure to mention to Al and Marge, "Oh by the way...We just want to thank you for taking in our son and looking after him 58 years ago. We can never thank you enough".
"There's no telling what would have become of Clarence had you all not been there", Alice added.
"I'm so glad we were", Al replied.
Jed, Rex, Donna and Beverly, along with their spouses, offsprings and grand cubs were also there.
"Wow! Check out these toy trucks!", one of Jed's younger grand sons, 11 year old Justin, exclaimed.
One of Jed's adult grand sons, Timmy, mentioned, "I'm 19 years old and I've never seen toys like these".
One of Jed's sons, Everett, who is Timmy's dad, mentioned, "I've seen toys like these when I was a cub. But toys like these were already old and banged up by the time I was born".
Timmy's wife, Dafinee, added, "They sure put a lot into making them back then, didn't they".
"I've never seen cool trucks like these before", one of Rex's grand sons added.
"I wish we had toys like these!", one of Donna's grand sons proclaimed.
The grand cubs who were still cubs were truly amazed at the large, metal, toy trucks and toy construction equipment that Clarence brought with him in the time machine. These were brands such as Structo, Tonka, Buddy-L and Nylint. They are the kind of toys you just don't see around anymore. Even the offsprings and grand offsprings who were already adults were truly amazed by the toys that made the journey with Clarence from 1960 to 2018.
Clarence was about to get his backpack and box of 1960 photos out of the time machine.
"You best let me go in and get that stuff ", Poindexter Fox said to Clarence out of concern for his safety.
"Yea, we don't want Clarence getting back into that machine", Alice said to Poindexter.
Upon entering the machine to shut down some of it's systems, Poindexter Fox called to Al Coyote, "Oh wow...Al, come take a look at this".
"What is it?", Al replied as he climbed up into the machine with Poindexter.
"This tube assembly we made 58 years ago. Look at these tubes", Poindexter said.
"I see that", Al acknowledged. "Three of those tubes weren't going to hold out much longer".
"This machine barely made it", Poindexter mentioned.
"This machine did make it though", Al agreed with Poindexter. "But as you said...barely".
"You're a very lucky cub", Poindexter informed Clarence.
After Poindexter Fox fetched Clarence's belongings from out of the time machine, everyone passed around the pictures from 1960 Clarence had brought back with him.
When the grand cubs saw the photos, they were really amazed how different things were back in the day.
One of Beverly's son's daughters asked, "Gee, Dad. This is the way cars were back then? They're so cool".
Beverly's son replied to his daughter, "They certainly were. Though I started remembering cars from the 1980s".
Noticing Beverly Coyote seemed to be an offspring of Al and Marge, Clarence mentioned, "It's a weird thing I don't remember you from back then, Beverly".
"Beverly wasn't born yet when you left 1960", Marge informed Clarence.
"I was born in December of 1961", Beverly further said to Clarence.
"Oh, I guess that explains it then", Clarence replied.
"I was just a toddler when you were with us in 1960", Beverly's husband, Austin, informed Clarence.
Everyone was also impressed by the 1960 style clothing he was wearing, and the box full of them as well.
"I still have that Bruno Mars Bear T-shirt you gave me before you left", Rex said to Clarence.
"Wow, after all these years", Clarence replied with surprise.
"But weird thing though", Rex continued. "Last year, that T-shirt seemed to have vanished out of existence. But back on February 9th when you left 2018, we found that shirt where it was a year ago".
"It felt like something straight out of the old Twilight Zone TV show", Rex's wife, Hazel, added.
"I know exactly what happened to that T-shirt last year", Poindexter said to Rex and his wife, then explained, "That shirt turned up missing at your house the moment it was being manufactured at a garment factory. And since anything can not be in two places at the same time, the shirt was at the garment factory and not at your house".
"Wow, that's incredible", Rex proclaimed.
Al further explained to his son, Rex, "And when Clarence left this time era on February 9th, he was wearing that shirt. He then gave you that shirt 58 years ago".
"Oh...So that's why the shirt turned back up on February 9th", Rex surmised. "Being that Clarence's possession of it was not in this day and time".
"That's right. Upon Clarence traveling to 1960, that shirt being with Clarence became a thing of the past", Poindexter affirmed. "That shirt never actually went out of existence".
Of course it did feel weird to Clarence that the cubs he played with in 1960 were now grand parents.
"Do you remember me?", a familiar coyote female in her 60s asked Clarence.
"You're Sheryl...Right?", Clarence answered.
"That's me", Sheryl replied.
"You look so different", Clarence said to Sheryl.
"Well", Sheryl chuckled, then said, "I'm 67 years old as of today".
Sheryl's older brother, Gerald, was there with his wife, Cindy. And so was her older sister, Dotty, with her husband, Buddy". However, the offsprings and grand cubs of Gerald and Cindy, and Dotty and Buddy were not there that night...Some of them lived out in California, some in Nevada and others in Montana, thus they couldn't make it.
"So we meet again, Sport", Gerald said to Clarence.
"You're Gerald", Clarence said, then asked, "What ever happened to that cool Pontiac that had the glass wolf Indian head that lit up?".
"Oh that car went to the crusher a long time ago", Cindy interjected. "At the time, no one had any idea it would have been a vintage car now days".
Sheryl then introduced her husband, Dean, to Clarence.
"This is Clarence, that boy I was so in love with in 1960", Sheryl said to Dean.
"Glad to meet you, Clarence", Dean Coyote said as he shook paws with Clarence.
"Glad to meet you too", Clarence replied.
Sheryl then introduced her offsprings and grand cubs to Clarence.
One of Sheryl's daughters mentioned to Clarence, "Mom once told me she almost got trapped in the time machine with you".
"I was wanting that one more hug, then Dad told me just in time to get out of the machine...I cried right after Clarence had left", Sheryl added.
"I don't see your Dad anywhere", Clarence mentioned to Sheryl.
"Oh, Dad passed away back in 1992 of lung cancer", Sheryl replied.
"Oh...I'm sorry to hear", Clarence said.
"We never could get Dad to give up cigarette smoking", Gerald added.
"We tried to get Frank to try nicotine patches when they first came out", Dean mentioned. " But he was happy with his cigarettes".
Sheryl's mom, Wanda, then reminded everyone, "Don't forget we have birthday party arrangements for Sheryl at Charley and Alice's place".
"It's starting to get late", Charley announced, then suggested, "We should head on over to the house".
Many of the animals there then headed back across Highway 54/60 to the Claymont Coyote residence to celebrate Sheryl's 67th birthday...Parents also told their cubs to watch for traffic before crossing the highway.
As they were heading to the house, Clarence asked Al, "Back when I first got to the year 1960, didn't you say Marge and you were going to get acquainted with my parents when they get married?"
"At the time Marge and I adopted you, we did promise that", Al affirmed to Clarence. "But since then, we were ordered by Horizon Innovations not to get acquainted with your family until February 9th of this year".
"That's the day I left here", Clarence said.
"Yup...It was", Al replied.
Poindexter Fox then pointed out something interesting to Clarence Coyote.
"Are you familiar with the star constellation, Coma Berenices?", Poindexter asked as he pointed out the constellation in the night sky to Clarence.
"Not really. But I see what stars you're pointing at", Clarence replied.
Poindexter then explained to Clarence, "A set of twin stars in that constellation, known as Alpha Comae Berenices, is 58 light years away from here. The light we are now seeing from those twin stars left there 58 years ago".
"Wow!", Clarence exclaimed, then asked, "So the light we're seeing from which ever of those two stars you mentioned left there when I was with you all in 1960?"
"That's right", Poindexter affirmed to Clarence. "What we see now is the light they shined in 1960...when you were with us then".
Before heading to the house with the others, Poindexter pointed out the twin stars, Alpha Comae Berenices more precisely to Clarence, including giving instructions as to where to look in comparison with the other stars.
"So that's them?...It looks like only one star though", Clarence said, upon knowing what stars Poindexter was referring to.
"It does look like a single star to the naked eye from this distance", Poindexter replied. "But it is a pair of binary stars that orbit each other".
That's amazing", Charley interjected, then surmised, "So back in 1960, you all were seeing light from those two stars 58 years earlier".
"Back then, we were seeing the light that pair of stars shined in 1902", Poindexter said to Charley.
Al then mentioned, "The light they are shining now won't be seen on Earth until the year 2076".
Everyone then headed on over across the highway to the house.
On the way to the house, Charley Coyote asked Poindexter Fox, "Poindexter, what are they going to do with that machine?"
Poindexter replied, "Well you know, Charley. If I had my way, I'd place a case of C-4 explosives in it and detonate it".
"I'm on the same page with you there", Charley replied.
Everyone finally made it to the doublewide where the party festivities were begun for Sheryl's 67th birthday.

After more than six months in 1960, Clarence Claymont Coyote was finally home.

          THE END...A postlude follows.

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Inkbunny

Clarence Coyote and Project Courier - Part 45 - Homeward Bound

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