Here by Mistake by David Ciferri Read Free Book Online

collected a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, a package of bologna, and three Dr. Peppers. After a visit to the bathroom he took out his wallet to pay. William punched the prices into the cash register. “No scanner,” Sarah whispered to Stephen.
    “Two twenty-six,” William said briskly.
    Brandon looked up. “Huh? We want all this stuff.” He passed his hand over the items on the counter.
    William said again, “Two twenty-six.” He added with a grin, “’Course, y’can pay more if y’really want to.”
    Brandon looked at his friends and back at William. He withdrew a five-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it over.
    William glanced at the bill and laughed out loud. “Last time I saw Mr. Lincoln he was front and center, not off t’the left,” he said. “And what a big picture of him it is. Y’all are havin’ fun with me.”
    Brandon snatched the five back and stared at it. Sarah stepped forward.
    “That’s my boyfriend—anything for a laugh.” She smiled. “I tell him not to do it, but he’s just a jokester.” She reached into her pocket and gave William three one-dollar bills.
    “That’s more like it,” William said. He winked at Brandon. “Remember, counterfeitin’s a federal offense.” He gave Sarah her change.
    “Thanks, William,” Sarah said sweetly as he placed their things in a paper bag. She slipped her arm through Brandon’s and pulled him toward the door. “This way, you.” Stephen took the bag and followed them out.
    They sat on the grass between the Cajun Grocery and the next row of shops. Stephen made bologna sandwiches for himself and Brandon, and a peanut butter one for Sarah. Brandon checked the bills in his wallet, and Sarah enjoyed her first laugh of 1965. “As if we need a counterfeiting charge on top of everything.” She giggled.
    “So the five and ten changed, but not the one,” Brandon said, putting his wallet away. “I don’t even remember.”
    “I didn’t think of it, either,” Stephen said. “We’ll run out of money fast.” He thought a moment and added, “I’m glad William didn’t check the year on those ones.”
    “Anyway, thanks, Sarah,” Brandon said. “Fast work.”
    Sarah licked her finger and notched a one in the air. “At least William has a sense of humor.”
    “We will run out of money,” Brandon said to Stephen. “But at least things are cheap here.” He checked the prices on the receipt. “Can you believe it? Last summer my dad kept saying how cheap things were at the Jersey shore. He said he should retire there. He should see this place.”
    Stephen scanned the front page of the newspaper. “It’s November 9,” he said casually. Then he looked up. “November 9, 1965,” he repeated slowly. “I think . . . yes, something happened that day. Something big. But I can’t remember what it was. Do you know, B?”
    Brandon had just taken a huge bite of his sandwich. He shook his head.
    “Whatever it was, shouldn’t it be in the paper?” Sarah asked.
    “No, this is news from yesterday. But something big happens today. If I can just remember . . .”
    Brandon swallowed and swiped at a fly buzzing the bologna. “Well, let’s eat and maybe you’ll think of it.”
    Sarah tried twisting the cap off her Dr. Pepper. “Ow,” she said, shaking her fingers. “What’s the matter with this thing?” Brandon took the bottle and tried. No luck.
    “We need a bottle opener,” Stephen said. His friends looked at him, and he shrugged. “Nineteen sixty-five will take some getting used to.”

FIVE
“Please Help Us!”
    Brandon swallowed the last of his Dr. Pepper and raised the bottle to Sarah. “Tastes even better than home.” He smiled. “You owe me one of these, you know.”
    “If—when—we get back, I’ll pay up. I’ll pay double if you talk Quint into helping us.”
    “Deal. And if he throws us out, you don’t owe anything.” Brandon stood up and brushed the grass off his jeans. “All set,