NeverLookingBack

ByJalenFranklin

June15,2098
4:15pm
Freeatlast,freeatlast!ThankGodAlmightywearefreeatlast!ThatiswhatI
thoughtwhenthespacesatellitesentsignalstoourschool,endingeighthgrade.Myname
isMarcus,IliveinMemphis,Tennessee,andIamgoingtohavethebestsummerofmy
life!Tomorrow,IamsupposedtogotoRomanshousesoRoman,Rikor,andIcouldflyour
jetpacksandplaybasketball.Unfortunately,Ihaveaproblem,welltechnically,twin
problemswholivenextdoor:LisaandLila.Theyaretwinsisters,andtheyarejerks!They
alwaysruinmyfunwhenmyfriendsandIarehangingout.Fromboobytrapstoputting
itchingcreaminoursocks,thetroubletheycauseisendless.Thebattlebetweenthetwins
andmeandmyfriendshasnowinners.Whenevertheyprankus,Roman,Rikor,andI
alwaysretaliate!

June16,2098
8:00am
ThefirstthingIdidwhenIwokeupwasgetRoman,andwewenttoRikorshouseto
play.AssoonasIcouldseehishouse,Iwasdisappointedtoseethetwinsonthefront
lawn,anticipatingmyarrival.RikorandRomantoldthemtoscram,butofcourse,thetwins
didnotlisten.Nobodynoticedthatthesprinklerswereon.Rikorchasedthegirlsaround
thefrontyard,andLisatrippedoverasprinkler,whichpointeditatahousethatwasgetting
anewpaintjob.Thewaterfromthesprinklersoakedthepaintersandthehouse.The
paintslowlystartedtodripdownthehouse,andonceallthepaintgotonthewindows,out

cameMr.Corpse.Hewasinfuriatedthathishouseandworkersweredrenched.He
whisperedsomethingtooneofthepainters,andthenthepainterfiercelyorderedustohelp
themrepaintthehouse.Thiswasnotagoodstartformysummervacation.

8:15am
Thisstinks,saidLisa.Whatdidwedowrong?Well,youguysdidnotlisten
whenRikorandRomantoldyoutoleaveandstoplingeringaroundthehouse.So,Rikor
hadtochaseyouaroundtheyardtogetyoutomoveuntilyoutrippedoverthesprinklers,I
said,annoyed.Whilewewererepaintingthehousewithbluepaint,bloodredpaint
suddenlyappearedonthehouseinthefollowingletters:

COME SEE THE TIMEKEEPER, FOR THAT IS WHERE

YOUR ADVENTURE AWAITS
ThatiswhenIrealizedthatwewereallstandingonatrapdoortoMatthewCorpses
basement,whichwasstrangebecausebasementsusuallydonothavetrapdoors.It
opened,andwefellthrough.Tomysurprise,wefoundanoldman,wholookedlikehe
playedAlbusDumbledoreintheHarryPottermovies,holdingapieceofstringthatwas
attachedtothetrapdoorwefellthrough.

8:30am
Thiswasextremelybizarre.Howcouldthishappenonmyfirstdayofsummer
vacation?Howcouldwegetout?Whowasthiscrazyperson?Romancouldpickthelock
ofthedoorsincethiswasabasement,butheforgothislockpick.Lisawasthegenius,but
evenifshehadanescapeplan,thisoldmanwouldnotletusoutofhissight.Youmaybe

wonderingwhyyouarehere,saidtheoldman.Yathink?,exclaimedeverybodyelsein
unison.Ihadtokeepyoudownheresonobodywouldhearorseeanything.Youare
abouttoseesomethingextraordinary.Then,theoldmanintroducedhimself.IamNathan
Corpse,butyoucancallmetheTimekeeper.IhaveajobofsellingwatchesandIam
savinguptobuyaflyingsaucer,incaseIhavetoliveinit.Weallexplodedwithlaughter.
What?,hesaid.Ihavegottenonmybrothersbadsidelately,thatiswhyIalreadylivein
thebasement.OnemoreslipupandIllbekickedoutofthehouseforgood.Butletusget
downtobusiness.Nathantrudgedoverandunveiledastrangeobjectinthecornerofthe
room.

8:45am
Thismachineconsistedofalargetubewith30analogwatchesandaswirlingblack
hole.Howdidyougetapieceofablackhole?,Iasked.Well,40yearsagoablackhole
wasjusttherightdistanceawayfromearththatNASAbuiltarobotthatwenttospace,
brokeapieceoftheblackholeoff,andlauncheditbacktotheInternationalSpaceStation
atthespeedoflightbeforebeingsuckedin.NASAgaveittomeasagiftforgivingthem
mytimestoppingwatch,explainedtheTimekeeper.This,myfriends,isatimemachine.
Itcantakeyoutoanytimeyouwant,pastorfuture,andisavitalweapon.Theproblemis
thatIlostthemanualImadewithalltheinstructions!
Justtorewindthewatchestogobackintime,andviceversa,obviously,saidLisa.
Liladisagreed.No,dimwit,ifwedidthat,ourliveswouldbecomehorrorstories!The
onlyhorrorstoryaroundhereisyourface,troll!snappedLisa.Iwonderifyoutwowould
arguelikethisifwewentbackintime,Iwonderedoutloud.

Ah,butthatisjustwhatyouaregoingtodo,whisperedtheoldmanknowingly.
Listen,Ineedyoutogobackexactly130yearstopreventtheassassinationofDr.Martin
LutherKing,Jr.andkeepthevoiceoffreedomgoing.Thatwasatalltaskthatneededa
lotofteamwork.IknowthathediedonabalconyofahotelinMemphis,Tennesseeafter
beingshotwithariflebyJamesEarlRay,saidRikor.So,wejusthavetolocatethehotel,
breakintothehotel,andsomehowpreventJamesEarlRayfrommurderingDr.King.
Okay,wearetotallyin,weallsaid.Great!theoldmancheered.Thenstartpacking,
andbringanythingnecessary.Wethensnuckoutofthehouse,dashedbacktoour
homes,andstartedpackingfortheadventureofourlives.

9:30am
Webroughtallthethingsweneeded.Romanbroughtalockpicktobreakintothe
hotelroom.Rikorbroughtpaintballequipmentincaseweneededtodefendourselves.
Thetwinsbroughttheirprankpacks,filledwithalltheirprankmaterials.Thosepackshad
somuchstuffinthem,theywerelikemakeupkitsforpranksters.Rikor,Roman,andIhave
beentryingtostealthemformonths,butwearehorribleatstealingthings.Ibroughtmy
Xraygogglestolookintotheroomwithoutopeningthedoor.Ialsobroughtmyinvaluable
bioniccrackersthatcangivesomeoneanypowertheywantforanhour,likesuperagilityor
theabilitytoshootsomeonewithlightning.Finally,weallbroughtourjetpacks.

10:30am
Wewentthroughthetrapdoorintothebasement,readyforwhateverwewould
encounter.Areyouready?,theTimekeeperasked.Yes,weallsaidexcitedly.Then,he

rewoundthewatches,andtheblackholeexpandedsoweallcouldjumpthroughatthe
sametime.Wealltookadeepbreath,andjumpedthroughthetimemachine.

April4,1968
11:00am
Nowwhatdowedo?,askedLila.First,weshouldactlikeaveragepeoplewho
arenottryingtostoponeofthemostimportantdeathsofthe20thcentury,Isuggested.
Wemightaswellstartbygettingsomelunch.Romangotawadofcashoutofhis
bookbagandwewalkeddownthestreettoapizzaplacecalledLuigis.Thepizzawas
marvelous,andbestofall,itdistractedusfromthedifficulttaskahead.Weaskedawaiter
whereDr.KingwasstayinginMemphis.Iamnotsupposedtotellanyonethis,butheis
stayingrightacrossthestreet,heanswered.Afterweateandpaid,wesnuckovertothe
backdoorofthehotel,armedwithpaintballguns,glovesandmasks.Wecanuseour
jetpackstoflyupthereandsaveDr.King,suggestedRoman.Thatwouldmaketoomuch
noise,whisperedLila.IsuggestedthatweshouldpickthelockwithRomanslockpick.
AssoonasRomanpickedthelock,thedooropened,andweallsteppedinside.

12:30pm
Thehotelhadasmalllobbywithakitchenandadiningtableinthecorner.The
checkindeskstoodinthedeadcenterofthelobby.Nobodywasthere.Downthehall
wereacoupleofpoliceofficers,watchingtomakesurenoonepassedthroughthehall.

Rememberthechiefsorders,saidone.Shootanybodyonsight.Nobodygoesinorout
ofthishotelonourwatch.
IbetIcanpickoffthefirstofficer,andRomanwillblasttheother,Rikorwhispered.
Together,theyshotthepoliceofficers,butinsteadofgrimacinginpain,themencollapsed
onthefloor,asleep.Iinjectedthepaintballswithsleepinggas,whisperedLilaexcitedly.
Then,youguyswouldfallasleepwhileplayingpaintball.
Lila,youdidnotneedtodothat,Lisasneered.Evenifthosethreeknuckleheads
werewideawake,theirbrainsarealwaysasleep!
ShutitLisa,orthenextpaintballwillbebetweenyoureyes,snappedRoman.We
weresobusyarguingthatwenevernoticedthatthetwomenwokeup,andwewereabout
toengageinashootoutwithprofessionalpoliceofficers.

1:00pm
Itwasrapidfirefromthere,withbulletsandpaintballsflyingleftandright.Thebattle
progressed.Onemomentyouwereunconscious,thenafewminuteslateryouwereawake
andcluelessaboutwhatwasgoingonuntilsomeonetoldyouwhatwashappening.Then,
weranforourlives,shootingtheofficerswithpaintballsandseeingthemdrop.Weranto
theelevatorandallgotin.Ipressedthetopfloorandwezoomedup!Theelevator
stopped.Thedoorsopened,andwesteppedout.Wewerethere.

1:15
Thehotelroomwassmall,withagranitecounterintheleftcornerandthekitchen
andsomefurnitureinthemiddle.Thetelevisionwasintherightcorner,sittingonagray
tiledfloor.Onthebalcony,Dr.Kingandacoupleofhisfriendswerelookingoutand

enjoyingtheview,oblivioustowhatwasgoingtohappennext.Isawthisthroughtheclosed
doorwithmyXRaygogglesthatIhadpacked.ThemainthingisthatwebeatJamesEarl
Raytotheroom,andhadenoughtimetohatchaplan.Hereiswhatwewilldo,
whisperedRikor.LisawillputshavingcreamonthefloorafterRomanpicksthelockofthe
door,thenLilawillhidetheshavingcreamwithinvisiblespray.MarcusandIwillbeready
withourpaintballgunstoshootJames,andwhileheisasleep,wewillflyDr.Kingandhis
friendstosafety.Roman,youneedtowarnDr.KingandhisfriendsthatJamesEarlRayis
comingtoshoothimandthatweareallgoingtosavehim.Romanwasntthebestat
explainingsituations,sohewouldneedtofocusonmakingsureDr.Kingunderstoodthe
situation.
1:20pm
Westeppedthroughthedoorway.RomandasheduptoDr.Kingandstartedtalking
fast.ListenDr.King,inafewminutes,amannamedJamesEarlRaywillsneakintothis
roomandshootyou.
Howdoyouknowthis?,askedDr.King.
ItraveledbackintimefromthefutureandIknowthisisgoingtohappen,butmy
friendsandIaregoingtopreventthat!,exclaimedRoman.Justactnormalandwewilldo
therest.Justwatch,Dr.King,whisperedRoman,justwatch.

1:22pm
Weallgotintopositionandcarriedoutourplan.Weallhidbehindfurnitureso
Jameswouldnotseeuscoming.Everybodywasdeadsilent.Then,thedooropenedwith
theslightestcreak.Itwastime.

1:25pm
Jamessteppedintotheroomsoquietlyhelookedlikehewasinstealthmode.He
hadjetblackhair,andworebluecollarshirtwithjeans.Hecarriedarifle.GoodbyeDr.
King,hewhisperedunderhissmellybreath.Then,heslippedontheshavingcream.That
wasourcue.RikorandIstartedshootinghimwithpaintballsasheslippedontheground
andacrosstheroom.Unfortunately,thesepaintballsdidnothavesleepinggasinthemlike
wethought!Roman,Lila,andLisatriedtotiehimupwitharopeasaplanB,butJames
wastoostrong.Dr.Kingandhisfriendsstillremainedidleonthebalcony,anxiousabout
thecommotion.JamesthenaimedhisrifleatDr.King,sotherewasonlyonethingIcould
do.ItackledJames.

1:30pm
JustashefiredhisrifleIlandedonhimandheswungaroundtryingtothrowmeoff,
butIheldhimbytheneck.TheotherfourtackledJames,andDr.Kingandhisfriendsburst
intotheroomandhelpedrestrainhim.Roman,Rikor,Lisa,andLilaallactivatedtheir
jetpacksandflewoffwithDr.Kingandhisfriendstosafety.Butmyjetpacksbatteries
weredead!IforgottochargemyjetpackwhenIwaspackingforthisadventure.
Justyouandmenow,sneeredJames.Myfacewasaswhiteasahardboiled
egg,paralyzedwithfear.
Dr.Kingisgoneandthepoliceofficerswillcomesoon,ImusteredasIpushed
himoutoftheroomtotheedgeofthebalcony.ThenIalsowalkedontothebalcony,ready
toduel.Asaresultofthepush,Jamesrifleflewoutofhishandstothegroundbelow.
Jamesjustsneeredatmeandsaid,Youarethereasonwhyheisgone,andthatmeans

youwillpay.withyourlife!Jamesgotoutasteakknifefromhispocketandswungand
stabbedatmeseveraltimes,butmissedasIslidoutoftheway.JustbeforeDr.Kingwas
carriedtosafety,Ihadsnuckoneofmyagilitycrackersintomymouth,givingmesupreme
agility.Thankgoodnessitworked!Whenhestabbedforthefinaltime,Isnatchedtheknife
straightfromhishandandthrewitofftheedge,disarmingJames!Allofhisweaponswere
gone!IateanotherbioniccrackerandzappedJameswithlightning.James,dazed,
swungatmewithhishandonemoretimeashefellofftheedgeofthebalconytohisdeath.

1:35pm
Lisapickedmeuponherjetpackandflewmeovertothetimemachine.Thatwas
sobrave,Lisasaid.IdonotthinkIcouldfaceagunmanasanadult,letaloneat14!
WedroppedDr.Kingandhisfriendsoffandsaidourfarewells.
Bye!,exclaimedDr.King.Thankyouforeverything!
Jameswaslyingonthecementsidewalkoutsideofthehotel,dead.Itoldthepolice
thewholestoryofussavingDr.KingandhowJamesdied.But,thiswasnotaboutdeathit
wasaboutaleaderthatwasstillliving.
Greatteamworkeverybody,Isaid.Wewillcelebratewithamovieatmyhouse!
Wejumpedbackinthetimemachineandtraveledbackto2098,havingjust
changedhistory.WeflewoutofthetimemachineinthebasementofMr.Corpseshouse.
Wewerehome.

June16,2098
2:00pm

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Howdiditgo?askedtheTimekeeper.
Itwassuccessful,weallsaidtogether.
Welldone,welldone!,cheeredtheTimekeeper.
NowthatwesavedDr.Kingfromhisdeath,whathappenedafterthat?,askedLila.
Iamgladyouasked,saidtheTimekeeper.Dr.Kingwasfamousworldwide,and
continuedmakingspeechesandinspiringpeoplejustlikehealwayshad.Theturningpoint
inracerelationsintheU.SwasthemarchacrosstheBrooklynBridgein1975.Dr.King
ledthousandsofpeopleacrossthebridgeastheychantedFreedom,Freedom!In1990,
Dr.KingmadehismostfamousspeechcalledADreamComeTrue.Bythattime,
racismwasatitsend.Everyonewastreatedequally,andthegoldenruleoftreatingothers
asyouwanttobetreatedwastherealityformanymoreminoritiesthaneverbefore,andby
thattime,youfivewereinthehistorybooksforsavingDr.King.Dr.Kingdiedpeacefullyon
hisbirthdayin2009.Nowyoucangoandenjoytherestofyourlives,butenjoyevery
momentofit,becauseyouneverknowwhenitisgoingtoend,saidtheTimekeeper.
Solong!,weallsaidasweclimbedoutofthebasement.
WewatchedPrankWarsatmyhouseandhadalotoffun.IneverthoughtIwould
likeLisaandLila,butafterthisadventure,Ihaveactuallygrowntolikethem.Anyway,we
areveryspecialpeoplenow.Notmanypeoplecansaythattheysavedsomeoneslife.

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TheEnd

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