Exactly The Same Just Different

By Harold Williams

Robert had given up on his dreams and was just going through his life day by day, one day his life took a change and when he awoke from a dream state, his dreams mixed with his reality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Dec 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781977260543

Harold Williams

Harold Williams lives in northern California and he drives a semi-truck professionally.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The sound of the old-fashioned wind-up alarm clock bells rang loudly, reverberating off the walls. Robert groaned as he pulled his pillow over his head to block the noise.

He lay there until the spring unwound and quit annoying him before he decided to get out of bed in what was seeming to be a feat in itself.

As he stumbled to his feet rubbing his eyes, he couldn’t get the gray haze out of his vision. He walked to the sofa to get dressed from the pile of clothes that he refused to fold it was a waste of time just because they would get wrinkled after he put them on anyway. He stopped dumbfounded in the middle of the room; all the clothes were neatly folded and separated.

Robert started looking around for more oddities or an intruder. He wasn’t too concerned about an intruder so much because he figured whoever breaks into a house and does his chores couldn’t be all that bad.

He walked into the kitchen to see all the dirty dishes were washed and put away, the stove was cleaned, and the refrigerator was polished. Robert stood there scratching his head trying to remember last night talking to himself. Did I bring a chick home last night? If I did, she’s a keeper!

He went into the bathroom and was not too surprised to see the bathtub was spotless. He did custom work on bikes and cars, so the tub was always dirty with an oil ring. He just half smiled in disbelief.

Robert turned to look at the toilet. Nope! Not a chick leaving the seat up! He peered into the toilet. It was like new and never had been that clean.

In confusion, Robert wandered around the house looking for anyone who could be in there, but the house was empty and quiet. He went into the kitchen and wasn’t surprised to see all the cabinets were neatly organized; it was like he was in his house but not in his house.

Trying to figure this out he decided to get on with the day first by making coffee. As he was putting grounds in the filter, he spilled some grounds on the countertop and wasn’t too worried about it. Then he filled the carafe and poured the water in the coffee maker. He turned to clean up his mess, but it was already cleaned off.

Am I getting dementia? he mumbled in confusion.

Robert had a fascination with science fiction and unproven theories. He convinced himself that he was wasting too much time on those subjects and it was starting to affect him.

It didn’t take Robert long to move on with his day.

After the coffee was done brewing, he poured himself a cup and made garlic toast for breakfast.

Robert sat at the table eating his favorite breakfast and pondering the things that he needed to do that day. Finding parts for the carburetor on an old panhead motorcycle engine was at the top of his list.

As Robert opened the door to head out for work, he looked around worried that strange things may be going on outside of his house, but it all looked normal at first. Mrs. Johnson was in her flower garden like usual across the street fussing over every little thing she didn’t like, but other than that, everything was quiet.

He stepped off the last step, smiling with relief. How’s it going, Mrs. Johnson?

She looked up at Robert and smiled while waving back, then she suddenly looked down, quickly picked something up, and then put it in her mouth.

Robert looked at her with a shocked expression on his face. Is she eating the bugs? No! She wouldn’t do that!

He started walking toward his shop, which had been his dad’s a long time ago, shaking his head trying to figure out what was going on. Thoughts that he had jumped into an alternative universe were at the top of the mental list he had made.

He paid extra attention to every detail around him as he made his way to the shop. Everything looked normal until he saw a man wearing a pink flamingo printed shirt and bright yellow knee-length shorts. His hair was messy.

Robert didn’t recognize him, but he looked kind of familiar.

Robert walked up to the man and asked, Can I help you?

The man turned to face Robert, giving him a surprise that nearly made him fall to the ground.

This man was the uptight I only wear blue suits with red ties type of guy, and seeing him dressed like a beachgoer in a mountain town on a cool day just floored Robert. William?

William turned and greeted Robert with a giant smile. Hey, Rob! How’s it hangin’?

William was the mayor of the town. He was a dot the i’s and cross the t’s kind of guy. When he wrote a letter, he never abbreviated anything; he always said, It is never it’s. Nothing made him madder than being called Bill!

Robert and William were always at odds with each other about the appearance of Robert’s shop. William thought it made the town look bad, because the paint wasn’t perfect, and the oil stains on the driveway to the shop drove him nuts!

On the other hand, Robert thought it was his shop, paid in full, so William could just go suck an egg. Robert felt that it was his shop, so he could do what he wanted! The shop was fairly clean looking, and that was important to Robert because he wanted to show that he cared about his shop and that he cared about his customers. As for the oil stains on the driveway, that was just going to happen because people brought broken vehicles to the shop all day long.

Robert’s mind was blown by this point. So… You needing something fixed? he asked William.

William slapped his hand on Robert’s shoulder, which worsened Robert’s opinion about his mentality. William smiled. NO…of course not! I need your expert opinion.

Robert couldn’t make sense of anything going on. He was looking at a man who would never wear those kinds of cloths. Come to think of it, they were the exact sort of clothes that Mrs. Johnson would wear, but this morning she was wearing her Sunday blue dress in the garden.

William pulled Robert in closer. What I need is a good motorcycle. You know…wind in your hair and bugs in your teeth is what makes a happy man!

Robert looked at William in disbelief, panting out a laugh. So…what kind are you looking for?

William slid his finger to his bottom lip. I am not totally sure…something that will make me look cool.

Robert shook his head back and forth with his mouth hanging half open, thinking that it might be impossible to make him look cool. How about a scooter…you know, something small until you get used to riding?

William’s face lit up with joy. You know, you are exactly right! But I don’t want an off-the-shelf scooter; I want one with the fenders removed so it looks way cooler, and a custom paint job like the ones you do! Something with flames and a half-naked woman on the tank. And I want headers! Loud pipes save lives! OH, I want a fat tire in the back and a real skinny tire in the front. CHOPPER FORKS! I am going to need chopper forks for sure! Make it happen, and I will be back for it. Call me when it is done! OH, and by the way, throw in a black leather jacket with SCOOTERS ROCK embroidered on the back!

Robert was totally dumfounded! What the hell did I just witness? he said under his breath, See ya later, Bill!

William turned and waved to Robert smiling from cheek to cheek, mumbling about how cool his scooter was going to be.

After standing there for a while, totally lost as to what to think, Robert turned and headed to the shop mumbling, An alternate universe, it has to be an alternate universe!

As he turned the doorknob, he found it was unlocked. Cautiously and slowly, he slowly opened the door, grabbing a crowbar as he quietly moved past the parts bins. As he stealthily moved into the shop, he heard loud shouting and cursing. He moved toward where he thought it had come from, then he heard the jingling sound of tools hitting the concrete floor.

Robert couldn’t remember if he had given one of his friends the keys to the shop so they could work on their stuff. He couldn’t remember anything before the alarm clock this morning!

Can I give you a hand with something? Robert called out as he lowered the crowbar.

A voice came from behind an old motorcycle that he didn’t recognize. No! I almost got this fuckin’ thing together! Then the man raised his head above the saddle.

Robert fell to his knees. Dad?

CHAPTER 2

Robert sat up in a flash when he heard the alarm going off.

The last thing he remembered was seeing his father in the shop. He couldn’t remember how he got home let alone how he was in his bed.

Robert sprang out of his bed and ran to the living room just to see his clothes in a big pile like they were supposed to be, but that didn’t faze him. He got dressed in a hurry and rushed out the door. Mrs. Johnson was working in her garden as usual. Robert paused to look at Mrs. Johnson working in swimwear, which was not normal, but it didn’t slow him down much.

He ran to his shop three blocks from his house, and when he got to the shop door it was locked.

Robert nearly dropped his keys as he pulled them out of his pocket, but when he finally got in the shop it was empty. Everything was in place, but there were no vehicles in his shop.

Disappointed but not surprised, he walked outside and there weren’t any vehicles out there to work on either.

He was at a total loss on what to do because he never ran out of work, even if it was as simple as an oil change.

There wasn’t anyone rushing up or down the streets to get the best deals at the stores or running late for work. He just stood outside his shop waiting for Danny to come flying by; Danny was always late for work. He stood there for an hour, and there was no Danny.

It was like a ghost town until Robert looked across the street at a balcony and saw a man standing there looking down at him.

He had no clue who he was, and he knew everyone in town. The man looked dirty with long black hair wearing an old-fashioned top hat that has seen better days. The man wore black leather pants and a black leather jacket that needed a good cleaning. Robert and the man just stared at each other for a while before Robert was bored with the whole thing, and as he turned to go back into his shop, the man yelled, He isn’t one of us!

Robert didn’t know what to think, but as he looked down the street, he saw two people hunched over on the sidewalk looking down. Then their heads popped up and they stared right at him. After a few seconds, they bolted straight toward Robert. A panic rushed through his body, then bewilderment. He took off running away from his attackers.

When Robert reached the corner next to his house, he looked back and no one was there. He looked toward his house and saw Jenny who was dirty looking, sitting balled up on his front porch with her head deeply implanted into her hand, sobbing frantically as she leaned on his door.

Robert was in shock, excited, and a little scared! He first saw Jenny when he was fourteen years old and fell in love at first sight.

She was eleven years old, and oddly enough, she was sitting in a tree the first time he saw her. He didn’t notice her because he was taking a leak with his back to her. He thought he was concealed enough it the bushes, and then he heard Jenny say, Hello.

Robert put his stuff away before turning and seeing her. He was hooked at first glance but also embarrassed.

Whenever Robert saw her, he would try to avoid her because he could never live that one day down in his head. However, one day Robert was walking down the street at dusk, and he heard a familiar voice. Hello. He froze in his tracks!

As his throat began to swell shut, he turned to see Jenny sitting on her driveway leaning on the garage door smiling back at him.

Robert cleared his throat. So…what you doing?

Jenny put her hands together and leaned forward while smiling and letting out a happy groan. Just looking at the stars.

Robert looked up. There aren’t any stars out; it’s still too light out.

Jenny smiled, biting her lower lip. There will be.

Robert looked around. I love the stars! He really didn’t give them much thought.

Jenny smiled a little bit bigger while she patted the driveway next to her. Robert casually walked over and sat next to her.

They both sat there for a while silently before Jenny gave Robert a shove. Look! The first star!

That moment was the ice breaker; they talked about everything and anything.

This became a nightly thing for several years.

One day it hit Robert. Friend zone!

When Jenny dated other guys he thought were not worthy. He still did his best to support her horrible decisions and thought he should be the guy in her life in that way instead of the morons she chose. But he also thought if he tried anything beyond the friend zone, she would not be in his life at all. So, he chose to keep something rather than chance losing everything, which put him in a very difficult situation.

Robert wanted more in his love life, but he was afraid if he got a girlfriend, he would miss the opportunity he was always waiting for.

He went up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped and looked at him with a terrified glaze.

Robert sat next to her. What’s wrong?

Jenny started to shake and cry loudly. They are after me!

Robert hugged her. I will not let them get you. Come inside and we will be safe in the house.

Jenny nodded her head while Robert helped her up.

When they got into the house Robert looked out the door in both directions. No one was to be seen, not even Mrs. Johnson, but he did notice in the park two lots down was a massive tree that hadn’t been there before. It was like it just popped out of the ground. These oddities weren’t bothering him so much anymore, so he shrugged it off and closed the door.

Robert turned to see Jenny standing in the middle of the room like an emotionless statue, her face without expression.

Robert was at a loss what to do; it was like she was unprogrammed. He walked over and placed his hand on her back. How about I help you to the couch?

Jenny turned her head and smiled at him as relief washed over her.

Robert sat her on the couch that had nothing on it but a crocheted blanket that an old neighbor made him years ago.

He then walked into the kitchen. Want some coffee?

Jenny nodded. She watched him get things ready, then asked, What are you doing?

Robert paused as he looked at her. Making coffee?

Jenny’s jaw dropped half open. With milk?

Robert smiled. Yeah…I like a little milk and sugar in my coffee.