Third grade was actually a really good year for me.

1992 really wasnt't that much different from today, Jim thought as he walked down main street, a spring breeze in the air. Sure the cars we're older, a few of the stores were different then the ones he knew but by and large the town hadn't changed much. After Jim had showed up at 8AM, with the check for 1200 Ben had asked for he had taken him into the same office they had met the day before. He had produced a small device, about the size of a wallet, and pressed a few digits and aimed it at the back wall. A opening the size of the door had appeared on the wall, like a closet. Jim had been expecting something like a wormhole, gleaming a shining, but it was only blackness. Like a closet. 'After you,' Ben said and he had entered. It was something every instinctual part of him told him was a bad idea. Don't walk into the dark void, but he had gone. Through the blackness they had emerged into an alley, behind a store that had gone out of business. 'Point's of entry.' Ben explained. They tried to pick a spot as isolated as possible to prevent being seen, poring over old maps of cities to determine the best spot. It was tricky and sometimes a derelict or a hobo would see them, but they usually pulled it off, Ben explained. Was this really worth 1200 bucks? Jim thought as they strolled down the street. As if reading his thought's Ben remarked 'I know this doesn't seem like much but it makes for a good starting point. Also its so see if the people from the past notice you.' They had passed a few people on the street, a few teenage girls with perms, a man with in a business suit with suspenders, neither had seemed to take much notice. 'That's something you'll run into from time to time as you go back-the stare. I still don't entirely understand it but sometimes, they know. They don't exactly know why but they know you're not from here. That's there's something out of place with you. It can range from merely courteous to downright hostile. The further back you go the worse it gets. It's part of the reason we only take people back in period costume, but even then they can tell.' Ben had even attempted learning the language and slang of the eras he visited to fit in, still it persisted. The worse had been in a tavern in Boston in 1785, when the locals had been grilling him all night. He had consumed a few too many ales that night and had proceeded to rant about the future, how the very tavern they were in right now would be a parking lot in 300 years, how they were in fact, all dead men. They had called him a heretic, and had barely escaped unscathed. 'So far they don't seem to take much notice of you which is good.' Jim nodded, attempting to recall where he had been at this stage of his life in 1992. Working on his thesis, most likely, studying tenement conditions of the immigrant poor. 'Want to grab a few souvenirs?' Ben asked as they approached a gas station. 'Sure.' Jim said mildly. Jim's awe in seeing the past had been restrained but when he looked up at the sign and saw that gas was .95 cents it hit him, this guys actually done this. I am visiting the past. Throughout all of his years of work as a historian he had dreamed of seeing it, and now it was actually here. True it wasn't witnessing the Gettysburg Address or the signing of the declaration of independence, it was something. The gas station they walked up to was still there, in fact Jim had gone there the day before, but it had switched hands several times. 'You'd be surprised what you can buy here with not much money.' Ben said as they walked in. 'In fact if it was possible I'd move here.' He smiled to himself. In fact he did have an apartment here, and one in the 50's, the 20's even in 1890. He usually told the landlord he was some kind of peddler or traveling salesman, and they tended to believe him, as long as he paid on time. Jim could feel the hostile eyes on him as he entered the store. The stare. The clerk was an older man, slightly stooped. His look was cold, piercing. The store was small and Ben could walked over and whispered, 'Don't worry just stay cool.' Jim attempting to, but he could feel the clerks cold gaze following him as he moved. As if he was thought Jim was going to pull out a revolver any moment and hold the place up. Jim decided on just a pack of gum, a coke, and a newspaper. Ben had thought of cautioning him against it but decided not too. No one would believe him if he told them. It was part of the reason Ben had been able to keep his business under wraps. Jim walked up to the register placing his items on the counter. The old man's steely gaze had not faltered. 'Will that be all sir?' Jim nodded. The old man said something and he handed the man a five. The old man snatched the note with contempt and gave him his change. Things are cheaper here, Jim thought. 'You from out of town?' The old man said as he walked to the door. 'Yeah,' Jim replied nervously. 'Well why don't you stay that way? We don't care for outsiders here.' 'Sorry.'Jim replied as he walked out the door. Ben came out of the store hastily, 'Something's wrong, we might need to get out of here soon.' 'What the hell was that?' Jim asked. 'An anomaly, something's off. I need to talk to my tech guy to see if we can sort it out.' Ben was looking around to see it anyone was watching them. 'For now though I can't take you any further back, it just get's worse.' They walked back down the street toward the alley. 'How did he know?'Jim said as they walked. 'It's hard to say, I've taken people to that same store with that same clerk dozen's of times and that's never happened.' Someone was following them now, a man, the one with the suspenders. 'Alright this is getting weird.' Ben said. The alleyway was only a couple blocks now, but they couldn't be seen, especially not after the incident in the store. The man was closing in, something is off about this, Jim thought, finally they came upon the alley. Ben went quickly down the alley, as Jim followed him he looked over his shoulder, several others had joined the man, a mob. Fuck, Jim thought. Ben pressed a button on the device opening the door, 'Hurry!' he urged, and Jim descended back into the darkness.