In Loving Memory of Robert A. George and Donald R. George

particularly good point in any of these movies, by speaking the picture’s
number, she would turn off the music and turn on that movie’s volume.
In the lower middle played Some Like It Hot with Tony Curtis and
Jack Lemmon dressed in drag. When Roy Orbison started singing Pretty
Woman, Serendipity did not even attempt to repress a giggle.
The Entertainment Room was the place she always came to unwind, to
lose herself in a simpler time. She knew it was late, but she couldn’t sleep.
She was far too excited. Her time machine actually worked. She had been
to 1985. At this very moment up in her guest room, there was a real
twentieth-century native who wanted to stay.
Amidst her elation, Serendipity’s mind began to swirl with doubt.
Would this even work out? Would Sherman become another pain in the
rear end? She lived alone for good reason. She didn’t like people telling
her what to do, how to act, what to wear. Always trying to make her
normal. She had tried being normal. Didn’t work. She had given up trying
to fit in long ago. Much happier being herself.
Perhaps Sherman, being from another time, would see Serendipity as
simply the norm for the twenty-fourth century. That would work. He
certainly didn’t seem that put off by her. If he didn’t try to change her or
take over her life, they could get along just fine. He was old enough to
take care of himself. He wouldn’t be making demands on her time. Yes. It
might just work.
So...where should she—no they—go next? In the upper middle section
of the screen, Groucho was attempting to unpack his brothers from a giant
steamer trunk. Hmm, thought Serendipity, curling her legs up a bit more.
A voyage on a 1940s luxury liner crossing the Atlantic, now that would be
nice. She smiled. In the lower left, Rosalind Russell looked out her
window at Manhattan. Yes. New York City in the 1920s, Serendipity had
to see that. In the lower right hand corner a college fraternity imitated
Devo. Perhaps a 1980s rock concert?
Why did the twentieth century appeal to her so? Serendipity had
always had a hard time explaining that to others; she couldn’t really
explain it to herself. Was it truly because it was an exciting century? Or
was it because of the recordings? She considered that for a moment.
Before the twentieth century, records of society were preserved only in
books and paintings. With film and recordings one could relive this
period.
She stood up a stepped closer to the screen. What was the main theme
in all these movies?
Every protagonist was a misfit.
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