Part One (633 KB) - Whoa is (Not)

Jules hesitated. “They’re out of batteries, though. I played it a while that day, and it ran out, so you’ll
just have to change them later.”
He continued walking on, but the grin had vanished from Verne’s face as the boy ran to catch up with
him. “You used up the batteries”
Jules nodded. “Sorry. But you’ve got more, right”
Verne stared at him in disbelief.
Jules looked at him. “Right”
The blonde boy shook his head slowly. “Those were the last two. I was saving them. I WAS SAVING
THEM, JULES!” he suddenly yelled. “They were supposed to last me till my birthday!”
“I’m sorry, I…”
“I was only going to play it for five minutes a week, but now you’ve used them all up, and they’re not
even yours!”
“Listen…”
“Dad said I could only get new batteries on my birthday, so I was saving them up, and you used them,
and…”
“VERNE!” Jules grabbed his brother violently by his shoulders. “I’ll get you new ones, okay I’ll get you
new ones, so just shut up!”
Verne scowled. “You can’t get new ones. They’re only available in the future.”
Jules released his grip, suddenly regretting his wild promise. “Yes, I know. I’ll get you some when we
go there next. On my own money.”
“I can’t wait so long. I want them now. I could be playing my Game Boy now, but I can’t and it’s all your
fault… I’m telling Dad about the book.”
“What do you want, Verne” Jules asked through gritted teeth. “I told you, I’m sorry, I really didn’t know
those were the last batteries, and there’s nothing I can do about it, okay”
Verne’s eyes lit up. “You could take one of the time machines. Mum and Dad are going out for dinner
tonight, and Marty’s supposed to be looking after us, remember We could go then, and get the
batteries, and I won’t mention the book again. You said you knew how to operate the machines, so
prove it.”
“I don’t think…”
“What’s the matter, Jules Chicken”
A reluctant grin appeared on the older boy’s face, then vanished as abruptly as it had come. “Sorry, that
only works on Marty.”
“It’s only going to be a short trip, Jules! How long can it take to get batteries…”
That was true, Jules supposed, but it wasn’t so much the trip that worried him as what his parents would
do to them if they found out. And yet, it would be a lie to say that he had never before considered the
possibility of taking one of the time machines on a joyride through time without his parents’ knowledge…
tonight would be the perfect opportunity… Furthermore, if he were to do this, the incident might serve
as very useful leverage in future whenever he needed Verne to do something he wanted.
“We’ll see,” Jules said, and closed the topic for the moment. They had arrived home, and the nine-yearold
left for his room to study for school, but he couldn’t concentrate.
Chapter Seventeen