A Story About My Dad

My dad was looking for his uncle, see, who he’d had to leave years ago to take care of an experiment of his in another world -- the one we ended up going to, by the way! My dad was accepta-- okay with it at first, because he had to take care of me, but once I grew up, he started becoming obsessed with finding Fred.

Getting obsessed means that you focus on something, so much that you-- You get it? Okay.

Anyway, I was 28 when I found him in his study, in the middle of an experiment…

“Dad?” I called out, my breathing quickening at the sight of the sparking gateway. I saw a faint silhouette in front of the machine. “Dad!” He threw a lever on the side of the machine side, and nothing happens at first.

My father had been working on a secret experiment, and it’d never worked before, or at least never enough that I noticed. Apparently, that time, it did. Suddenly, after a moment of quiet, the circular gateway sparked into life, a swirling blue vortex crackling as it illuminated the dark laboratory and my father. The sparks faded, leaving nothing but the vortex itself. I heard my dad whisper something, and then say louder, “I’m coming, Uncle Fred.” He sounded like he was nervous, but excited all the same.

My eyes widened. He was still looking for his uncle! After all of these years… He was wearing an adventure suit like the one from so many years ago. I ran to a locker on the side, knowing it was where he kept his old one, which as we had discovered to my delight, fits me well. I tore open the metal door -- thankfully, it wasn’t locked -- grabbed the suit, then stepped into it. I fumbled with the latches for a moment before finally getting them closed. My dad was a step away from the portal by then, but suddenly he paused. He took a deep breath, then briskly stepped through, the portal deforming around him before snapping back to its original shape.

I’d barely gotten the boots on when the portal starts to collapse, and I hope against hope that it hasn’t torn my father to pieces. There was no doubt in my mind: I was going after my Dad. I dashed towards the gate as it let out a shower of sparks and jumped through the portal moments before it closed. I found myself landing right next to my dad in some kind of throne room with a bunch of small, horse-like creatures staring at us.

The first thought that passed through my mind was, Why are they pointing spears at us?

Naturally, I don’t regret jumping through that portal, even today. What kid in their right mind would argue against doing something, anything, to break out of the boring routine of life?

What do you mean, you don’t believe this happened?

Yes, this is real! I know, I can barely believe it myself. One of these days, we need to get Gramps to tell you his story. It’s just as cool. He ended up going to the right place, by the way -- you’ll see, just be patient! Sheesh.