Time Warp

Exiting the car, Andy headed toward the building. The gray door, with white metal mesh covering the window, made it uninviting. Figuring it was a staff door, he moved to the front of the building. He stopped outside the second door, staring hard at this one, which mirrored the one at the side. Which one should he enter? If there was a difference, he'd be hard-pressed to find it.

"This is a strange place," he muttered.

He looked back towards his car, tempted to drive off and go somewhere else, but he was here now, and the mystery of the building was too intriguing to resist.


He reached for the old-style elongated door handle, opened the door, and went inside. Cold air from the newer AC unit above the coolers blasted him in the face. He looked around the tiny store filled with the usual suspects: drinks, chips, cookies, and candy.

In contrast to the outside of the building, the inside was remodeled entirely, except for the old-style doors. He took four steps to the counter, told the attendant how much he wanted in gas, paid, and turned away, returning the same way he came.

"This door works, too," he said, pointing to the first door he passed.

"I wondered," Andy said. "This has to be the smallest gas station I've ever been in."

The attendant laughed. "I get that all the time."

Moving to that door, he passed a little coffee station and shook his head. Then, he pulled the lever on the door and returned to his car. Looking back at the building made it feel like he'd gone back three decades, save for the new gas pumps.

Handing the nozzle, a car drove past, blasting the song Time Warp, making Andy laugh.

WC: 299