High excursionists. It's me Narri. I want to thank you for being so
patient with me during this incredibly busy time of year. Very soon we will
be back to our regular release schedule, and of course I have one of
our Thursday excursions for you to day. But I also have a present for
you. I know you love sharing this show with family members during this time
of year, so I have one great story for you and yours of all
ages that will unfold from the twentieth through the twenty fifth like a countdown to
Christmas Day. I truly hope you will enjoy it. For now, let's
head down the last twisted path of twenty twenty three. Are you ready?
Welcome to Endo the Night. I'm Narri, your guide on today's excursion down
a twisted path. Be careful not to get lost. Be it dark or
light, it's easy to lose your way. Are you ready, then let's
begin the timing belt. The tinkling of bells drew the man's attention to the
office door of his auto shop. Al wiped the grease from his hands onto
the worn brown coveralls he wore on cool days during the fall and winter.
He smiled at the neatly dressed man who stood before him. Hello, sir,
is there something I can do for you? Are you all clinking beard?
Why? Yes, I am. How can I help you? My
employer told me you are the best mechanic on this side of the Mississippi.
Al's chest puffed out a little more than usual. Some folks say that,
I take it your boss has something he needs me to tinker with. The
man in the pin striped suit clearly didn't enjoy Al's folksy manner. Neither my
boss nor I want you to tinker with anything. We have a sensitive piece
of equipment that is of great importance, and we need the job done correctly.
If tinkering is what you do, I'm afraid I've come to the wrong
establishment. He turned to leave. Now, hold on there, Feller.
I may not be a city slicker, but if there's one thing I can
do better than anyone else around, that's fixing anything mechanical. I apologize if
I'm too country for your liking, but it's just how I was raised.
I might not look like much, but I have a mechanical engineering degree from
MIT. I just don't take to act and fancy. And if I did,
my neighbors would run me out of town. How about we sit down
and have a conversation about the job you need done. The stranger's shoulders relaxed
very well. I'm afraid I was a bit too abrupt, mister clinkingbeard,
and I apologize. How you look and how you talk are of no business
of mine, and I shouldn't have made assumptions about your abilities. In fact,
your low key nature is an added benefit to using your skills. You
see, this is a delicate matter and we can't draw attention to this project.
Okay, that sounds fair and apology accepted. Now let's go into this
other room here and we can have a conversation. Discretion is imperative. You
cannot speak to anyone else about this, do you understand. Look, mister,
I've done jobs for the government, the military, and several big name
companies, and if you not so well known secret agencies, I didn't get
the reputation I have by being indiscreet. The gentleman smiled, I think I'm
in the right place. Then he followed al into what appeared to be a
den. This is much nicer than what I imagined, giving your storefront and
overall appearance appearances can be deceiving. I may look and sound like a hay
seed, but I'm an educated man and I know about the finer things in
life. Please have a seat, mister Cromwell, Edward Cromwell. I apologize
for not introducing myself sooner. I fear I've shown bad manners all the way
around, and I didn't want us to get off on the wrong footing.
I've been under a great deal of pressure trying to find the right way to
fix the problem I have, and it's just put me on edge. Please
accept my apologies. Al pointed once again to the leather chair he offered to
his customer. Accepted. Now let's get down to the business at hand.
For the next forty five minutes, Al and mister Cromwell talked at length about
the problem and how it could be fixed. I see, yes, it
would be important to have that engine running in tiptop shape. Al poured his
guest another cup of ConA coffee he had ordered from Heavenly Hawaiian Farms. My
this is an excellent blend, my favorite, mister Cromwell. I have it
shipped here since it's not available in stores, at least not in these parts.
How long would it take you to begin? You're in love. Look,
I just finished working on an engine rehul for that dump trug parked in
the garage bay when you got here. I thought it would take me longer,
but the parts came in faster than I expected. So I have the
rest of the week to work on your job. Is that quick enough for
you? Edward Cromwell breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, that would fit
my boss's schedule perfectly. I will bring it by this afternoon. I didn't
want to tell it here unless you were hired. Consider yourself hired. The
two men shook hands and spent at least an hour discussing the books filling the
shelves in Aliston. I'm quite impressed. You have all the classics as well
as books covering everything from quantum physics to psychology. You truly are a well
read intellectual, mister clinking beard. Now I'm further embarrassed by my initial behavior.
No need to apologize a second time and call me al. I'm as
smart as the next feller, I suppose, but at my core I'm still
al from small town America. It suits you and your anonymity serves my purpose.
Well, I'll smile mine too. I'll be back, say around two
o'clock. That would be perfect. The boys from the Highway Department will be
here about noon to pick up their dump truck, so my baby will be
empty. I'm eager to take a look at it. At precisely two o'clock,
mister Cromwell arrived in a large flatbed truck. In the back an enormous
canvas covered a medium sized piece of equipment. I'll wave the truck into the
open bay and close the overhead door behind it. I had a feeling you
wanted as few eyes as possible on this machine. You are correct, mister
al I think it's best for only you to know that it's here. No
worries. I've worked on many sensitive projects in the past. I know what
I'm doing. If you'd like to leave the truck parked inside here, I
can use the winch to maneuver this off on the flatbed to overheat. He
motioned to the empty space in the joining bay. The truck can stay in,
and that way none of the fine folks in this community will ask questions
about where the truck came from. You know how men like to gossip about
who drives what truck. Ed Cromwell smiled, I understand the concept very well.
Ed. I'll get started on this today and i'll keep you updating on
it if I have to order any specialty parts for it. As long as
there are no delays on that end, I should have a good idea of
what's wrong by tomorrow and I can have it up and run him by the
end of the week. How does that sound That fits my schedule. Thank
you for your help. It means a great deal to me to have this
operational once again. I'll get you taken care of. Ed. With that,
the two men shook hands and Edward Cromwell strode out into the parking lot.
A limousine waited for him, and he quickly slipped inside the car and
disappeared down the quiet street. Only a few people at the local grocery store
across the way took notice of the limousine. If anyone asks about where that
limo came from, I'll just tell the folks it had a flat tire the
freeway and stopped here for me to fix it. Then they were on their
way. If anyone prize, I'll tell them I didn't bother asking who they
were. I just fixed their tire, took their money and went on with
my day. Al undid the straps and pulled the tarp off the back of
the flatbed. He carefully attached cables and used the winch to gently guide the
equipment onto the concrete floor of the adjoining bay. Well, looky here,
let's see what's going on with you. Al's eyes lit up at the prospect
of a challenge, and he set straight to work, unscrewing panels and diving
into the inner workings of the mechanism, checking one possible problem after another.
He finally figured it out without looking at the clock. He called Ed Cromwell.
A groggy Cromwell answered the phone. Al glanced at the clock and apologized,
Well, shoot, Ed, I didn't even notice what time it was.
It's after one in the morning. I can call you back tomorrow.
No hmm, no, no, Al, what have you found out?
Having this fixed is far more important than sleep. The good news is it's
an easy fix. The bad news is that I have to order the part
in and may have to make some adjustments to have it fit your equipment.
Do whatever you have to. Money isn't an issue. What's wrong with it?
It's time in belt has gone out. I've never worked on something like
this before, so it took me a while to figure it out. But
the time and belt is the culprit. How long do you think it will
take? I can have the part by tomorrow, give me a day or
two jerry rigging it to fit. Then give me another day to make sure
all the bugs are worked out. How about Friday. I'll see you Friday
out. You don't know what this means to me, No problem at all,
Ed, I'm happy I can help. Why being asleep from his eyes,
I'll hung up the phone. I should probably get some sleep myself.
I have my work cut out for me over the next couple of days.
Before I do anything, though, I need to get on the computer and
order that part. The next morning. I'll anxiously await it the delivery truck's
arrival. When the familiar brown van pulled up, the driver came off the
truck with a box in his hand. Hey, al Mile's business been treating
you. It's good to see you too, Mike. Things are fine around
here. I haven't seen you in a while. I thought maybe you'd quit
or something. Nah, I didn't quit. The big bosses had me running
a different route for a while because they couldn't find anyone reliable for the area.
Frank covered my route while I was filling in over by Sadderfield. I'm
glad to have you back. You know, it can get pretty quiet and
lonely around here. Trucks aren't the great conversationalists. Mike chuckled as he handed
a clipboard to Al. I bet it does get lonesome. You need to
find yourself a wife, That's what you need to do. Al signed his
name, but the smile faded from his face. Mike didn't notice. You
have some fancy foreign car in there, Al, This package is from one
of those specialty stores. We don't deliver much stuff for them. Yeah,
I'm working on one of those fancy new fangled things. Darn computers in these
vehicles these days make everything harder than it used to be, when all we
had to do was mess with the carburetor. Al shook off his moment of
sadness and tried to sound as upbeat as possible. Well, you have a
good day, Al, I'll be seeing you soon again. I'm sure you
too, Mike. I'd better get back to work. Al watched the van
pull back out onto the street and driveway. He opened his door to the
office, flipped the open, signed closed, turned on the light, and
stepped into the shop. Having already taken the measurements he needed, he set
to work adapting the timing belt to fit Edward Cromwell's project, working almost NonStop
for the next forty eight hours. He finished his task, he dialed Cromwell's
number. Hey, Ed, I have you all taken care of. You
can come in anytime to pick it up. I'll be right over. Within
half an hour, the limousine arrived in front of Al's business. Come right
back here, Ed, go ahead and take a look over. Make sure
you're happy with the job I did. Ed checked every dial and turned it
on the motor purd A broad smile broke out on his face. Al,
this should compensate you for your trouble. It's cash. No need to raise
any red flags with the government. He handed Ali satchel. Al whistled when
he opened it. This is more than I was expecting, Ed, I
was just doing my job. You've helped more than you know. You've kept
a major crisis from happening, and I can't explain it, but I think
you're wise enough to know something like this is used for big problems that need
solving. I'd figured as much. Ed paused, say, Al, I
feel like I should do more for you. I noticed that you don't have
any family pictures displayed in your den. Do you have a wife? Kids?
Al grew quiet. I know we don't know each other that well,
Al, but I might be able to help. Please talk to me.
I'm not just all business. I've sinsed you have a hole in your life
that no amount of work or money could fill. Al nodded his head.
Finally, after a moment of Ed Cromwell patiently waiting, Al spoke, ten
years ago, I was madly in love with a beautiful girl, Loreene.
We were in undergraduate school, and I thought the sun rose and sat on
her. She loved me too, and that's one thing I've been able to
hang on to for all these years. What happened. We married after our
senior year, and we wanted to start a family right away. We'd never
been so happy as the day we found out we were expecting a baby.
Al stopped for a moment and wiped his eyes. When Loreene was six months
long, she was driving home from her sister's house. A drunk driver hit
her head on. Happened quick. There was nothing anyone could do for her
or the baby. Both men stood silently ed, then looked at I know
we haven't known each other long, Al, but I feel like we're friends
already. In my line of work, I don't get to make many friends.
I could see how that'd be hard to do. I understand loneliness.
I don't want you to be lonely anymore. Just promise me you'll make the
most of what gifts you receive. I don't know what you have in mind,
Ed, but you've more than compensated me. It's not enough, Al.
Here's my card. Keep it in a safe place. If you ever
need anything, email me at this website. I'll come back around. Ed
scribbled an address on the back of the card. I want you to step
back inside the office and don't turn around until you don't hear the motor humming
anymore. Then I want you to drive to this address. Trust me.
Al did as he was told. When the humming stopped, he looked at
the empty baze of his garage and scratched his head. Did I'd just imagine
all that. In his hand, however, was the card ed left him.
He flipped it over twenty twenty five Honeysuckle Lane. He walked to his
car that was parked on the side of the garage and plug the addressing of
the GPS. Within twenty minutes, he pulled down a quiet country road and
arrived at twenty twenty five Honeysuckle Lane. A three story, pale yellow farmhouse
awaited him. He pulled into the driveway and stepped from his car. A
little boy and girl threw open the front door and raced down the steps,
yelling Daddy. Daddy confused, he almost stepped back from them as they wrapped
their arms around his waist. Hearing more footsteps on the front porch, he
looked, but he couldn't believe his eyes. Loreen, Loreen. He ran
to her to take her in his arms, but he feared she would be
no more than a figment of his imagination. But no, she was no
illusion, as lovely and vibrant as she'd ever been. She greeted him with
a kiss. In her arms. She held a baby hoo cooed in his
father. The children and I were hoping you'd come home soon. Lunch is
almost ready, and the children were wondering if we could go for a drive
to see the fall colors. She opened the door, then hesitated. A
man stopped by earlier. He said, you're a good friend of his.
He wanted me to give you this, and he said you'd understand. From
her jacket pocket, she pulled a copy of H. G. Wells's novel
The Time Machine and handed it to her husband. Al stood still staring at
the book. On its cover was an illustration of a machine. Hal had
no doubts that he recognized it not more than an hour ago. It sat
in the bay of his garage, having arrived on a flatbed truck a few
days earlier. He flipped open the cover and read the inscription, written in
Ed Cromwell's hand to my friend, Al, you helped me when I needed
it most, and I wanted to do the same for you. What's the
point of having a way to help those in need unless you put it to
good use. You have a second chance live life well, Loreen paused,
Is everything okay? All? He put his arms around her. Things haven't
been this good in the longest time. It's a wonderful to be home with
you. They walked into their house, followed by their two oldest children.
For the rest of his days, Al lived a good life. Thank you
for joining me for this episode of the Into the Night Anthology podcast. Written
by Caroline Giamanco, narrated by Nari Quak, Theme music by Nico Rodriguez,
all other original music, sound design and editing by Omenhawk Studios. You can
find our links in the show notes. Into the Night is on your favorite
podcatcher, so make sure to like, subscribe, and leave a five star
review to help other excursionists to join us. I'll see you next time,
and remember, whether in the shadows or in the daylight, all twisted paths
lead you into the night. Into the Night Anthology is a creative typo entertainment production.