Easy When You Know How
When Charlie decides to create a Swinging Sixties display at the Stoneford Village Museum, she's surprised when she gets a phonecall from Giles Jessop, one of Britain's most popular singers from that era.Giles invites Charlie and Mr. Deeley to London and, after promising to give her some memorabilia for the museum, reveals that Charlie's mother, who was a young woman during the 1960s, gave birth to a child Charlie - and indeed, Charlie's entire family - never knew about.
Walking through Soho, Charlie and Mr. Deeley accidentally travel back to Carnaby Street in 1964, and find themselves in Marianne's Memory, the boutique where Charlie's mum, Jackie, works. Jackie is talking to Marianne about the premiere of The Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night - which she intends to miss, as she's got a date with a fellow named Justin Duran - a schoolfriend of Giles Jessop.
In Leicester Square tube station, Charlie and Mr. Deeley encounter Fenwick Oldbutter, a time traveller they've met before. Fenwick advises them that it may not be in anyone's best interests for Jackie to meet Justin tonight. In fact, tonight will be the only opportunity for Jackie to meet Robin Quinn, the man who will father the child she will give up for adoption - a child who, incidentally, will grow up to be someone very important in history.
Charlie and Mr. Deeley must decide whether or not to interfere with Jackie's life. Justin Duran is the man Jackie will eventually marry, and he will become Charlie's dad. But if they don't interfere, history will be irrevocably changed. And if they do, they will be violating the overarching philosophy which Fenwick Oldbutter - and his circle of time travellers - holds dear.
Easy When You Know How is an original short story which is included with the the historical romance / accidental time travel novel In Loving Memory.
| Back to Home Page |