2 Time Travel or Another Reality?

I had arrived in this time as the summer break had started, so there was no school. It was the year 2002, and I realized that F.R.I.E.N.D.S would still be on TV. Given that it was a Thursday, I decided to watch it with my mom. As we settled in to watch TV, I asked her,

"Hey, Mom, can we watch Friends? I think it's the season finale today."

To my surprise, my mother's response was unexpected. Friends? I don't think I've heard of that series. Are you sure it's on?"

Confusion etched across my face. "Yeah, Mom, it's one of the most popular sitcoms ever."

My mom looked at me with a perplexed expression.

"It's about a group of friends living in New York. How can you not know about it?" I exclaimed.

She shook her head, her expression unsure. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I don't think that show exists. Maybe you're thinking of something else."

Stumped and bewildered, I grabbed the TV guide, hoping to prove her wrong. Yet, my search only confirmed that Friends was nowhere to be found.

"This is weird," I thought.

I excused myself and headed to my room. I lay in my bed and thought about what just happened; the realization hit me that maybe I hadn't just time-traveled; I had switched realities as well.

"Didn't the Spider-Man movie come out this year?" I remembered.

"Yes, it did," I realized. It was earlier this month. My hands automatically went for my phone.

"Oh right, no smartphones."

I went to the computer my mom had bought a year ago. Switching it on, I was not accustomed to waiting this long for a computer to open. The internet was sluggish, but Google still existed here, so that was good.

I searched for information on the Spider-Man movie. After an hour of searching, the only Spider-Man movie I found was from 1977. I also looked for other popular movies. Star Wars existed, but Titanic did not. There was also the absence of some popular actors and actresses.

This was huge, I thought; a mischievous smile appeared on my face as I pondered the opportunities it brought.

Most of my time was spent with my mother, who found it endearing that I wanted to spend time with her.

It was a warm afternoon; the sun bathed the backyard in a golden glow. My mother cast a curious smile my way.

"Daniel, sweetheart, don't you want to go out with your friends? It's summer, and the sun is shining so bright," she suggested.

"I'm good, Mom. I've been enjoying our time together. Besides, I have a project I'm working on."

Arched eyebrows and a mix of curiosity and amusement met my announcement.

"A project? What kind of project keeps a young boy inside during summer break?" she inquired.

"Well, it's a secret project." I replied

My mom's curiosity heightened.

"A secret project, huh? You always did have a vivid imagination. But remember, it's important to go out, get some fresh air, and play with your friends. These childhood summers are precious, you know?"

I had been grappling with my new situation for a while now. The ten-year-old Daniel within me seemed to tug at the edges of my consciousness, urging me to embrace the simple joys of childhood. The carefree spirit of my younger self yearned for what ten-year-olds wanted. Yet, the weight of my adult consciousness restrained those impulses.

Maybe I shouldn't fight it. If it's going to be like this now, I wonder how it's going to be like when I hit puberty.

A shiver ran down his spine thinking about that.

I nodded. "I promise, Mom, I'll go out and play with my friends."

A warm smile and a gentle ruffling of my hair followed. "Alright, sweetheart, just don't spend all your time cooped up in here. And if you need anything, you know where to find me."

Over the next few days, I decided to let the inner child within me take the lead. It was surprisingly liberating to surrender to the simple joys of childhood, unburdened by the complexities of the adult world.

I mean, how many people get an opportunity to be a kid again?