Chapter 3

Steve and Monday showed up about nine the next morning. They asked if new names were decided.

"Newsong, huh?" said Steve. "That's different."

"God puts a new song in our heart," elaborated Mandy.

Steve did a mental shrug.

"I am glad you have new names," he said. "Monday, would you go get Tom?"

The striking blonde went out the door.

Steve asked, "Are you doing okay so far?"

"Yeah," said Ryan.

Mandy nodded agreement.

"Good. Oh, here's Monday with Tom."

A man dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Tom Reynolds." He stuck his hand out to Ryan.

"Ryan Sanders," he answered.

Steve spoke to Ryan. "No. You are David Newsong."

"But..."

Steve cut Ryan off. "We just tricked you, but this is lesson number one. Get used to using your new names."

"Welcome," said Tom then immediately left.

"So ready for a town tour?" asked Steve.

"Sure," Ryan said with a shoulder shrug. It wasn't like he and his family had control of their lives or had anything else to do.

"Does the town have a name?" Mandy asked.

"Well, the FBI calls it WPP #24," said Steve. "But since it's the only one back in time..."

Monday spoke up, "The residents just call it Timetown."

"There's the movie theater," Steve pointed out at he drove the FBI passenger van past it. He took a left. "And this area is restaurant row."

Steve kept driving and entered what looked like a newer area of town. Further down houses were being constructed. He stopped in front of one of the in-progress houses. A worker stepped over to the van.

Steve rolled down his window and said, "Hi Brian! How are you doing?"

"Good, Steve. You have new residents with you?"

"Yeah, they'll be moving into the house you just completed."

"Saw the moving truck yesterday."

Steve said, "This is David and Amy Newsong and their children Becky, Mark and..."

"Matt," the new David helped out.

"Brian has been a resident for five years now," said Steve.

"So you're in the Witness Protection Program?" the new Amy asked.

"Yep," Brian replied. "I get to build and develop this town. I enjoy my work."

Steve liked to hear that. If new families heard people enjoyed living here then it made the transition easier.

"So what do you think of the Cubbies this year?" Steve asked.

A grimace crossed Brian's face. "Are you kidding me? Same old crap. Behind the Cards by ten games. You know better than to get me started."

"Yeah, yeah," said Steve.

Brian looked at David and Amy. "Welcome to the neighborhood!"

"Thanks," said Ryan though he wasn't sure he was thankful. The man was friendly and nice so that was a good sign.

Steve turned the van around and headed back. He slowed down at a new home. The curbside mailbox said C17. This is your new home. You'll move in within a couple of days."

They toured through the other side of town.

"That's 'The Mingle'," said Monday excitedly. Steve slowed down as they approached the large auditorium. "It's the town meeting hall essentially. There's concerts, dances, support groups. Amy, if you're looking to meet other moms or have your kids play with other kids you can go there. There's a monthly schedule of events that is emailed to everybody."

"How many people live here?" asked Amy.

"Just over 2,000," answered Steve. "Town capacity will be 5,000"

Monday continued. "There are a lot of small meeting rooms in 'The Mingle'. There are even rooms with beds in case you get too drunk and can't drive home. The dances and other events are also the best place to instantly hook up. A good portion of the town is there every night."

"Yeah," said Steve. "Me and Monday are often at 'The Mingle'. Any FBI agent who lives here lives just like the rest of you. I go to the same grocery store, join in on the softball games, date the women here. We just have a different job and that is protecting you."

"Don't think everyone who hooks up is single," said Monday. She looked at David. "You can live whatever lifestyle you want."

David felt uncomfortable. This agent was coming on to him, wasn't she? Or was it just his imagination? That was probably it. It was because she was so beautiful that he thought such things. He wasn't convinced either way.

Steve turned and they off-roaded though the dirt path was smooth. He stopped in a couple of minutes and the Newsongs saw the inside of the grid close up. Each person pressed his or her hand against it. The grid was firm and resistant.

The next couple of days, Steve and Monday tested the Newsong family by introducing them to different people. They evaluated how well they did using their new names. Once Steve and Monday were comfortable, they released the family to move into their new home.

The house was a single-story four bedroom. There was plenty of room with a large backyard for the kids, a three car garage, plus brand new appliances. The movers arranged their furniture satisfactorily. They rearranged Becky's room at her request. She wanted her bed under the window.

The first week went agreeably. It was strange not to need money for the grocery store. Items one might skip because they were too expensive were now readily available to "buy". Becky and Mark started school and baby Matt had a check up with Dr. Andrews at the medical clinic. Amy met a woman who gave birth to her son in Timetown. The son was now one and a half. The woman was six months pregnant with a second son.

After that first week, Agent Monday Morse showed up about a job for David.

"So how would you like to learn about the grid? You can learn how to monitor and operate the force field that protects us all from messing up history. You seem to have the aptitude and background for it. Now you don't have to do this job. You can do any job you want. Most people want a job to do here. People want to feel useful."

"That sounds great," said David. The sooner he could establish normalcy in his life the better.

"What's up?" said Amy as she walked in carrying a happy baby Matt.

"Got a job."

Amy smiled. "Thank you," she said to Monday.

"Sure. Park at 'The Mingle' tomorrow, David. I'll pick you up. We'll get you a pass so you can drive on the compound on your own after that."

When Monday picked David up the next day, he noticed a scent of perfume. He hadn't smelled any on her before.

"So what do you do most of your day?" David asked on the short drive.

"Mostly work in the grid room. Steve and I are the welcoming committee for new people such as yourselves and we will make sure you go back to testify. The job is usually easy. I have plenty of free time to do what I want."

"Are there really many activities to do here?"

"Oh, sure. We have everything just on a smaller scale. Maybe you can't go see Pearl Jam in concert, but you can see local bands play Pearl Jam songs. Yes, life's a little different but it's still a good life."

At work, Monday went through aspects and features of the way the grid operated. David was thoroughly confused. Monday expected that and over the next couple of weeks, the concepts slowly started to click in David's mind.

A month after David started working, he was surprised to see Monday in shorts and a scoop T-shirt. David realized he never saw her in anything but "official-looking FBI" attire.

"That's different," said David motioning his hand toward her.

"The FBI lets us dress casually unless we are on official public duties."

"You look beautiful as always," he said.

"Yeah?" she said. Did he call her beautiful?

"Yeah." He turned to look at the display screens for the grid.

Monday stared at him quietly. She outlined the side of his face with her eyes. She wanted someone new. She was stationed here seven months and already slept with most of the good looking men. There were too many old men here and too many fat ones for her preference. Monday didn't discriminate between married or single men. She'd sleep with any guy that appealed to her.

The residents didn't know it, but their houses were bugged. The FBI went to extreme measures so nothing would happen to the residents. They had to make sure there was never a mole. They also didn't want someone changing his or her mind on testifying. They needed to know right away about that situation, so they could convince the person to still testify.

The listening devices were how Monday knew that David and his wife Amy had sex almost every night and that it was good sex. Monday ached thinking about it. She wanted good sex. She wanted someone who knew how to make her cum hard and not just give good sensations. She wanted more from sex. She wanted a lover.

"So how do you think the grid could be breeched?" David asked looking at her.