"Blake? How on Earth did you get here? Is the whole world going crazy?"
"What are you talking about, Mike? It's me, Davy.” said the visitor, confused.
"I'm sorry, he's a little mixed up." replied Julie, disappointed. She had so hoped that seeing Davy would help her husband remember.
"I'm sorry... Uh, what did you say your name is?" he asked, still a little shaken.
"Davy... We grew up together." he replied, suddenly pale.
The two men stared at each other for a few seconds, then Larry spoke. "Davy, I do remember growing up with you. But not here, and not with the name Davy. In my memory, you are Blake, and I'm Larry. When we were kids, we took a raft down Prairie River. I fell asleep in a slow stretch of water, and bounced into the water when a big, waterlogged tree hit us. That big tree trunk would have pulled me under, if you hadn't fished me out fast enough."
Davy nodded. "I remember that too. But it wasn't Prairie River. It was Quartz River."
"I wonder if I'm dreaming? I've never had any vivid dreams before, and I usually forget them like a few minutes after I wake up." he said, thinking. He had heard that realizing you are in a dream can cause one to wake up. No luck this time. He was well and truly stuck. At least for now. There had to be a way home, right?
"There's nothin' wrong with me! I just need a ride home, out of this here upside down place." insisted Mike. As he looked around the hospital room, he felt hope fading. Everything was so different. And nobody seemed to be able to find Deersberg.
The pretty brunette nurse nodded sympathetically. "I wish I could help you. I'll check the maps more thoroughly when I get home. But I didn't come in just to check your vitals this time. I have a surprise. You have a visitor! His name is Blake Mills."
"I don't know no Blake, but I'll be mighty happy to chat with a visitor. It gets a spell lonesome in here at times. No offense, Ma'am."
"None taken. I'll send him in." she replied, smiling.
"Davy? Is that really you?" whispered Mike. His childhood friend was wearing the same strange clothes as everyone else, but it was him!
"No man, it's Blake! Don't you remember me?!?! We grew up together."
"Of course I remember that! It's the names that are all wrong. But I know you as well as I know myself."
"Oh good. Then you must remember that time on your grandparents farm, when I tried to ride Tornado. That bull almost sent me right through the clouds!" he said, smiling at the memory.
"That was on Uncle Nick's farm, and the bull was named Whiskey. Now who can't remember?" he asked, chuckling at the memory of his friend sailing through the air.
"Well... It seems like the doctors are wrong. You do have some memories, just not quite accurate. I'll have a little chat with them, after we are done visiting. How would you like to get out of this place? I've heard they don't serve the best food."
"That would suit me just fine. I'm not one to be ungrateful, but you are right. The food here ain't fit for the chickens!"
"So everyone has one of these contraptions?"
"Most people, yes. It's called a car." explained Blake patiently. The doctor had explained that his friend's brain had probably filled in parts of his memory with false information, to compensate for the gaps. They had also agreed that it would be best to get him out in the world, where experiences were likely to trigger his memories.
"Do you remember your office, the place where you work?" asked Blake, curiously. Larry had been given his laptop and other items, but so far had treated them as if they belonged to a stranger.
"No, but a man by the name of Mr. Appelt keeps visiting me from there. He wants whatever is in there mighty bad. I tried to tell them to just give him whatever he wants, but they said they couldn't because of my memory."
"I think that was a good idea, Larry. Let's not talk to him, at least for a while. I've met Appelt a few times, when you invited me to staff parties. He reminds me of a snake."
"Really? I trust your judgement on this. Let's see what I have that he's so all fired up to get." suggested Mike, curious about his possessions for the first time.
"That sounds like a good plan. Let's do it first thing, after we get home." said Blake, happy that his friend was showing some interest in current events. From what he had been told, Larry had been completely fixated on the idea of going to a farm, outside of a small town which nobody had ever heard of.
"Home..." said Mike wistfully.
"You're coming home with me for now. Nina will be delighted to have someone to cook for. You could probably use a good home cooked meal about now?" he asked, knowing the answer all too well.
"Blake! When did you up and get yourself hitched?" he asked, all smiles.
"Four years ago... You were my best man." Blake replied, his smile fading. So many memories had been lost.
"I'm sorry. I just don't remember things happening this way." he explained, feeling bad.
"Not to worry. We are almost there." Blake said, as brightly as he could.
"This sure is a nice place you got!" exclaimed Mike as they rolled into the driveway.
"Let's get inside. Nina will be waiting for us, it's time for dinner."
"Dinner? I'm not used to fancy meals, but I can get used to them." he said, grinning.
As they walked in the door, Blake shouted "Nina, we're home! Whatever that is smells delicious!"
"It surely does." agreed Mike, smiling as a beautiful lady with black hair stepped into the room. Then his jaw dropped, and he fell to his knees.
"Larry! What's wrong? Are you hurt?" asked Blake, trying unsuccessfully to help him up. His eyes were locked on Nina.
"Julie... I never thought I would see you again." whispered Mike, smiling and finally allowing his friend to help him up. He then walked across the room, and gently wrapped his arms around Nina, as a small boy with dark hair peered around the corner, curious what all the excitement was about.
If you would like to read my first part, click here
