The Coiler

The Coiler

My name is Lockspring Twellet and I have found the Coiler.
There it was just sitting in the British Museum, and I don't know where the heck they got it. Obviously they didn't know its value, because it wasn't even behind glass. After waiting about three weeks for the room to clear I slipped it into a dark hiding place that I will not describe too thoroughly walked out. If you don't think I could simply walk out of the museum with an artifact then you clearly don't know me. When I finally got some privacy I pulled it out and examined it.
"When should I like to see myself first?" I wondered aloud, then an idea occurred to me. I told myself it would be a bad, unnatural plan but I could not resist. Holding the Coiler to my mouth, I whispered, "Day of death."
I was standing in a little cabin, the change happened so fast I didn't even see it. Through an open doorway I saw a cluster of people huddled around a bed. Curious, I stepped closer.
"Ah," said a voice, "I am here."
An old man lay on the bed and I realized with a shock that he was referring to me. "I knew I would not pass until I arrived."
The rest of the people looked at me nervously, "Sorry I'm late," I said, and grinned.
The old man chuckled and snickered, then he chortled which evolved a laugh. After subsiding into and giggle, he caught sight of my puzzled face and burst into full volume cachinnating.
"So some day," I said, "I am going to be an insane old man who laughs at his past."
The man laughed even harder, "That’s what I said too," he wiped tears from his eyes.
"Of course that’s what you said because you were me and I'm saying it now."
"Now sonny," he hardly contained laughter, "I know this stuff because when I was young I had to tell some darned old fool the same thing."
"I suppose he was us too," I sighed.
"Oh yes, and he told that to another before him who told another before him who told another before him who told another before him who told..."
My mind reeled the thought but I had to argue. "But we are all one and what we do, or have done in your case, only happens once."
"Of course," the old man sighed, "It looks like I'll have to explain it just like I explained it to me when I was young. Imagine a time line alright, now imagine someone drawing a line down it and that represents our stream of consciousness. The point of the pen is the moment that we call present, yet the line left behind is there no less. It progresses at a rate that we cannot stop and can change only vary slightly, you know time flies when you’re having fun. The pen moves faster but it travels the same amount of time. You understand so far?"
"No."
"Yes you do, I remember. Now imagine the drawer of that line gets a funny sense of humor and starts jumping it all around. First you’re progressing along nicely and then suddenly the pen gets taken back aways and a new line gets drawn over the old one. The two points of consciousness are no less equal and yet they overlap. For example you think you are the primary you and I am just an old you, but it is not true. There is a you for every moment but since they are all you there is only one. You and I are one. You've heard people say they could never be in two places at one time, well now you can. And you can also be in the same place twice like right now"
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I but I knew I had to say it because we told me when I was your age. Now think of this, when you were young do you remember a nice man helping you find your mom when you were lost in the grocery store."
I racked my memory, "Yes I believe I do."
"Good, I knew you would. Guess what, he was us."
"What?" I cried. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure 'cause I've been him already and you haven't."
"But we are one, how can you be something I am not if we are one."
"You are him and he is you, you just haven't been him yet." I was still trying to work this out when old me went on, "Listen, if I recall correctly I die here pretty soon so I have one last thing to tell you."
I leaned closer and he put his mouth near my ear. The first time I couldn't make out what he said and he had to repeat it, "Senility sets in around seventy eight but don't worry, its fun. Oh and don't trust that Thornton girl, she's no good."
"I have a question, how many times have we had this conversation."
"Once."
"But that can't be. This is your second time and I'm going to have it again when I'm your age."
"No no, I've only had this conversation once but I've had it from both sides, you have only had it from one. When you’re my age you will have it with you right now so it won't be happening again, it will just be happening. Clear?"
"Yes,"
"Liar." A look, almost frightened, suddenly came upon his face. Then he laughed. "I'm going to die when I finish speaking, the pen will be lifted never to draw on this time line again. Now it is time to go and partake of the many adventures that the Coiler will take you on. You have much to look forward to, take my word for that." Then the elderly me turned away and never spoke again.
I stood straight and looked around. The group of people stared at me as though I were a monster from the past. I gave a brief wave and a grin, then told the Coiler to take me back to the time I left, and disappeared.