28 - The Cuckoo Clock of Doom (9 page)

It was properly set at the current year.

Without really thinking about it, I scanned twelve places down the dial to
find the year I was born.

There it was.

Then I scanned my eyes back up to the dial. 1992.1993.1994.1995.1997…

Wait a second.

Didn’t I just skip a year?

I checked the dates again.

Nineteen ninety-six was missing. There was no 1996 on the dial.

And 1996 was the year Tara was born!

“Dad!” I cried. “I found the flaw! Look—there’s a year missing on the
dial.”

Dad patted me on the back. “Good job, son! Wow, isn’t that funny?”

To him it was just a funny mistake.

He had no idea his daughter had never been born.

I suppose there’s some way to go back in time and get her.

I guess I probably ought to do that.

And I will.

Really.

One of these days.

Maybe.

Scanning, formatting and basic
proofing by Undead.