As Time Went On (ENTRY EIGHT)

Tim watched as Mary was roughly thrust into a dark colored car. He struggled helplessly as it drove away, leaving him behind with his captor.

In the dark, he couldn't make out too many features of the man, besides being big.

"What do you want?" he tried questioning the man.

The man didn't answer, merely started to pull him up towards his apartment. Amazingly, the man opened the door. It wasn't locked as he had left it this morning!

He was dragged into his own living room. It was then he noticed there was someone sitting in his chair.

"Who are you?" he demanded, angry at this invasion of his home.

The person sitting in his chair, reached over and flicked on the table lamp. In the soft glow, Tim saw an older gentleman, perhaps around 60 years of age. "Who are you? Why are you here?" demanded Tim again.

The man smiled, not a sincere smile. "Young Tim," he began, "You took something that belongs to me."

"What are you talking about? I don't even know you!"

"Oh, you know me, and you took something very precious to me."

"What? What could I have taken from you? Like I said, I don't even know you!"

"You took Mary." The old man's voice hissed out.

"Mary? I just met Mary today! What the heck is going on?"

"Tim, you met Mary over a month ago. You have been seeing her every night since then. You come to MY pub, every night, and try to convince her to leave. Last night you finally succeeded in convincing her that she was a prisoner."

Tim eyed the man carefully, thinking, This guy is crazy!

"Look, I just met Mary today, at a bookstore in Mountain View. I admit I was at a pub last night, I can only assume that's your pub. But I think I would remember if I met Mary a month ago."

The old man laughed. "That's where you are wrong, Tim."