A Visitor From The Future

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This fictional account takes place on a warm day somewhere in the Midwest in the summer of 1945.  A dapper-looking man in a gray suit and fedora pays a call on the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jones.  For all anyone else knows, this man could be a traveling salesman.  But on this day, he has a special message for the Joneses.

"Good afternoon, sir.  Could I have a moment of your time?  I promise it won't take long.  May I come in?

"This is a wonderful home you have here, Mr. Jones.  Yes, Mrs. Jones, coffee would be fine.

"Allow me to introduce myself.  I come from the future.  The year 2010, to be exact, and I know many things.  I do not work for the government, and am certainly not a spy.  In fact, this suitcase full of brushes is just a cover for my real mission.

"Let me get right to the point.  I see you have a son who is currently serving in the Pacific--he can't really say where he is--and is fighting the Japanese.  What if I told you that the way could be over in a few weeks, and your son could be home in a matter of months?

"I know, I know.  It's rather hard to believe.  But before you throw me out and alert the authorities, please hear me out.

"I can't say exactly what will happen, because it's still a closely guarded secret.  But I will tell you that something will happen in Japan that will cause them to surrender, and your boy won't have to invade the country to do it.

"There is a trade off, though.  This event will cause great loss of life in a matter of minutes.  That's right, I said in a matter of minutes.  It will be unlike anything the world has ever seen.  If we're lucky, we won't ever have to see it again.

"I see that my presence is no longer required.  But before I go, I'll let you in on two things.  First, in the year 2010, we have a person of a different race as President of the United States.  Think about that the next time you're listening to 'Amos 'n Andy'.

"And lastly, I see that you're a Chicago Cubs fan.  Something tells me you had better enjoy this season, because the chance might never come again.  Good day Mr. and Mrs. Jones."

On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was used to destroy Hiroshima, Japan.  Seventy-five thousand were killed.  Three days later, the second bomb was used on Nagasaki.  Forty thousand perished.  A week later, Japan surrendered.

And the Cubs?  They went to the World Series that year, losing to the Detroit Tigers in seven games.