Too late

    “Whoa! Up the bluueees!”     The Nundo family had just finished having breakfast and we’re heading out of their house to the car. Their father, being the last to leave the house, bellowed out his support for the Blues football team. He was dressed in a black coat, with his jeans, beanie and long scarf all blue-coloured. The beanie and scarf both had the Blues logo on it – a blue panther in a circle, which had the club’s name written round it. The scarf was wound round his neck. He was quite in joyous mood today. The Blues were playing a decisive match in their league that could decide where the title would go, and Argus was well prepared for the match.     “They’ll lose dad, better sober up now,” Colette said sharply as she stared at her father with a rather plain face.     “Oh girl, not a bloody chance they will, not a chance at all ha-ha,” Argus replied his daughter.     “Argus, let’s get going please,” Mia said as she removed the canvas covering over the car.     “Ha pops, just don’t come crying to me and ma,” Colette said as she smirked at her father and moved towards the car.     “Hm, you two are soo unenthusiastic you know, atleast Colette you know where you got it from hmm.” Mia beat her husband on his back as he approached the car after what he had just said. “Not fair you know, not fair,” she said to him while pointing at his chest after he turned to face her.     “Ouch hon, that hurts,” he said while touching the spot on his back that Mia beat.     “Well, that’s a taste of what you just did to me, so..”Mia said.     “You realize you hurt me first huh, with my dearly beloved Blues…” Mia stared intently at him and then sighed, before moving to the passenger-seat side of the car.     “Oh common, that was a joke, you all are my true dearly beloved.”     “Hmm, wait until they win today,” Colette said. Both her parents turned behind and stared at her.     “Thought we were on the same side Col,” her mother said while looking frustrated.     “So you think they will win? Good girl,” her father said as he unlocked the car door.     “Look, best forget what I said”, Colette said as she opened the car door and entered.     “Haah,” Mia sighed. “Take care of yourself Clement!” She bellowed at Clement who was inside the house.     “K mum,” he replied. Clement had not gone at his mother’s request that he stay behind and rest. Mia then entered the car, and Argus started it.     “Off we go then,” he said as he drove out of their compound and into the road to their restaurant. They got to the restaurant at 7:30am and after cleanup, opened it fifteen minutes later to customers. After the breakfast rush, there wasn’t much to do, with Mia preparing other dishes and Argus cleaning up used dishes, while Colette was mostly idle at the counter for the remaining hours of early noon. At around 1:30pm, Argus, who had already completed his washing duties for some time now, went into the changing room to remove his apron and change into his blue coat hung in the wardrobe. When Mia was done in the kitchen, she joined her daughter at the counter.     “Hm, atleast he won’t be watching it here,” Mia said to her daughter as she sat in the long stool that was available beside Colette.     “Yeah, good choice, wouldn’t take the noise in here, and the people who would come in here with empty pockets gazing for free at the TV…dad really should be milking those goons,” Colette said.     Her mother laughed. “You’re quite wicked girl, not quite sure they fit the goons description, but surely if your father milks them, he’ll be left with barely any friends you know,” her mother replied.     “Then he better go make better and richer ones, not those that can barely afford their beer,” Colette said. Her mother laughed again.     “Well there’s some sense to that, hope you ain’t angry what’s supposed to increase your pocket money goes to some bloke’s belly eh,” Mia said.     “Ya well, that’s one reason though, will hardly call them friends anyway.”     “Haah, hmm.”     Mia received the order of a customer and served him up and continued her chat with her daughter. Argus came out of the changing room looking lively. He shook his daughter’s hair before pecking his wife on the top of her hair. Mia had her elbow on the counter with her knuckles supporting her head while she sat and simply pushed her cheeks outwards as she pouted, while Colette simply straightened her hair back. Neither of them replied his “see-you-later” as he left for the pub to watch his game. Colette thought to herself. She knew what the outcome of the game would be, but still harbored some doubt as to whether she had gone back to the past, or what to make of it all, or the fact that a bomb had gone off ten seconds to new year, that would make her not to see her parents again, and leave her brother in trully bad state. Perhaps now, she thought she shouldn’t think much about it, afterall, time travel couldn’t possibly exist, it was always shrouded in fiction or theory, so, why then would it be her, of all the people in the world? It felt like a very big responsibility, having to avert such disaster, yet it was a tale no-one would believe, one that would make people think she had gone nuts. All these thoughts flooded through her head, and she didn’t realize how absent-minded she was until she suddenly felt a gentle and cold touch on her neck. She shuddered as she turned to her side to see who touched her.     “You alright? The weather isn’t so cold as to freeze you over Col!”. Mia stared intently at her.     “It’s nothing,” Colette said.     “That again? Really, what’s wrong girl?” Mia asked.     “Mum, just thought of something, it’s not like I lost consciousness for like…five minutes or what.”     “Col, that man over there stood in front of you for like two minutes calling ‘hey’, and I also called your name, which you didn’t hear, I served him and he’s already seated before I touched your neck, and you say five minutes, that’s already more “ Mia’s face was now folding into a frown.     “Guess that happens, I’m awake now, so, no worries ma,” Colette said as she opened her eyes wide in response to her mother.     “Now I’m wondering if I should let you go home now or allow you stay the whole day with me here,” Mia said as she averted her gaze from Colette and looked at her watch.     “Oh mum I’ll stay with you,” Colette said as she rested her head in her squeezed palms supported by her elbows on the table.     “Oh, well, not like work’s gonna increase.”     “Hmm, ya never know,” Colette responded. She once again found herself in the conflict of believing or not believing that she had lived all this, or atleast most of this moments before, but atleast thought that changing some moments would change the direction to which she originally headed.     “Oh but Clement would be lonely at home, that’s till nine before we get home, and the boy may forget to eat, playing video games.” Mia sighed.     “The rice and soy in the refrigerator should be good enough for him, and hunger will surely beat him before he loses spirit in the game,” Colette said.     “Hmm, didn’t know you saw me cook in the morning, thought you were in your room though, you were in the tub when I checked.”     “Hmm…it is what it is, mum,” Colette responded.     “Eh, prepare for a long day then, filled with talking he-he,” Mia giggled.     “A long day indeed,” Colette said silently.     Up the Bluueeessss!!!     Argus barged into the restaurant, clearly in buoyant mood. The few customers in the restaurant then entered a cheerful charter, and suddenly the restaurant was lively.     “Your Blues have done it again eh Argus?” An elderly woman in the restaurant said to him.     “Yo betcha, infact, I’m feeling cheerful today, free dinner for all p…” – “Eeehh, eehh, don’t even dare Argus, don’t ya DARE,” Mia said while pointing at Argus.     “Gee pops, so this is hat happened huh, gotta chill old man,” Colette said to her father as she thought to herself why her mother had returned home tired originally.     “Ahh come on you two, don’t be stingy on a day like this, the Blues are surely winning the title now, it only calls for a party…”     “I said don’t get started on that Argus, you’re the only Blues fan in the family,” Mia said, with her two hands now on her waist.     “Aaah, wish Clara was here, I would have won this you know,” Argus retorted.     “Well, guess she’s a fan, good she’s in Brazil, won’t be able to stand the both of you bellowing in the restaurant.     Just then, a couple of people entered the restaurant, all wearing blue mufflers and beanies.     “Argus if this is another one of your jokes, stop it,” Mia said.     “O come on, this guy’s will pay, they are the money guys, Argus said while ushering his guests into the restaurant to take their seats. When they had all sat down, he asked – “Hey fellow Blues, what will ya be having tonight?     Suddenly, Mia found herself very busy in the kitchen, alongside Colette. The Blues’ fans who had.just entered had made different orders, some of which had already finished, while others just needed either warming or serving, with Argus serving as their waiter, while cheering the crowd in the restaurant. This continued for the next hour, and by the time they were done, it was already 8:45pm, and Mia closed the restaurant for the day. The family packed and cleaned up before changing, and then locked up the restaurant for the day.     “Phew, what a day today was,” Argus said as he unlocked the car.     “For you, that is,” Mia retorted sharply. “The night is very cold Argus, let’s go now.”        “Aw, no need to be like that Mia, afterall it’s you who’s always told me to bring richer folks to the restaurant now ain’t that?”     “Wish you brought them any other day apart from the one I thought I’d rest in, and not in the evening Argus,” Mia said as all three entered the car.     “Well, we still profited quite well from them today, not to worry, I’ll massage your back before bed tonight,” Argus teased her as he started the car’s engine.     “I’d rather Colette did that for me, and that you sleep in the parlour Argus,” Mia said. Colette let out a giggle.     “Aw, ok then, guess I’ll keep quiet,” Argus replied her.     “You betcha Argus,” Mia said.     They arrived home at 9:15pm, and had to wait five minutes outside knocking the door because Clement had slept off in one of the living room couch. He answered the door sleepily, and his mother hugged and excited him to his room. Colette also went into hers to retire for the night, with Argus locking up the house and later on retiring in his.     Morning came again, the morning of new year’s eve. Colette’s alarm rang and her eyes opened at once – 5:30am. She was keen to see how the day would go. She freshened up and had her bath, as did the rest of the family, had their breakfast, and we’re ready for work. Colette did remember them waking up more than one hour later originally, making her wonder whether the events of the day would be different. But that was until she realized they still wore the same clothing – her mum alone was wearing a brown coat, but she and her wore brown boots, the family all wore blue jeans, and her father and brother wore black coats and boots. They all arrived at the restaurant and began their work. The morning rush was more than normal on the day, as expected, and calmed down towards the later part of the second quarter of the day, which gave Colette and Clement some time to start the decorations. Colette remembered meeting with Chloe originally, as she and Clement were given permission to go home early, but wondered again if changing anything would effect any tangible change.     “Clement, you still want to go home early?” Colette asked.     “Hm, where we?”     “Do ya?” Colette asked more intensely.     “Well, I guess so,” Clement replied, looking rather skeptical.     “Ok. But hope you can go alone, cus I wanna stay behind.”     “Why make me go then Colette?” Clement asked.     “Well, I have my reasons, I’ll just stay behind, incase it gets busy in here,” Colette said with an eyebrow raised.     “Ya know what, I’m staying.”     “Hmm…” Colette stared at Clement with her eyes squeezed as if focusing on something.     “Ok, fine, I’ll go, if mum tells us to, but you’ll owe one, a big solid,” Clement said while pointing at Colette.     “Ok, fine, I’ll owe you one, now let’s wait for the verdict.     “No p,” Clement replied.     The two children stopped decorating when the restaurant was getting busy again and went back to counter and waiting duties. About an hour and a half later, their mother came to both the children.     “Well, looks like we’re going to have a long day again today, any y’all are going to stay behind.     Their faces fell as they had what their mother had just said.     “Col, I thought you said mum was going to give us permission to go home!” Clement said to his sister.     “Yeah I thought so too…why mum?” Colette asked as she faced her mother.     “Well, we just got a booking of twenty for the evening, a special one, looks like it’s someone’s birthday today,” Mia said with a grin in her face.     “Yaah,” Colette said aloud as she let out frustration. “So we still going to the square?”     “Oh yes, once we’re done, you kids can leave early once their food is served, I and Argus will handle the rest, since Clement wants to see the city view,” Mia said. “Well then, off I go.” And so Mia went to the kitchen to start preparations for the evening orders.     “Haah, never expected this day to be this busy you know,” Clement said.     “Yea, never expected this day to take this twist,” Colette said to herself, with her elbow flexed and her pointing finger against her lips.    “Huh?” Clement asked.     “Hmm, nothing, nothing,” Colette replied.     The day went on with few customers coming in until evening time, and at 7:33pm, the twenty people who had made the booking entered the restaurant, along with the other regular evening customers. Those who made the booking were celebrating someone’s birthday, and their chatter filled the restaurant throughout the evening, with Colette and Clement working to serve their orders, almost tirelessly and also attending to other customers, while their parents were busy in the kitchen.     At 9:02pm, the guests were now properly settled, with most of them already finished with their dishes. Mia came out of the kitchen to the counter and told her children they could now go freshen up and get changed so they could go see what they wanted to see and make it in time for the countdown at the square. She also told Colette to keep her phone on speaker so as to call her later on.     The children left the restaurant at 9:30pm, and began their survey of the city, taking in the views and passing through different new year carnivals, as they took different routes. But Colette still had the thoughts of the bomb in mind, hoping and praying in her mind that nothing would go wrong.     They approached the square thirty minutes to new year, and as they entered, Colette stopped to examine the already populated place. They made their way to the security pass to be scanned. It was now twenty minutes to new year, and suddenly Colette could feel her heart racing faster. This time, she stayed in front of Clement to be scanned, but the queue for those to be scanned before entry looked longer than it was before. Colette looked around again, this time, filled with fear and paranoia, wondering whether she should have found a way to make her family not to come to the event. Clement noticed his sister behaving abnormally.     “Anything wrong Colette?” Clement asked, with genuine concern all over his face.     “Hmnm,” she responded affirmatively.     “ Then why’re you shaking like that?” Clement asked.     “Am I?” Colette asked, looking at his face, but unable to hide her paranoia under the falling snow.     “Why don’t we call mum then,” Clement asked, looking at Colette’s face.     “I just said I’m okay,” Colette gave a stern and sharp reply. “I’m okay, I’m alright, nothing’s gonna happen.”     “Nobody said anything was,” Clement said to Colette.     “Yeah, no body sure did, nobody sure did huh.”     Colette then turned her head and continued her anxious wait. It was now just ten minutes to the new year, and the night’s chill from breeze and snow was now intensifying. Colette had managed to calm herself down, and released a snow-filled sigh to ease her nerves. Five minutes passed and they were still in queue, and it now looked less likely they may get in before the countdown. Then it was just a minute to the new year, and suddenly the noisy square was getting quiet, the floodlights seemed brighter on everyone’s face to Colette’s observation, their outlines, their features, and suddenly she thought she had seen her parents ahead in the crowd, and nudged Clement to look ahead to spot them.     “Where,” Clement asked, straining forward over her shoulders.     Colette stretched her hands further forward to get Clement to see their parents. “There, look farther…”     BOOOMMM!!!