He read again the passage about Armandos string of failed inventions. The passage statedin a rather wry tone, Oliver notedthat Armando Illstrom had been on the cusp of inventing a time machine when World War Two broke out. His factory had ground to a halt. But when the war ended, Armando had never tried to finish his invention. And everyone had ridiculed him for trying in the first place, calling him the lesser Edison. Oliver wondered why Armando had stopped. Surely not because of some bully inventors laughing at him?

His interest was piqued. Tomorrow, he decided, he would find the factory. And if Armando Illstrom was still alive, hed ask him, to his face, what had happened to his time machine.

His parents emerged from around the corner of the kitchen, both covered in food.

Were going to bed, Mom said.

What about my blankets and things? Oliver asked, looking at the bare alcove.

Dad sighed. I suppose you want me to fetch them from the car, do you?

It would be nice, Oliver replied. Id like to get a good nights sleep before school tomorrow.

The sense of dread he felt about tomorrow was beginning to grow, mirroring the building storm. He could already tell he was going to have the worst day ever. At the very least hed like to be rested in preparation. Hed had so many horrible first days at new schools he was certain the one tomorrow was going to be another to add to the list.

Dad trudged reluctantly out of the house, a plume of wind roaring through as he opened the front door. He returned a few moments later with a pillow and blanket for Oliver.

Well get a bed in a couple of days, he said, as he handed the bedding over to Oliver. It was cold from having been in the car all day.

Thanks, Oliver replied, grateful for even this level of comfort.

His parents left, turning off the light as they went, plunging Oliver into darkness. Now the only light in the room was from the street lamp outside.

The wind began to roar again and the window panes rattled. Oliver could tell the weather was building, that something odd was in the air. Hed heard on the radio that the storm of a lifetime was coming. He couldnt help but be excited about it. Most kids would dread a storm but Oliver was only dreading his first day at his new school.

He went over to the window, leaning his elbows against the ledge as he had before. The sky was almost completely dark. A spindly tree blew in the wind, angled sharply to one side. Oliver wondered if it might snap off. He could just picture it now, the thin bark snapping, the tree launching into the air, carried away by the fierce winds.