Civil War 2

Disturbed sleep, or, a History Nerd gets a Late-Night Visitor

It is 3:30 in the morning.  You have had a difficult time sleeping - your dreams have been disturbed by the things you've been learning in Mr. Rainey's class about the Civil War.  You dream that you are fighting in battles against friends and relatives, seeing cities burn, watching friends die, and seeing your country splitting in two.

A low humming noise awakens you... or, at least you think you're awake.  Then, there is a knock at your window.  Opening it up, you see a teenage boy in strange, futuristic clothing staring back at you.  You ask him who he is and what he wants. 

"My name is Emit Praw.  I'm a time traveler, and I need your help."

Gotta be dreaming, you think to yourself.  Okay, let's go with it.

Emit tells you that he is from the future - the year 2261.  He has stolen a time machine and has been traveling through time warps through history.  The first time he visited was 400 years earlier - 1861, but he was confused - there was some kind of war going on!  He asks if you know anything about a war in America in the 1860's.

You giggle to yourself.  Gotta tell Rainey about this one tomorrow.

"Of course, you silly time traveler!" you tell your maybe-dream friend. "That's the Civil War - the War Between the States.  It lasted from 1861 to 1865."

Emit stares at you in confusion.  "Wait... there was a civil war in America?"

The truth slowly dawns on you: in the future that Emit lives in, somehow, some way, people have forgotten about the American Civil War!  Or, worse, someone has decided to erase it from history!  The idea that Mr. Rainey's favorite period of history could be forgotten in a mere 200 years brings tears to your eyes.  But, being a true History Nerd, you ask Emit, "How can I help?"

Emit scratches his head, then snaps his fingers.  "I know!" he shouts.  "You sound like you know all about this 'Civil War.'  Get, um, three, yeah, three of your friends, and we'll time warp to 1861.  You guys can tell me all about what's going on, so I can share it with everyone in 2261 so they can know the truth about what happened then."

Rainey's so not going to believe this one, you think.

Emit holds out his hand to you.  "So, are you ready to see the Civil War with your own eyes?"

You nod yes, but ask your new friend what you should tell your family.

He smiles.  "Just tell 'em you're with Emit Praw.  If they're smart enough, they'll figure it out themselves.  C'mon, let's go."  He motions to a silver, cylindrical chamber standing upright by a large fir tree.

Climbing out your window, you think to yourself, man, this is gonna be one totally sick dream!