— Okay, William, let’s calm down and stop biting your nails, — Max raised his hand, trying to stop the new guy’s meltdown.
Lucas looked at the two of them like they were nuts.
— Here, — Max put a plate with two slices of pizza in front of the guest. — Why don’t you tell us who hit you so hard on the head? We’ll call the cops and figure everything out, alright?
— No need to call the cops! I’m telling you, some freaky mystical crap happened, or you two are messing with me! If that’s it, you’re gonna regret it! I won’t just eat your pizza! — William stopped biting his nails and switched to eating the pizza. — I’m telling you again. Me and my buddy Noah went out to ride the three-thousandth wave, and I actually did it, by the way! I just tripped at the last second when I was coming out of the wave tunnel. Next thing I know, I wake up here on the shore.
— Fifty years later? — Lucas asked, to which William nodded. — Keep an eye on him, Max, I’m gonna go call an ambulance. Looks like the hospital nearby needs to put in new bars or change the door codes, — he pulled out his phone and started dialing. — Hello, yeah, the psych ward?
— Hey, you! Quit calling me crazy! I’m not happy about strolling around in swim trunks in the future either! Hang up the phone! Drop that devil box or I’ll say you kidnapped me! — William shrieked in a high-pitched voice.
— Who’s gonna believe you?! — Lucas yelled back at him.
— And who’s gonna believe you? What, do I have “Made in the 70s” stamped on my forehead? Sorry, but I didn’t stash my ID in my swim trunks! They’re so tight, you couldn’t even fit a piece of paper in there! — William shook his head. — Whatever. If you try to send me to the psych ward, I’ll accuse you of kidnapping!
— Dude, you’ve got a 70s-style hairdo! If the regular cops don’t take you, the fashion police sure will! — Lucas huffed like a bull, realizing he’d been outplayed. — Alright, last chance, or you’re walking the streets in your little trunks.
— Whoa, whoa, whoa, Lucas, chill. It’s raining and already dark out. We’re not kicking him out, — Max tried to deescalate the situation and looked at William with a nervous smile. — We’re not gonna get anywhere if we keep yelling and lying to each other, right? Let’s cool down and figure out what to do.
— I’m not lying! I swear! Damn it! If I’d traveled from the future to the past, I’d have come up with something to say and you’d believe me right away. But this is the opposite! How am I supposed to prove I’m not lying? I have no clue, — William whined and shook his head again, his dark strands bouncing like springs. — I’d love to go back home… I don’t know what happened to Noah! When we went into the ocean, a storm was starting and it had this weird green glow. It was a terrible idea! Awful! And I never even made it to the Bowie concert, — William grabbed his hair. — My money down the drain.
— So what year did you say you’re from? — Lucas asked, glancing at a worried Max.
— Seventy-one… — William whispered. — Guys, I swear, I’m not crazy. I can describe a breakfast from a poor family in the 70s or recite the entire Beatles discography. I grew up on bugs, for crying out loud! I’m not insane!
— Alright. Fine. I agree with Max, let’s not rush into anything, — Lucas softened and patted William on the shoulder. — At least I can reassure you, you didn’t miss much. Bowie’s greatest hits collection didn’t come out till ’76. “Space Oddity” is an amazing track, but it’s not worth crying over just one song. — He pushed the last slice of pizza toward William. — He wrote tons more awesome songs.
— Oh, so I hit the jackpot and get to listen to all of them? He’s still performing? — William beamed. — Crap, I don’t even have any money. I don’t even have pockets in these trunks to put money in. I’m homeless.
— Sorry, William, David Bowie died of liver cancer in 2016… Left behind a whole load of songs.
— Really? So that’s how it is…
Now it was Lucas who turned a concerned glance at Max. The way their guest reacted, with such raw emotion and sadness at the news of Bowie’s death, was moving. For a moment, he started to think that maybe William wasn’t lying. Bowie’s death had been a huge shock to the music world, and barely anyone their age didn’t know his name. Maybe William had really hit his head hard, or fell off his board and got a concussion. They didn’t know. But Max was right—there was no way they could kick him out, especially since the guy had no idea where to go. Still, they had to figure something out. It was late, and they had school the day after tomorrow. Leaving William alone wasn’t the smartest move. While their lost guest chewed a piece of pizza with cosmic sadness, they exchanged glances, trying to come to a decision. Max caved first.
— William, listen, you mind if we take a little time to process all this and figure out what to do later? I’ll make you some more tea and show you to a room. We’ve got a spare one on the first floor. Guest room. Get some rest, and we’ll… try to wrap our heads around this too. Sound good? — Max leaned in and looked into William’s dark brown eyes. — Well?
— Do you guys… — he started fidgeting with the sleeves of the hoodie and looked at the floor. — Do you guys have records with Bowie’s new songs? I promise I’ll treat them carefully. Really… I’m just dying to know what he’s made over all this time.
— Of course… — Max straightened up, while Lucas placed the tea in front of William. — Only we don’t mess with stuff like that here, — William tilted his head curiously at that. — In our time, people use headphones. And now they’re all Bluetooth. — Max spoke, stuttering slightly in confusion.
— Headphones? Bluetooth? — William pulled his ears back a little. — What?
— Alright, let me show you in the room, okay? — Lucas picked up the tea and led him to the guest room. — Look, I brewed a blend we got from Tibetan plantations. Seller promised it’s got calming effects, and I added mint for flavor and a bit of sweetener! You’re gonna love it.
— Whoa! You went to Tibet and picked the tea yourselves? Cool! I gotta savor every note of this tea! — William chirped with admiration.
— What Tibet! I ordered it off Amazon, and the mint is a weed growing in the backyard! — Lucas chuckled and sat the thoroughly confused William down on the couch. — Alright, what Amazon is, I’ll explain… later. Trust me, I wish I didn’t know about it. I’d have saved a fortune!
— Alrighty! — William smiled and squinted.
Lucas didn’t miss how he was putting on a brave face to hide his sadness.
— You promised to teach me how to use that plutooth thing and the ear gizmos. Come on, show me.
— Headphones and Bluetooth, — Lucas corrected him. — I’m not teaching you how to use Bluetooth. You don’t even have a phone yet. But headphones are easy. Just don’t lose or break them, or get ready to flee the country. They cost a fortune. Got it, William? — At his warning, the guest nodded way too nervously, still smiling. — Here. — Lucas handed him the left earbud and put the right one in himself. — Do it like this.
— Uh-huh… And then…

But William didn’t get to finish his sentence — his mouth dropped open in surprise, and his eyes widened like a kid’s. Lucas had played the first Bowie playlist he found on Spotify and smiled. He definitely hadn’t expected that kind of reaction. William’s response was way too naturally emotional for someone supposedly trying to pull a scam. Lucas handed him the second earbud. With trembling fingers, William took it and stuck it in his other ear, tilting his head. He looked kinda like an owl peering down at a mouse. He was completely lost in the music, totally immersed. Lucas wished he could listen to Bowie with that same kind of awe. William had basically become the living version of the phrase “Wish I could erase my memory and rewatch it all over again.” He’d probably have a stroke watching Harry Potter, and he didn’t even know what 3D was yet. Realizing his thoughts were going way off the rails, Lucas stood up, retied his “rat tail” bun, and headed for the door.

— Hey, William, don’t forget about your tea, — but there was no response. — I know you can hear me. Call out if you need anything.

— Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead, don’t interrupt the artist… — William muttered.

Lucas walked back to Max, who was eating cold pizza and staring blankly ahead. Lucas reached for the bag with William’s swim trunks, pulling them out under Max’s watchful eyes. Water dripped from them, and to an outsider, he probably looked like a complete creep. Max watched him with concern as Lucas went through someone else’s stuff.

But Lucas wasn’t just puddle-making for fun. He pulled back the elastic waistband and found the label. His eyes shot wide, and his face turned pale fast. The swim trunks dropped to the floor with a gross squish. Lucas wiped his forehead and started breathing heavily, sweat breaking out.

Max dropped his half-eaten slice and grabbed Lucas by the shoulders, giving him a light shake.

— Lucas, what’s wrong? Hey? Lucas! They’re just swim trunks… By the way, I don’t support all your creepy habits, man — those things haven’t even been washed yet, — Max tried to ease the mood with a joke. — You’re scaring me! Maybe open your mouth and try explaining like a normal person…

— The trunks are normal! But the tag! The manufacturing date… — Lucas gripped Max’s wrists and tried to peel them off. — The manufacturing date is nineteen seventy! I don’t know if he’s been carefully preserving his dad’s or even his grandpa’s trunks, but they were made fifty years ago!

— Fifty-one years ago, — Max deflated like a balloon and leaned back in his chair, which creaked under his weight. — Maybe William really did get hit by a car or smacked on the street, but I doubt anyone would go out of their way to redress him. Lucas, you really think he came to us from the past? — Max figured talking about William’s situation didn’t stop him from eating, so he grabbed another slice. — What are we even supposed to do with him? It’s not like we can just send him back to the seventies…

— Very funny, Max. We can’t even send him out the front door, just look at him. He’s staring at us like a bobblehead with his mouth open. There’s no way he came from the past! There has to be a logical explanation why some guy in trunks from the seventies is wandering the streets at night, — Lucas bit his lip. — Doesn’t know Bowie’s dead, doesn’t know how to use earbuds, hasn’t even seen a phone, — Lucas sat down in William’s chair. — I think I’m starting to sound insane myself.

— You’re not wrong, — Max finished the pizza crust. — Either way, let’s think this through, okay? So what if he forgot his meds and ran from the psych ward. William doesn’t look dangerous. He’s just a high school kid like us. Let him stay here. We’ll talk to him tomorrow — maybe everything will sort itself out. Good thing we don’t have school tomorrow, — Max yawned.

— I wish I could rediscover Bowie like he just did, — Lucas smirked. — He was listening with so much joy. You can’t fake that. If William really came from the seventies, the first thing we need to do is cut that awful teased hair. I can’t even look at him like that.

— Chill out with the hair attacks. You walk around with a ponytail, — Max stuck his tongue out. — I think Grandpa won’t mind if William stays here for a few days. He barely even leaves his room anyway.

— He wouldn’t care if William stayed here till his own cremation, — Lucas chuckled, stretching and squinting his light eyes. — The room’s actually free. Okay, what are we gonna do with you? Wanna go check on him?

— I’ll bring him more food. The guy looks like he needs a proper feeding! — Max grinned like a predator. — I’ll make him some sandwiches.

— Just don’t let us end up picking crumbs off our own fingers. You’re already too jacked to fit through the door, — Lucas opened the fridge. — Max, crap! There’s nothing in the fridge but tomatoes and carrots! We gotta hit the store ASAP! It was your turn to restock! Did you track any grocery deals?

— Yeah, yeah, yeah — look. Max opened a notebook in front of him. — Cut coupons, copied promo codes, checked the ads. Quit yelling, you’ll get your chicken, you’re not gonna starve! We’ve got a guest from the past, after all! — Max tried to joke, but it came out awkward. — Ugh, let’s go already, you dirty perv. I’m telling William you were eyeing his trunks.

— You jackass! — Lucas grabbed the same trunks and smacked Max on the butt with them, pushing him toward William’s room.

— Hey! We’re coming in!

Max froze, and Lucas crashed into his back. William was sitting on the couch, legs pulled in, quietly sobbing. Bowie’s music was still playing on the phone, and apparently the playlist had carried William beyond the seventies.

Lucas sidestepped Max, muttering curses, and also froze. The mug of tea was empty. The guys exchanged a glance, not sure why William’s mood had changed so fast. Somehow, he was now holding their old pink plush bunny.

Lucas gave Max a nod, silently asking him to go first.

— William, we brought you more food, — Max, the soft-hearted one, caved first.
He sat down beside him and placed the plate on the coffee table, grabbing one of the sandwiches. Nervously, he ran a hand through his spiky blond hair.

— Come on, Major Tom, respond to Ground Control. William, here comes the airplane, — Max started beatboxing like a plane. — Open wide.

— Oh, — was all William said before opening his mouth way too wide and biting the sandwich so hard Max almost lost a finger. — Thanks.

— Uh, sure… — Max whispered, eyes wide in shock. — Maybe… maybe you feed yourself. We don’t exactly know how to cook… human. — He placed the sandwich on the plate and turned off the music. — We need to talk…

— It’s amazing! Guys, it’s just… amazing! — William was smiling, eyes glistening with tears.

Lucas and Max exchanged looks, still not sure what to make of his behavior.