The Mint
Chapter One
All Victoria could think about was The Mint, a new and exciting jazz club. She was due to perform the Charleston that night in her new La Garconne dress. Victoria was applying her makeup and finger-waving her hair in the vanity mirror. She pinned her long, thick blonde hair into an elegant updo before she gazed at herself and out loud, said,
“Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
She waited but answered her own question. “You are.”
Victoria stared at herself with eyes as green as emeralds, and skin the color
of ivory. She finished applying green eyeshadow with a thin layer of black liquid eyeliner, along with a full face of powder foundation, concealer, blush, mascara, lipliner and lipstick.
Contented with her hair and makeup, Victoria slipped her long legs into a pair of designer heels. When she wore heels, she looked statuesque. As she entered The Mint, all eyes were on her. When you entered The Mint, you heard loud trumpets, saxophones, pianos playing, and drums. The lively sound would wake the dead. You couldn’t help but snap your fingers and dance, it would have gotten a nun to move and shake it.
Ready for the night ahead, Victoria met her other girlfriends including Diane who also danced there and were Flappers too. The lively night progressed, and Diane had a great time dancing the night away, that is until something extraordinary happened. When the girls got back to the table after dancing, Diane’s boyfriend Spencer got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Diane was filled with bliss, and she happily accepted. Victoria’s eyes welled with excitement.
The night went on and other friends came to The Mint. Victoria’s friend Margret was having a ball - dancing, smoking, and drinking. However, after too much drinking, she started to vomit and requested Victoria to take her home. Diane wanted to help but Spencer, now her fiancé, didn’t want to leave the energetic party.
So, Victoria and Margret left the party on their own. Once they got to Margret’s home and Victoria was happy Margret could take care of herself, she left. Margret tucked herself into bed and immediately went to sleep.
Phoebe von Satis
1
Chapter Two
Victoria, Margret, and Diane celebrated Diane’s engagement with an intimate meetup for drinks; just the three of them.
“Thank you, so much for taking the time to do this for me,” Diane said as she smoked her cigarette.
“Of course. We had to.” Victoria said. “Hey, you’re all going to say I am crazy, but...”
“...Tell us, “said Diane.
“Well, have you ever thought about any of your ancestors, like, just a few years ago in the 80s or 90s?”
“You mean the 1880s or 1890s?” Margret said.
“Of course, silly, why would I reference the 1980s or 1990s? That hasn’t happened yet.”
“Ok, what of it?” said Diane.
“Well, things were so different, that is why our parents and grandparents have such a difficult time understanding us.” Victoria replied.
“That is true, they just don’t get us.” Margret agreed.
“Well, what is your point, Victoria?” Diane asked.
“My point and case are that let’s say I could go back in time, meet my
grandmother and tell her about Jack the Ripper. Maybe she could help save lives... five innocent women murdered is too hard to comprehend.”
“I understand, Victoria,” Diane said, “Although there are just too many unknown factors. If you managed to even find her, how can you be so sure that she will be cooperative? How do you know she would believe that you are from the 1920s, or if she did believe, that she would not flip out, or that it will work at all? I mean, it’s an interesting thought, I suppose. That is if it were possible.”
“The thought of having a conversation with an ancestor is ludicrous.” Margret added. “Next you will tell me that Santa Claus isn’t just a child’s tale.”
Victoria nodded her head and said, “So, from my understanding, Margret thinks I’m mad, and Diane, you think there is some possibility or food for thought, but still, you feel a slim to zero chance of time travel and making changes in the past to affect one’s future. Do I have this correct?”
“Even if I were to humor myself and agree with you for argument’s sake, and say time travel is real, and it can make a positive or even a negative change in one’s life, well, how do you intend on making it a reality for you?” Margret said.
Diane agreed with Margret, and added, “Do you have any sort of device that will act as a machine to bring you back in time, to make this debate valid?”
Victoria looked at them with a straight face. “I just want to get an opinion from you girls. What is the problem with that?”
Phoebe von Satis
2
Just then, a beautiful tall woman with raven black hair passed by. She walked up to the three friends, said hello, and then passed them. When she had gone, Diane started to fret.
“I can’t stand that woman; I don’t know what he saw in her. And why does she insist on saying hello?” Diane exhaled. Victoria frowned. Kate, the woman who had ruffled Diane’s feathers, had a little more curve to her frame, brown marble eyes, and ivory skin – clearly gorgeous. But Diane was also gorgeous: a petite brunette, with blue eyes, ivory skin and a bubbly personality.
“That’s the one Spencer saw on a casual basis... she gets under my skin...” Diane continued. Margret and Victoria watch as Kate exits the lounge.
Kate and Spencer had a history of dating since they were both fourteen years old, but Kate’s family thought George, her current husband, would be more suitable. Every time Diane had seen Kate at The Mint, or in public, it was difficult for her to keep calm. She was grateful to have her two girlfriends at the lounge to support her. Victoria and Margret were quick to take her mind off it.
“How about another drink?” Victoria said as she peered over to the bar. Diane and Margret nodded enthusiastically.
Chapter Three
Victoria left The Mint later that night and headed home. As she passed through the back door and stepped into the street, she noticed an immediate change. The streetlamps had changed to lanterns and there were cobblestone streets instead of cement. Victoria turned her head left, then right, and was struck by amazement at how different everything looked – she was surrounded by missing buildings and empty plots. At first, she thought she was hallucinating, but then she took a deep breath and pinched her left arm. She was definitely awake.
Victoria approached someone nearby and asked what day of the week it was, and what year it was. They answered calmly that it was the second of June 1880. The person looked at Victoria’s makeup and dress with a puzzled expression. Victoria was in shock... “It happened somehow” She muttered. Victoria thought of the conversation she just had with Margret and Diane.
She was lost for words; Victoria staggered backwards and took in her new environment. The person she spoke to looked confused and hurried away. “So where is my home?” Victoria looked at the street names and noticed they were familiar but still somehow different. She realized she could not go home, so she instead decided to look for where she knew her great-grandmother and great- grandfather had lived.
Phoebe von Satis
3
Sometime later, after asking for directions, Victoria arrived at a small townhouse with a hopeful expression. She knocked on the front door, and her grandmother, who was around her age: no more than twenty-one years old, opened the door. She looked puzzled as to why a young woman in such a loose dress was standing in front of her.
“Yes, can I help you?” she asked Victoria.
“I’m hoping this is the house of Vera and her husband, right? My name is Victoria.”
“Hello, Victoria, what brings you to my home this late in the day? Can I call you a carriage?” Vera asked.
“I apologize for the intrusion, might I come in to speak with you?” Victoria replied.
“Right, how rude of me. Won’t you come in, sit down? Would you like some wine? Or anything to eat?”
“I’ll take some wine, and I think you will be needing some too.”
As Vera poured a glass for herself and for Victoria, Victoria sat down in the study.
“Are you an art collector? I love all these pieces,” she said as she grabbed the glass Vera handed to her. “Thank you,” said Victoria.
“You are welcome” Vera replied. “Now what was it that you wanted to discuss?”
“Ah yes, I have a point, I promise. Have you ever seen this style of dress, or hair before?”
Vera looked Victoria up and down and replied, “No. I have not. Not to be rude, but you have no corset, you are practically naked, or at least wearing no undergarments. Your dress is far too loose, you are not wearing stockings, those shoes just look terrible, and are you carrying cigarettes with you? Your style is completely unladylike in my book.”
“My point is made. What would you say... or let me put it this way... would you believe me if I told you that I am from the year 1920? I somehow walked into the year 1880. Would you call me insane?”
Vera paused and then laughed. “You must be joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Victoria had a straight face.
“Actually, no.”
“Exactly,” Victoria said.
“Now what?” Vera replied.
“I do not know why this happened, but it probably happened for a reason. I
am thinking you can maybe help women everywhere and let me tell you why. Eight years from now, in the east end, there are going to be many women – five to be exact, mostly prostitutes, who will be killed by a murderer going by the name of
Phoebe von Satis
4
‘Jack the Ripper.’ No one ever caught him or could recall a full description of him. He wrote letters to the London police, but others wrote phony copycat letters as well which made it hard to distinguish what was usable. But now that you know of this killer, you can mention it to the police in advance. If they do not listen, mention it again. I urge you to take this seriously, Vera.” Victoria continues.
“Also, in 1890, there will be another serial killer in America, in Chicago, Illinois. His name is Herman Webster Mudgett, but his killer’s name is Dr. Henry Howard Holmes. He will go on to be just as bad as Jack the Ripper. He gets caught, but not until the late 1890s. It is rumored that Holmes killed and murdered fifty to a hundred people. If you mention this, and let’s say they try to blame you for Jack the Ripper since he is very hard to find, well you are not in America so it would give you a huge alibi.”
“Also, Benz the automobile company is a great company to try and partner with. It is just a year old today, but in my society, it is a huge company with even more potential for growth. I would invest. It’s called Damlier Benz.”
Vera was taken aback. She put pencil to paper and jotted the name ‘Damlier Benz’ down. Then she took a long swig of her wine and contemplated. “These are all great things to know and great information, so I thank you for enlightening me. But for now, we should rest. It seems like you have travelled very far...” she said. Victoria wanted her to say more but Vera concluded that they should reconvene in the morning.
Chapter Four
The next morning, Victoria woke up in bed. Tucked beside her was a small piece of aged parchment. She hurriedly opened it and began to read: ‘Dearest Victoria. I am glad that we could cross paths in my time – it was unexpected but exciting. I didn’t want to wake you, so I have written this letter. After our conversation, I simply couldn’t rest and took the liberty of going to the police myself. Admittedly they did not believe my remarks about ‘Jack The Ripper’ and his future crimes. But still, they know. Nonetheless, they thanked me for my time and have our family name on record – I hope something good will come of it. Sleep well and we will converse again tomorrow. Vera.’ Victoria peeled her eyes away from the letter and noticed that she was back in 1920. Her room was back to normal. She felt relieved, but at the same time disappointed that she didn’t get to spend more quality time with her grandmother, Vera.
She got up and immediately noticed that the furnishings in her family house were a lot more extravagant. Her parents had a car on the drive, and not just any car, but a Benz – the one thing that they had been budgeting to try and obtain.
Phoebe von Satis
5
Victoria looked through her library of books and saw that Jack the Ripper still existed, but he had killed fewer women and had left London’s East End sooner than before. Vera had done what Victoria asked but had ultimately been unsuccessful in stopping his terrorizing of London’s streets. But her family had become partners with the Benz car company, which had helped boost their income. Victoria couldn’t believe that it had worked!
Chapter Five
Victoria met up with Diane and Margret for lunch at The Mint the following week.
“How is Spencer?” Victoria asked Diane.
“Who is Spencer?” Diane replied. Margret and Diane looked at Victoria, puzzled.
“Spencer,” Victoria said. Diane continued to have a confused look on her face. She raised her eyebrow at her.
“That answers nothing.”
“Your fiancé, silly!”
“I’ve been married to George for the past two years. Don’t you remember?
You were my maiden of honor.”
Victoria had a sense of shock come over her. She then realized that other
individuals in her circle had been influenced by her time travel and the slight alterations to the past.
“What about Kate and Spencer?” Victoria asked.
“Kate is a good friend of mine; I was actually going to invite her to our get- together. What do you think? Can she come next time? She is super sweet - so beautiful and loving. She just got engaged to her high school sweetheart, Spencer. Spencer is nice, but I do not think he is ready for marriage at all. I saw him at a party last week picking up another girl...”
“That’s terrible, does Kate know about this?” Margret asked.
“I think she lets this shit slide; I would hate to be her,” Diane replied. “Invite her, I’d love to meet her,” Victoria said.
“Thank you, you, guys!”
Margret then turned to Victoria.
“I am going to call it a day, I just want to go home and be alone.”
“Why? What happened?” Victoria asked.
“Today is the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing...’ Margret replied,
almost surprised that Victoria didn’t remember. Victoria had a blank expression as she struggled to recall the events.
Phoebe von Satis
6
“In 1889? Killed by Jack the Ripper? Thankfully she was his second but final victim... but that still makes me deeply sad. My mum was young then but when she grew up, she had me and died through childbirth. There’s a lot of pain surrounding this time of year...”
Victoria started to tear up and hugged Margret.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry, love. If there is anything I can do to make you feel better let me know. Go home, take a bath, get some rest. Talk to you later.”
Margret left and Victoria sat alone, now feeling conflicted about her adventure back in time.
Chapter Six
Victoria was left with the troubling realization that with every good change, bad changes could also occur. Her time travel made many positive changes, helping her family’s financial problems disappear, and even helping fewer women become victims of Jack the Ripper by getting him off London’s streets sooner. But it wasn’t a perfect system.
And it didn’t help Margret’s home life. It may have aggravated it in fact – Victoria could see how much pain she was in. As for Diane, it brought Kate and her together and showed that they were capable of friendship and that it was Spencer’s doing – them being foes. It also showed how George was a good man and how Spencer was not a serious person for a relationship. For the journey of a lifetime, Victoria now had much to ponder on.
Phoebe von Satis
7
