[ WP ] One if by land . Two if by sea . Three if by air . Four if by ...

`` You know the old saying, one for the road, two for the-'' 
 
 `` Yeah, shut up,'' I said to my father. We were supposed to be learning how to drive, not how to drink, and if the two ever coincided it was no one's fault but my dad's. I know he was a scientist, not an alcoholic, but sometimes it was hard to tell the difference, you know? `` Where are we going, anyways?'' 
 
 `` You'll see in a minute, Alex,'' he said. `` Turn right here - and watch the cars, now, turn...'' 
 
 I turned in, and duly found myself on a empty suburban street I have never seen before. The houses here look run down, a match of sixties architecture and modern art - almost as if the place had been unstuck in time. It reminded me of my mom: the way she'd dance and romp like it was 1989 and she was twenty. `` Dad, this is n't helping me,'' I said, keeping my hands glued to the wheel. `` I do n't know this place.'' 
 
 `` Well, that's why you're here,'' he said. `` To learn about the less explored paths of the city. Now you see that house on your right with the number 44?'' 
 
 I looked. The house was unremarkable - and in this neighbourhood, this meant the'two-storey, white picket fence, nice garage and garden' variety. But when I got closer I noticed something odd about the place. 
 
 The gates were open without the lights being on. 
 
 `` I see it,'' I said. `` Do you want me to turn in?'' 
 
 He nodded. I turned into the open driveway, and my dad just asked me to park the car anywhere. `` I'm going to show you something you wo n't forget in a hurry,'' he said. `` But first-'' 
 
 He drew up a piece of paper I had never seen before. `` The three things I asked you to do. I'll know if you're lying, so answer honestly. Did you bring the keys?'' 
 
 I nodded, and he fished the keys from my left pocket, almost as if he already knew they were there. He walked over to the rug, where a second, identical set of keys were already there. Smiling, he picked up the other set and put mine there. Beckoning me over, he unlocked the front door with the other set and showed me in. The house was dark. 
 
 `` What's going on-'' I started to say, but my dad's smile hushed me. 
 
 `` Second thing: did you bring the watch?'' 
 
 I got my dad's watch out from my pocket. It had n't been working for a long time, but it had some special value or something. I ca n't remember the story now, but it was something to do with my mom and my dad meeting up and getting together for the first time. A long time ago, as they said. 
 
 `` Good, it's still not working,'' he said. `` Now, this is important: the date slip from the New York Times. You got it?'' 
 
 I handed him the slip, the one torn from today's front page of the New York Times, and he heaved a huge sigh of relief. 
 
 `` We'll need this,'' he said. `` It's like our visa stamp.'' 
 
 `` Just what are we doing?'' I said. But in response my dad simply flicked the light switch. 
 
 I covered my eyes. In the sudden light my palms were searingly bright. But when I adjusted to the light I nearly passed out in shock. 
 
 Before me, there was an identical version of the car we had driven to get here, sitting in the living room of this old house. 
 
 `` That's your new ride, Alex,'' he said, beaming and looking every inch the proud father. `` Take a look at the license plate.'' 
 
 I did, and I just kept staring. `` It's from 2021?'' 
 
 `` Yes,'' he said. `` It's a time machine, Alex. The newspaper clipping proves it. And my watch,'' he pulled it out, `` should start ticking away when we leave our current time. It does n't work in this world, but in the future, it might...'' 
 
 `` Will,'' I corrected. `` In the future it will?'' 
 
 `` That's exactly right,'' he said, beaming. `` You know the old saying?'' 
 
 `` What?'' 
 
 `` One if by land - your keys. Two if by sea - visa and passport. Three if by air - passport, money and visa. But four if by *spacetime* - keys, watch and newspaper.'' 
 
 `` That's not four,'' I said, staring at the car, at my dad, who looked every bit as young as myself again. 
 
 `` Right you are,'' he said. `` Keys, watch, newspaper - and myself. Now come on, let's go for a ride!'' 
 
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