‘I can not believe that it is June 9th already,’ said Jane. ‘Turn around once and it will be the fourth of July,’ Billy B. responded. ‘Actually, summer days are the same length as the other seasons,’ Chet said as he looked up from his Lost In Space comic book. ‘Cousin Brenda wants to know if we would like to take a tour of City Hall that Uncle Bill will conduct this afternoon,’ Neva J. said. ‘Uncle Bill is a police officer…but I never see him wear a gun,’ said Billy B. ‘He is the dispatcher and thus does not have the need for a sidearm,’ Neva J. responded.

City Hall was one of the prominent buildings in Eldorado. With great stairs ascending to the front door and located on both sides of the entrance…it caught the eye of those who passed by. The fire trucks were housed to the left of the grand entrance and Billy B. often saw his uncle enjoying a Pall Mall Cigarette on the high porch. Often Billy B. would wave at Bill and Bill would wave back as he puffed on his pleasure and continued to run his tongue between the gap in his lower teeth. Uncle Bill had begun his career at Eldorado City Hall as a custodian after completing a career in the military. Billy B.’s uncle had served in World War II in Germany and his last post had been in Alaska. He had been involved in hand-to-hand combat and refused to talk about it. Bill was a quiet man with a ready smile and he was fond of Billy B.’s dad…who he called Junior.

‘Hello Bill…we are excited about the tour today,’ said Neva J. Bill grinned a wide grin and ran his tongue between his teeth. He showed the happy summer group his communication station first and then the firetrucks. Glenn the police chief came out of his office and greeted all. He bragged about Uncle Bill and his indispensable value to the Eldorado Police Force. Chet noticed a door in the back of City Hall and turned the doorknob and walked in. Neva J. followed and when Jane opened it…she found a broom closet. ‘Oh my, I wish that Chet and Jane had not gone into the Broom Closet…I went in there once and did not come out for five months,’ said Bill who had ceased to grin and looked scared. ‘We had better follow them and find out where they have gone,’ Billy B. said. ‘Follow me,’ Uncle Bill said.

Before their eyes were City Hall…the same but changed. There was a large table set with the most lovey china dinnerware service and beside it a magnificent display of vintage wedding dresses. Old photos adorned the walls and a plethora of displays of old newspapers with some of Billy B.’s classmates who had died in a plane crash… As they walked out onto the great porch they overlooked a subdued Eldorado.

‘Uncle Bill said that when he had accidentally opened the Broom Closet that he had been told no one ever entered he found himself surrounded by Model T. cars and that the military was stationed at the City Hall and wanting to draft him for the Great War…World War I…

‘Let’s go see what is playing at the Orpheum, said Chet. A nice lady stuck her head out from behind the large display of Antique Wedding Dresses and said that we were many years too late to see a movie at the Orpheum Theatre as it had been closed for a long time.

‘What is the year of our adventure,’ asked Chet? ‘Why 2023…of course, the Eldorado Museum Curator said…’