Dave Netherton

B1onder@pacbell.net

178 Briarcliff Drive

Folsom, Ca 95630

916-203-5006

word count tbd

OK, so here I am resting comfortably on the hot asphalt between two cars. I mean, I was asleep so I must have been comfortable, but now that I am awake, I realize that it is hot and the asphalt is pretty warm. I sit up and rub my eyes and look around. I am in the parking lot behind bldg 280 at McClelland AFB. I must have fallen and bumped my head on my way to a meeting or something. At least that’s what I was thinking when I next noticed that I was naked!

Absolutely stark nekkid! Now that got my attention and I am think that I must have been mugged or something. I was quite disoriented and confused. I looked at my watch to discover that I had none. Even that was gone! No shoes nothing. What a spot. I looked around and it seemed to be pretty quiet for a parking lot with perhaps three or fouir thousand cars. I did notice that there was something strange about the cars, but I was unable to pin that one down. The immediate problem was to get me into some clothes and get some help. I worked my way over to the back of the cafeteria and Credit Union. I knew there was a back door into the travel office located between them. My old supervisor had an office there and we used to come and go thru that door when we played cribbage during lunch. Funny the things you remember when under stress. I was in the break room behind Franks’ office with no trouble.

Fortunately there was a phone in there and I figured that I would give Frank a call and ask him to come on back to the break room on the QT so we could get me out of this mess. I picked up the phone and could not remember his number. Go figure! I never forgot a number. I then thought I would call my own office and have Suzie get on the case, but I couldn’t remember that number either. While I wsa agonizing over my suddenly poor memory, I was watching for someone to come back to the break room and catch my naked butt sticking out and embarrass the dickens out of both of us. Nobody came back but I did notice a janitors closet in the corner. Opening it I found Coveralls and rubber boots. I did not imagine that they would fit me, but I was surprised to see that there was a pair that nearly did. I am six feet five and over two hundred pounds which is unusual. Until, that is I remembered that the sealant crew used these same coveralls and they were quite roomy. The rubber boots were designed to fit over ones own footwear so they were a good fit over my bare feet. Thus clothed, I was feeling a little better about my situation when someone I did not know came into the break room.

Busted, I stood and walked past them and out into the hall and on to Franks office. He was not there at the moment, but I could hear his voice elsewhere in the room. I sidled into his office past the questioning looks of his secretary, I think her name was Margie. So there I was waiting in Franks office, trying to figure what had happened to me. I did not remember what I was doing in the parking lot at all, other than the fact that I was probably on my way to one meeting or another. The clock on Franks wall told me that it was morning, so I could have been on my way to a late breakfast with my golf buddies. For the life of me I could not remember even the month or the year. I knew who I was, that I was married and that I worked there at McClellan. I had a secretary named Suzie, or was it Verna? or perhaps it was Sandy, or ??? Now I was getting even more confused. There was something more going on here.

Finally I could hear Franks secretary speaking to him about me. She told him that there was a strange man waiting in his office and did he want her to call the police? He calmed her down and walked in. I thought he might shut the door when he recognized me, but he did not. As a matter of fact his expression showed that he was a little uncertain about who I might be.

“Frank! Its me!” I blurted. He was unfazed and fixed me with a look that frightened me a little. He turned to his secretary and motioned her to make the call. He then sat down across from me at his conference table and asked me what I wanted. I tried to get him to recognize me. I spoke of our past together and our cribbage games. He just looked at me like I was from Mars.

And as always,,,,, Film at eleven,,,, stay tuned.

About five oclock a Doctor came to see me and gabe me a rathar comprehensive physical examination. When he was finished another man came to see me and we talked a bit. I was quite casreful not to tell him any of my suspicions regarding where I was, who I thought I was, or what I was doing there in Masons office naked. I figured it was better to claim that I was as confused as they were and let them come up with something on their own. I was quite surptised that they did not ask my double to come and see me. That would have been really interesting. But he/I did not appear. They fed me an evening meal and lights were out at approximately eight oclock.

The next voice I hear is me talking back to myself, "This is I Dean, What can I do for you?"

I immediately put the phone down in shock. My gut tells me that I must get out of here and go over to my office and see who is impersonating me. It also is telling me to get the hell out of this place before they come and take me away to ,,,,, where? It is obvious that I am sitting here in Franks office, but who is sitting across the street in my office. Why is he pretending to be me and why does he sound so much like me? For a moment, I am regretting the fact that I had hung up on hem, until I realize that perhaps all this is just not possible.

As I comtemplate my dilemma, I hear commotion out in the outer office and I realize that the Air Police have arrived for me. I have come to the first of my decision trees. I can make a stand with the police and try and work it out from that starting point; or I can make a break for it and see where that takes me.

AA-As I figured he would, Frank escorts two large APs into his office. He introduces them to me in this manner:

AB-As I remember, Frank has an outside door from his in-0ffice john. I make a break for it.

I am sitting at Frank Masons' desk in his office in Building 280 at McClellan. It is about ten in the morning and I am beginning to worry. I have no clothes except for the raincoat (too small) that Franks' secretary has given me. Every one here acts as if they have never heard of me, yet I recognize most of them. After all, I have worked in this organization for more than twenty years. I know all the division chiefs, the Directors, most of the section chiefs, hell I know everyone. Yet they are all treating me as if I had dropped in from outer space. The first thing I do is pick up the phone and dial my own office, Betty answers on the second ring.

Betty, its me. Is there something going on that I need to know about?

Pardon me? Who is this? She answers as if she doesn't recognize my voice.

Betty, its me, Dean. I respond. What is going on?

I am sorry sir, This is a business office. Is there something I can do for you.???

Calming down on the outside, but freaking on the inside, I ask if I have reached the Engineering Support Section for the Manufacturing Division?

Yes, May I furthur direct your call?

May I speak with the section chief,,,,?