One windy day in Brentwood, I was looking at the Town Hall clock noticing the hands going backwards. Leaves were blowing off the trees and the air felt cold. The Town Hall vanished, my clothes changed, the town was smaller and William Hunter’s memorial visible. There were no cars, only horses and carts. I was walking down a mud path. Women were wearing long dresses and people were riding bikes.

The street appeared strange. Sainsbury’s and WH Smith had disappeared. I asked “What year is it?” and an old man replied “Why it’s 1909?”. I stood still, shocked. The Town Hall looked different. What ever is happening? People were running shouting fire at Wilson’s stores.

I ran up the Town Hall steps. I had to get back to 2007. I could see an old man with a long white beard, sitting at the top of the steps. “Please show me the clock room?” We climbed the stairs, stopping at a big, red shiny door. He opened the door and pushed me in. The room was full of cogs, the walls were vanishing, the floor moving and all I remember was falling through the air.

I awoke with sun shining in my eyes. I could barely move. I ached all over. Was I dead? No, I could see people in the distance. I spotted a newspaper stand. The Warley Barracks were closing. It was 1957. The front page had a picture of the Queen opening a science building at Brentwood School. How funny, that’s where I go to school.

I reach the new Town Hall. I have to get inside. I climb the steps and knock on the door. “What’s your name?” I reply “Adam Slaymark.” “Come in”. I follow along a corridor into a packed room. I see my Mum, Dad and Nanny who don’t recognize me when I wave. At the front is my Grandad, wearing a big red cloak with fur and a black hat (like a pirate’s). What is happening? My Dad has hair and my Mum is slim. They both look very young. The leaflet reads “1993”. I know what’s happening. My Grandad, Alf, is becoming the first Mayor of Brentwood. I’m not born.

I exited through a side door into a car-park. I looked around and noticed the clock was going forwards. No more wind. It’s the end. I’m back in 2007. Was it magic or was it just the wind?

Adam Slaymark