The Time Travelling Janitor by P.C. Snider
Karl Elliot is a Janitor at a company called ChronoTech Industries. He does the usual Janitor stuff. Sweeps, Mops, Dusts, takes out the Garbage, Recycling. He wishes he could listen to tunes while he cleans. But for some odd reason, his bosses won’t allow him. Other than that he really enjoys the job, gets lots of steps in, and exercise. Doesn’t even have to go to the gym after work.
As a means to overcome this he listens to tunes on his break times, he sings a bunch to himself while he cleans, to keep himself entertained. He sings them quietly hoping no one hears him. Or sometimes he hums them.
His favorite tunes are from the 1990s era. Punk, Grunge, and Metal. He does listen bunch of older songs as well but that is his overall favorite decade of Music.
At ChronoTech Industries there are a lot of Cubicles for the Software Programmers that are working on various Projects. He never finds out any as they seem to be very confidential about their work.
Every day he wonders more, and more what they are all working on.
#
The next day Karl is in his Janitor closet, and he finds a device, in his supply cabinet. He plays around with it a little bit, due to curiosity. As he never seen something like it before.
Neato, a Digital Watch. He thinks to himself.
He manages to power on the tiny device.
A message appears on it’s screen.
This device has the power to transport you back, and forth through time. Use at your own risk.
“Cool!”
Maybe that’s what those guys and girls were working on in their Cubicles. He thought. They were working on the Software for this gizmo.
A 1990s Punk song suddenly came to his mind.
“Sure would be cool go back then, and see them live.” He thought.
He looks at his new found Digital Watch.
Actually, not a bad idea. He thought.
I’ll wait till this weekend to give it a go. Something to look forward to.
He puts the device back in his cabinet for now being only Tuesday.
He continues his regular duties humming more 1990s tunes as he goes through his usual routine.
#
The week goes by slower than usual due to Karl waiting impatiently for the weekend to test out his device. His only concern is that no one else at work finds it, and takes it on him. He had hidden it in the far back of the tallest shelf, due to most people at his work place being shorter than him. He hopes that will prevent anyone else finding it.
Friday finally comes along and he is really excited for the end of the day. He’s gonna go back in time to see a Band he really likes play live. He is doing his best to keep it secret, not to tell anyone his weekend plans.
As the clock reaches 3:00 PM he puts his cart with his cleaning supplies back to where it belongs. He looks around to make sure that no one is watching or looking. He fumbles frantically on the top shelf for the Digital Watch he had found that could transport him back and forth through time.
He starts to panic.
Someone had taken it for sure. He thought.
Still fumbling around through the cabinet. He feels the device at the end of his fingertips.
“Yes!” he says to himself.
Whistling this time to a 1990s Punk tune.
#
He takes out the Digital Watch from the cabinet. He turns it on. Again the message appears. This device has the power to transport you back, and forth through time. Use at your own risk.
“Sounds good to me.” Karl says to himself as his punches in the date back in the 1990s he wishes to go to see one of his favorite bands. Saturday, February 15th, 1997.
“1997 HERE I COME!”
The lights in the Janitor’s closet starts to flicker. The world around him blurs in a technicolor dreamlike state.
When the world stabilizes again, he finds himself in New York in a dark alley. He reaches the main sidewalk. Lots of people are walking by he taps a guy on his shoulder dressed in Punk Rock clothing.
“Excuse me sir, what year is it?”
“1997!”
“Great! Is there a Punk Show tonight?”
“Yeah dude. At a small club down the street. ”
“Awesome.”
“You going?”
“Hell yeah!”
“See ya there.”
He reaches a small bar still early in the afternoon.
He decides to get a mock-tail.
He’s not that big of a drinker.
A girl approaches him, probably in her mid twenties.
“Hey, whatcha having?”
“Just a mock-tail. I’m not big on Alcohol.”
“I hear ya.”
Bartender asks the girl. “You want the same as him?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
“That’s a fancy device you got there.” She points to his Digital Watch.
“Yeah it’s one of a kind.” He laughs a little.
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
“Where ya from?”
“The Future.”
“Yeah right.
“I’ll show you.”
Karl turns the device on. This device has the power to transport you back, and forth through time. Use at your own risk.
“Woah.” Her eyes widen.
“You shouldn’t be here. You don’t know what you’re messing with. This thing could be dangerous.”
“But I really wanna see the band playing tonight.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The girl says.
Karl sighs. I guess you’re right.
“Before I go what’s your name?”
“Michelle.”
“Thanks Michelle.”
“No problem.”
Karl punches in his original start date. Friday, 3:00 PM, April 19th, 2025.
Again, the lights in the bar flickers. The world around him blurs in a technicolor dreamlike state.
He finds himself back in his Janitor’s closet.
“I guess this device shouldn’t be messed around with.”
He realizes his greatest adventure isn’t Time Travelling, it’s appreciating the present moment. He puts the device hidden away at the far back of the top shelf.
Whistling another 1990s tune. He heads out for the day. To start his weekend in present time. Not in the past.
The End.
The Time Travelling Janitor by P.C. Snider (PDF) Free.
Copyright 6/15/2025 P.C. Snider
