Short Story by: Dirk B
Genre: Historical Fiction
Fifteen-year-old Adam stood amid the excited crowd occupying both sides of the street as they all awaited him — their charismatic leader. Soon, his motorcade would drive by, with him standing in the open-air touring car on his way to the command bunker, basking in the adulation.
Adam shivered despite his long coat — not his warmest, but with a large inner pocket. He checked the time using the fob watch given him by his beloved grandfather, beaten and left for dead merely for being different. Adam barely made it to his side in time to say goodbye.
The dying man had pressed the timepiece into Adam’s hands. “Keep this always! You may need it someday.”
Tears streaming down, Adam nodded. “I love you!”
“And I you. Adam, never forget, anyone can change the future!” Before he could elaborate, the old man died.
That dark moment had been so gut-wrenching, Adam didn’t realize he’d wet himself until later.
Now, months afterward, here he stood, trembling, fear escalating. Small for his age, he slipped through the crowd with ease to reach the street. His mixed ancestry meant he didn’t look like many of his kind, so no one paid him any attention. To them, he was just another young boy, eager for a closer look.
But also eager to change the future.
Cheering arose from down the street as the motorcade approached. Their leader stood in the third car.
A chill careened down Adam’s spine like a runaway bobsled.
Time slowed.
The lead car of the motorcade passed him.
He reached inside his coat and gripped the object there. His pulse pounded like drums in his ears, drowning out all other sounds.
The second car rolled by.
His heart hammered as if attempting to escape his chest.
Now!
He drew the object — a pistol, ran at the third vehicle, and fired. The man’s head exploded, brains hurtling everywhere. Success! Adam had changed the future.
Except … none of that happened.
Because before Adam could draw his gun, the man had looked in his direction with terrifying evil in his soulless blue eyes. Adam froze and wet himself again, startling himself just long enough for the car to pass unharmed.
The date: August 31, 1939. The place: Nazi Germany. One day before the invasion of Poland, marking the start of World War II, history’s bloodiest conflict.
In the decades that followed, Adam wept at the emergence of each new atrocity of the twentieth century. If only…
Ultimately, on his deathbed, toying with his grandfather’s pocket watch, he accidentally released a hidden lever.
Soon, a stranger materialized beside him, carrying a giftwrapped package.
Adam jolted with fear. “Who are you?”
“A time traveler. Your watch signaled me, finally allowing me to find you. I can return you to 1939 to try again. You’ll teleport back into your fifteen-year-old body.” He handed Adam the package. “This will travel back with you.”
“What is it? A weapon?”
“Pampers.”
Adam grinned. “Dead moustache walking!”
© Copyright 2025 Dirk B. All rights reserved.
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Another great piece. At first i thought he was back to kill himself and I wondered about a paradox and time loop. The suspense was perfect with the build up to the finale rolling faster and faster. I did feel sorry for Adam. To stare into the eyes of such evil would have caused anyone to hesitate. Loved the cruel twist of the time traveller giving him a daiper but also underlining that some things, no matter how evil, must come to pass.
Author
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Hi Morag.
I reread this after I read your review and realized that, yes, Adam has a very miserable life. I'm not sure if it was clear, but the purpose of the time traveler at the end is to give Adam his chance at a do-over. Maybe he'll stop Hitler this time. The diaper (I'm so evil!) is to ensure he doesn't miss the next time. :-) I'm still thinking about the second contest entry (a sequel! lol), which will involve him returning to the past for his do-over. Naturally, there'll be some twist.
Thank you for the review. Much appreciated as always.
Dirk
Ha! We all wish for someone to have a do-over like this! (Well, a lot of us, anyway.) Alas, what the present may have changed into we wouldn’t know. Sci-fi tells us to never mess with the timeline — prime directive and all. This would be worth the gamble, though. I’m wondering why grandpa didn’t use the lever himself. And how did the time traveler, signaled just "moments ago," know (and have time) to bring (gift wrapped) diapers? (Duh, because he's a time traveler?)
Then again, I've been known to overthink things (and underthink them, too).
Good luck, sir!
Mg
Author
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Hi Mitch.
I kept wishing the contest allowed more words, so I could first out the last part a little more (his life after WW2, signaling the time traveler, and heading back).
Of course, if I were to overthink this myself, another reasonable question would be why the time traveler didn't take out Hitler himself. And why wait for such a moment; if you're going to kill the SOB, start much sooner, before he's surrounded by bodyguards and adoring crowds, and moving in a car. Plot holes!
Thank you for the review.
Dirk
I absolutely loved the development of the story. I wasn't expecting that ending. I was a good bit confused at first especially with a person so young. It's amazing to me how you were able to take an idea as timeless as this and turn it into a humorous short story. I applaud you.
Author
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Thanks, Ironwolf. I'm still trying to decide between a sequel to this story for my second contest entry and something totally unrelated. I'll probably go with the former.
I appreciate the review.
Dirk
Hi Dirk, let me start with the obvious...best title ever! Wonderfully written and I really enjoyed the flow. Quick and to the point. Of course, you have to get it done when you only have 500 words! :P
I have a question about your method, and please don't feel pressured to answer. I'm just very curious when I see something awesome like that. Did you think about the Adam's final quote first and craft the story around it, or did you get to the end and suddenly it appeared down on the page? I apologize for being presumptuous, but I am deeply fascinated with the vast differences in people's creative processes. Either way, I really enjoyed your story!
Thanks!
-warren
Author
Reply
Hi Warren.
I wrote the story knowing it would be set when and where it was, and that it would be Hitler in the car the day before the invasion of Poland. In the first draft, the time traveler handed Adam the gift, and when Adam asked what was in it, the traveler said diapers, which is where I originally ended the story. I eventually decided I wanted to end with something a little more memorable, hence the final line, which also became the title.
And rather than have Adam see Hitler's eyes and simply freeze/wet himself without an attempt to ever shoot Hitler (which was rather weak after all that initial buildup), I realized I could play out what Adam wanted to have happen (i.e., him blowing Hitler's brains out) and then mention that it didn't actually happen and why. More impactful that way.
Sometimes, I start knowing the ending, even if it's just one small part of it, and then build a story around it. The extreme example is the Connor story, where I eventually planned a trilogy of novels based on one idea, which became part of the climax of book one.
Often, I'll write and post something (whether a chapter or a short story) but keep thinking about it off and on, sometimes for days or weeks, which often leads to some great changes. I started chapters 1-2 of Archangel (my demented space opera) about twelve years ago (my first attempt at writing), but continued to revise it from time to time, adding more and more story depth and characters, until I was finally satisfied (twelve years later, lol).
Thank you for the review.
Dirk
Uh, oh... my entry is definitely in trouble now. THIS is the one! Wow! Well done, my friend!
This story is a brilliant mix of history, emotion, and wit! You really feel Adam’s heavy burden—the impossible “what if” moments that haunt him through decades of sorrow and regret. Yet, just when the tension feels overwhelming, the story throws in that hilarious, totally unexpected twist: Pampers as the secret weapon for his time-travel mission.
It’s a clever, heartwarming way to show that even in the darkest moments, there’s room for a little humor and humanity.
Adam’s story made me root for him, feel his fears and hopes, and then smile with relief. Dead moustache walking indeed — that line captured the tone, blending the gravity of history with a playful nod to the absurd. I love how it balances weighty themes with a lighthearted punch!
Gotta get my thinking cap on to beat this one!
Loved it!
MJ
Author
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Hi, MJ.
Who would have thought that all that was needed to take out Hitler was a modern diaper. If only.
By the way, based on some of Vern's ideas, I'm going to try to squeeze one more sentence into the Satan story. After he says, my kingdom for a do-over, the next (last) sentence will be identical to the first, with him screaming as he gets sucked into the lake of fire. :-)
Thank you for the review.
Dirk
Hi Dirk,
I LOVE the title for starters and the cover. Great short story!!!
I believe we all possess the opportunity to change the future in small and bigs ways. I'm reminded of Mordecai's response to Esther, "For such a time as this. " Esther 4:4.
I hope you might consider adding to it at some point, especially about how the grandfather died, and what life was like as a Jew back then. More about the roots of the family, too.
LOVED the ending!!! I suspect Adam won't freeze the second time, nor soil himself.
Happy writing!!! Good luck re: the contest!!! E. :) :)
Author
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Hi again. If only I had the ability to crank out written work like Stephen King. So many stories I could write, including expanding on this one. I enjoy research and learning new things if for no other reason than it keeps my brain in gear. That's the reason I started writing the first draft of what became my series of Archangel novellas. The first one is almost ready for (self-)publication. Given that Connor will be my priority going forward, I don't know when or if I'll finish the novellas. As a result, I'm going to give the first novella away for free and simply request reviews from those willing to leave one. It'll be interesting to see the feedback.
Thank you for the review. Let me know how the cat does with baths. I'd be curious to know how difficult that is.
Dirk
Dirk,
You detailed the dream of many people since Hitler to try and rid the earth of him before he could do any harm--and yet within the tale of missed opportunity--you manage to slip in a sly joke, one I did not see coming! If I could only have controlled my bladder, there would have been no WW2...lol...
I enjoyed this flight of whimsy, good entry!
dags:)
Author
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Thanks, Dagny.
Speaking of Hitler, at the end of my Connor trilogy, all the mortal/grave sinners get sucked into the Lake of Fire, which turns out to have a portal at the bottom to various punishment worlds, with the planetary conditions commensurate with how naughty one has been. Naturally, Hitler, Stalin, Vlad the Impaler, and all the other bastards from history end up on a hellish planet, where they are forced to live forever. Food? Drink? Toxic fumes? Nothing to worry about since they can't die. :-)
Satan and his demons? Think asteroid spiraling into a black hole. :-)
Thank you for the review.
Dirk
Morag Higgins