Minisode: Tapestry

MUSIC: INTRODUCTION MUSIC.

NARRATION
Hey there! It’s Dania Ramos, Timestorm series creator. We’ve got a couple of minisodes for you before we return our full episodes in August.

In today’s minisode, we’ll learn more about the mysterious tapestry Josie’s been hiding in the office of Taino Comics and Games. Remember when Janelly spots something hanging on the office wall...

JANELLY
Did you see that huge thing hanging on the wall? The design was, like...3D.

NARRATOR
But then it disappears?

JANELLY
...the huge hanging wall art thingy? It was gone.

JOSIE
It such a bulky tapestry. I'm sure it wasn't easy taking it down and hiding it so quickly.

NARRATION
Josie keeps the tapestry hidden, but she does share her secret with Datu. He’s the only other person who knows why this artwork is special.

JOSIE
It’s not like a door. There are rules. Steps that you have to take. / Now, place your hand on where the design appears 3-D. / Here. A solar-powered light cube. / There’s one more thing. A word you have to say.

DATU
A word? / Whoa!

JOSIE
Welcome to the other Taino Comics and Games!

DATU
I can’t believe we traveled all this way in an instant.

NARRATION
Datu’s known for while that the tapestry has powers. We’re gonna go back a few months top the moment when he first found out...


2017. TAÍNO COMICS & GAMES. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

A door opens, triggering a laser bell. A city street is heard. The door closes. 

DATU
(Chuckles) Never gets old.

DATU turns off the alarm and turns on the lights. He takes several steps and then stops in front of a tapestry hanging on the wall.

DATU
When did Josie hang this tapestry on the wall? That’s quite a work of art.

DATU walks behind the counter. He puts down his things and opens a cabinet. He doesn't notice

JOSIE as she appears from the tapestry.

JOSIE
Datu. You're early.

DATU
I didn't know you were here. Why didn't you turn the lights on?

JOSIE
I just got in.

DATU
I guess you came in through the back. I love this new tapestry.

JOSIE
My aunt made it for me.

DATU
She's talented. Those colors really pop. It looks like I could literally walk through that archway.

JOSIE
Literally. Titi Mari made a matching pair as a gift a while back.

DATU
A pair?

JOSIE
The other tapestry is hanging in the store in San Juan.

DATU
You left it in Puerto Rico?

JOSIE
I need one in each store because I use them to...how do I say this? The archways in the two tapestries...they create a vortex.

DATU
Like an opening in space and time?

JOSIE
Not in time. It’s more of a...mystical doorway between two locations. Every night after we close up, I do a...I guess you could call it a ritual. And then in an instant, I’m in San Juan.

DATU
But how’s this possible?

JOSIE
I had this strange dream one night that I was standing in front of one of the tapestries when I heard a voice...

FLASHBACK:

VOICE
Arco / energy / energía / locus / electricity / electricidad / locus / spark / chispa / connect / conexíon / energy / energía / locus

JOSIE wakes with a start.

JOSIE
Locus. That’s place in Latin.

FLASHBACK END.

JOSIE
I woke up standing in front of a tapestry with one of my hands on the archway. I knew I needed to connect the tapestry to a source of energy, so I reached out to touch a desk lamp. That’s when I saw a word glowing in the archway.

FLASHBACK:

JOSIE
How’d that just...appear? Locus.

JOSIE gasps.

FLASHBACK END.

JOSIE
Suddenly I was across the room. That was my first time traveling through the vortex. I work my way up.

FLASHBACK:

JOSIE
Alright, kitchen to the bedroom. Connecting to the energy of...the microwave. There's the glowing word.

FLASHBACK END.

JOSIE Next trip was from the apartment to my store down the street.

FLASHBACK:

JOSIE
Connecting to...huh, light switch works.

FLASHBACK END.

JOSIE
And then from the western side of the island back to the store on the east.

FLASHBACK:

JOSIE
Across the island, I go. Locus.

JOSIE gasps.

FLASHBACK END.

JOSIE
I started to plan for the ultimate test: a trip between Newark and San Juan. If I could make it happen, I’d be able to be there for both of my stores. Literally.

DATU
Like you always wished you could be.

JOSIE
Then Hurricane Maria hit. There we were, trying to survive. The trip seemed impossible. No power. No spark. No vortex. Until I realized we had another source of energy.

JOSIE tosses DATU a solar-powered light cube.

DATU
Solar-powered cube lights. We packed hundreds of these during the hurricane donation drive in the fall.

JOSIE
And they were the spark that connected me to the vortex. First chance I got, I came to Newark carrying this tapestry.

DATU
And you left the other behind in San Juan so you could travel back and forth.

JOSIE
Loaded up with batteries, water bottles, and fruit cups that the neighbors could use.

DATU
You should have told me. I would have helped.

JOSIE
I didn’t want anyone to find out. If word about something like this gets out...I don’t know if the world is ready.

DATU
I won’t say anything.

JOSIE
I better hide the tapestry.

DATU
Lydia doesn’t come in until the afternoon. And we’ve still got some time before customers start showing up.

JOSIE
Maybe we should have a small office built. It’d be easier to keep this a secret.

DATU
A private office. Good idea. Hey, Josie? That word that appears on the tapestry...

JOSIE
The same word I heard in my dream.

FLASHBACK:

VOICE
Locus.

Echo on "LOCUS."

FLASHBACK END.

DATU
What did you say it was again?

JOSIE
I didn’t.

DATU
I had to try.

CREDITS

MUSIC: THEME SONG: "IN THE TIMESTORM" INSTRUMENTAL.

NARRATION
This minisode of Timestorm was written by Dania Ramos. Audio engineering, sound design, and theme song were by Michael Aquino. Josie was played by Angelica Ubiera. Datu was played by Joel Arandia.

Timestorm is produced by Cocotazo Media and is a proud member of TRAX from PRX. To learn more about TRAX, visit TRAX dot fm: that’s t-r-a-x-dot fm. If you enjoy the show, ask your parents to subscribe to Timestorm on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or the Kids Listen App.

Timestorm is produced in Essex County, New Jersey, which is situated on the traditional territory of the Leni Lenape people. As always, thanks for listening.

ATABEY
Witness. Find. Remember.