“Is that what I think it is? A portal? I thought they only existed in movies and stories and video games. Should I jump? I mean, I am in the bathroom of this old pub. Where could it go?” He thought to himself. Then, he looked around. “Nobody here. I guess I’ll just…” He jumped.

A chorus of voices called out, “Norm!”

A postman patted him on the shoulder, “Hey, Norm. I’ve been saving your seat.”

Norman was confused. He had never seen anybody in this bar before. Least of all, the postman. Although he looked familiar. But he had never been in this bar before. Yet, people seemed to know his name. Or at least the shortened form of his name.

The postman who was saving the seat at the bar was patting that seat next to him. Norman shrugged. He bellied up to the bar. He was undecided on whether he was going to sit or not.

The bartender came up and asked, “The usual, Norm?”

“Uh…” Norman tried to smile. “What’s my usual?”

The bartender answered, “Just a beer.” He smiled.

Norman nodded. He sighed. Then, he decided that he would sit. The barstool scooted out from under him and he fell. He hit his head hard on the floor. He saw stars, and then black.

Norman looked up when the black cleared. He saw a different man than the one who had been saving his seat, and he realized that he was not a postman. He did not have any sort of uniform. He was looking down in concern.

“Dude. Are you okay?”

Norman felt the back of his head. There was a bump. It was tender.

The man reached his hand down. “You need a hand? Or do you need me to call an ambulance?”

Norman reached up. “Just a hand.”

The man helped him up. Norman looked around. The bar was gone. He was in the bathroom at the back of the old pub. He looked at the mirror where he had seen the portal. No portal now. He was confused. Then, he saw it. The reflection of a TV. The commercial just ended and an old TV show was on. He heard a chorus of voices cry out, “Norm!” He turned to see the TVs that were mounted over the urinals.

The man who had helped him followed his gaze. He chuckled. “Yeah. Those TVs are new. Kinda strange.” He smiled. “They usually play sports, but I guess it’s apropos to have _Cheers_ on.”

“Yeah. I guess.” Norman frowned. “But there was a portal.” He turned toward the mirror. “It seemed so real.”

The man laughed. “Right. That’s what shows like that are like. Like going back in time. Or going through a portal.” He looked at Norman. “You gonna be okay, dude?”

Norman shook his head. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

The man nodded to Norman. Then, he left the bathroom.

Norman stepped closer to the TV. He could have sworn he went through a portal before. A real portal. He really went there. He knew he did.

Norman got closer to the TV. He saw the postman pat the seat next to him. The postman looked like he was looking directly at Norman. “Hey, Norm. I’ll been saving your seat. Just in case you want to come back.” He winked at Norman. Or at least he seemed to.