Going back in time

Carrie: The old year is coming to an end, and the new year will be here soon. The start of a new year is a time when lots of people look forward and think about what they want to change. Many people make New Year's resolutions - like to do more sport, or to be more careful about how they spend their money. It's not too difficult to decide to make changes in the future, but do you ever wonder about the past? What would you change if you could get in a time machine, go back in time and make something good happen or, if you could stop something bad from happening? In the magazine right now, teens from the US tell us what they would change. And I'm here with Spot on team members Owen and Toby to find out what they would change.

Carrie:  Owen, let's start with you. What would you change?

Owen: If I could go back in time and change one thing, I'd stop the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. That's because his death started the First World War. After he was killed in Sarajevo, in 1914, lots of European countries started arguing over the murder. Within a month, the war had started.

Carrie: The twentieth century might have been a lot different if the First World War had never happened. Then maybe we wouldn't have had the Second World War either. And Toby, what would you change?

Toby: Well, I hope you don't think I'm greedy - Owen would have stopped a lot of people from being killed.

Carrie: Yes, most likely. But go on. Don't be shy.

Toby: I would have entered the UK lottery on 26 January, in 2006! The jackpot was 85 million pounds, and nobody had the right numbers. If I could go back, I would choose the right numbers and give lots of money to charity. Of course, I would keep some of the money myself too!

Carrie: Well I'm sure the charities would have been very happy to get your money.

Toby: What would you change?

Carrie: I'm not sure that I would change anything. I think there are lots of bad things that have happened - but I always wonder - if those bad things hadn't happened, would something worse have happened? The world is a scary place sometimes - but we're all here. I wouldn't change that!