Me, Myself and I

"Me, Myself and I" by William Tenn is a science fiction story set in motion by the antics of Galahad (Gooseneck) McCarthy, a wandering soul who finds himself in a time-travel experiment that quickly unravels into a series of hilarious mishaps. The story explores the butterfly effect and the strange results that can come from even a small change in the past. It all starts when Professor Ruddle hires McCarthy, a down-on-his-luck tramp, to work his time machine. Drawn in by the promise of cash, McCarthy travels way back to the Cretaceous Period, where against everyone's warning, he shifts a rock, triggering dramatic changes to the present – including the professor's changed life and a rushed wedding. Trying to fix the problem, McCarthy journeys back again creating multiple versions of himself, each with a different plan. The story cleverly looks at questions of identity, the importance of choices, and the confusing problems that arise when time is messed with, leaving the characters stuck in their own silly loop.