I am searching for a book I read as a young boy (1980's to early '90s). I don't really recall many key facts other than I think it was either one boy or two brothers, from possibly war time, being transported to the future where they attend a school. At lunch they scan their wrists to pay, and the time projects on their wrist. One of them had a taste for a dessert that, when you peeled the lid back, turned into a spoon to eat it with.
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A Tale of Time City?– sq33GFeb 14, 2013 at 22:46
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@sq33G - You're right. That's exactly what he's described. I've credited you in my answer.– ValorumFeb 2, 2014 at 19:02
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possibly the same as scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/197340/… (which is newer but has an accepted answer)– OtisOct 25, 2018 at 16:19
1 Answer
Per sq33G's earlier comment, the book you're describing is almost certainly "A Tale of Time City" by Diane Wynne Jones;
Pots that have lids that turn into spoons;
The pots, Vivian found, were sort of stuck to the air. She had to give a little pull to get them loose. She discovered that you peeled back the lid, and if you needed a spoon or a fork, the lid shrivelled itself into a spoon or fork shape. Algae soup was not at all pleasant, like salty pond water
Paying by scanning their wrists
“I’m paying,” said Jonathan, and recited a string of numbers. “Yes, but are you in credit?” said the waitress. “Show.” Jonathan pressed one of the buttons on his belt and held his hand out with a row of signs shining on his palm. The waitress looked, nodded, and pressed buttons on the pink matching belt round her pajamas
There's a complete (and I assume copyright friendly) version available online here.