Eddie walks into Little Richards Pizza Parlor and sits in the same booth he always sits in. He patiently waits for the beautiful red headed waitress to take his order. The sound of Elvis coming from the jukebox fills the room. “Well hello there stranger, long time no see.” “Hey sweet thing, how are you today?” “I’m doing much better now that I see your mug!” “Likewise, likewise!” Ed responded. Eddie and Wendy have been dating for a few months now, but they loved to act like strangers inside the parlor. It gave them a sense of excitement. “Well what can I get for you?” “Umm, I’ll take one slice of pepperoni and a coke.” “That all?” “Also, what time do you get off?” “I get off in an hour.” “Maybe we could walk to the pier?” “That would be great!” Wendy says with excitement. “Perfect! I’ll be right here.”
After Wendy gets off work the couple walk down to the pier. The share a few laughs and stop for a funnel cake. They walk all the way to the edge of the pier and look out into the bay. “Wendy, I’ve been doing some thinking.” “Uh oh! What did I tell you about that!” They both share a laugh. “No but really. I really like you Wendy, and I’ve been thinking.” Ed reaches in his pocket and pulls out a black ring box. “I love you Wendy, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Ed drops down to one knee. “Will you marry me?” A rush of emotions flow through Wendy. She feels shock, awe, and excitement. “Yes yes yes!” Eddie places the ring on her finger and they share a moment together at the end of the pier. The sound of carnival music and waves from the ocean drown out into the background.
It’s been four years since Uncle Tony asked Eddie to join the family business. Eddie’s worked his way up the ranks and is now Uncle Tony’s number three guy, behind his own son Jimmy. Eddie and Jimmy are like brothers. Only a few months apart in age and they’ve lived together since Eddie’s parents accident 12 years ago. “I’m actually glad your here Eddie, I got something I need you to take care of.” Uncle Tony’s voice brought Eddie back to reality. Eddie could feel his heart pounding in his chest. His hands clamming up. His legs becoming weak. No one ever left the family business, especially not for a girl. Eddie was pretty arrogant, but this still made his hands shake. “Well Uncle Tony, I actually have something I need to talk to you about. You see, I really appreciate all you’ve done for me. Taking me in after my parents died and raising me as your own. Letting me join the family business and looking after me. I really appreciate it, but I want out.” “Out? What do you mean you want out, Ed?” “I want out the business. I met this girl and I want to be with her. But I want her to be safe and she can’t be safe if I’m still a part of the family business.” “I see. You know Ed, your father was supposed to be head of the business but he opted out when he met your mother. You probably wouldn’t be here if he didn’t. So I give you my blessing. I hope she makes you happy, and I wish you nothing but the best. We’re still family and we’ll always be here for you Ed.” “Thank you, Uncle Tony.”
As long as he could remember, Jacob always wanted to be a doctor. He’s always wanted to help people. Jacob was a kind young man, with a good heart, but med school was so difficult and so competitive. He couldn’t afford the education and what he learned in class never stuck. He tried hard to understand the material, but couldn’t. Maybe because he’d rather go for a walk or be around friends, than be studying.
While scrolling through his phone one day, Jacob learns of another way he may be able to heal people. An ancient method, but something guaranteed to work. Jacob skimmed through a few articles and landed on an Amazon link for a book. A book on ancient healing spells. Magic? Well, it’s only $2.99, what the worst that could happen?
A few days later Jacob receives a package at his door. The book of spells. Now what? How can he find out if this works? He begins skimming through the book and stumbles upon a spell that brings back people’s memories. Jacob’s grandmother, who now lives in a nursing home, suffers from dementia. This could be a great way to test this magic, and if it doesn’t work then he only wasted $2.99.
Later that day, Jacob goes to the nursing home and casts the spell on his grandmother. He follows each step very carefully and miraculously it works! His grandmother remembers everything. Jacob is so excited he performs the same spell on everyone in the nursing home who has memory loss. Then he heals everyone else from any other disabilities they have.
He’s so happy with his new found power that he turns his little magic show into a business. He begins charging people little nothing to heal very serious illnesses and disabilities. He’s very open about where he found this magic and the book he found on Amazon. Over the course of two months, Jacob heals hundreds of people.
Exactly 66 days after healing his grandmother, Jacob receives a phone call from his father informing him that his grandmother has passed away. I few hours later, Jacob begins receiving a lot of phone calls from numbers he doesn’t know and people he’s never met, all telling him that their loved one has died.
Jacob is very confused about what is happening. Over the next few days dozens more call complaining about the deaths of loved ones and many people threaten to take legal action. Jacob is arrested and charged with 207 cases of manslaughter.
The prosecution’s first piece of evidence, an excerpt from Jacob’s book of healing spells that clearly states that this magic comes with a price. 66 days after each ritual, death would come for whoever was affected by the spell. Jacob missed this because he never felt the need to read the entire book. It was only $2.99, what’s the worst that could happen?
Matt wasn’t doing so good. His grades were suffering and he was ready to call it quits. No one in his family ever graduated from college. Why’d he think he would be the exception.
He knew he had to tell his mom he was going to drop out. It would be a tough conversation but she’d understand.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and stared at his mom’s number for a few seconds re-evaluating if this was the right choice. He didn’t have the will to keep going, so he makes the call.
To his surprise his little brother answers. “Hey Matt!” answers Wyatt.
“Oh, hey buddy. Where’s mom?” responds Matt.
“She’s cooking. Grandpa Jack is coming over for a dinner.” says Wyatt.
“Oh nice. Can I...”
“We’re all so proud of you, Matt! Guess what! I had to write an paper in my English class about my hero or someone who inspires me and I wrote my paper on you! I wrote about how you’re the first person in our family who’s going to graduate from college and how I’m going to be the second. I was even the only person in my class to get a 100%! Isn’t that awesome?” Wyatt says with great enthusiasm.
“Great job buddy! I’m so proud of you for working hard and keeping up with your school work! Listen, umm.. I got a study session in a couple minutes. Tell mom and Grandpa Jack I say hi, okay.” says Matt.
“Okay, I will. It was great talking to you!”
“It was great talking to you too!” says Matt, feeling much better.
“Ok, talk to you later.” says Wyatt.
“Ok, love you!”
“Love you too, Matt!” says Wyatt.
“Bye!”
I grab my sister’s hand and pull her towards the cliff edge with me. She nods slowly in my direction. Then we jump.
I warned her that it would be ice cold, but once you hit the water, it’s freezing temperature still surprises you.
Once we resurface she holds on to me tight. She’s never been a strong swimmer and she’s always been afraid of the ocean. I’m surprised I convinced her to jump off the edge of the world.
“Impossible!” He muttered.
“No! Please dad, you have to help me! I need the money.” retorted his son.
“You want me to give you $1400 for a beach trip and you’re going by yourself?”
“No dad, I’m meeting people there.”
“Son, I’m not stupid. I know you don’t have many friends. That’s alright, you don’t need a lot of friends. But tell me what this is really about. Why do you want to go on this trip?”
“There’s.. there’s this girl..” the son begins but gets cut off.
“That’s all I need to know.” interrupted the dad.
“Huh?” he sees his dad going through his wallet. “So you give me the money?” the son asked.
“On a few conditions. One, you treat this girl with the utmost respect. Two, no drugs. Three, use protection. I don’t need any grandkids right now, I can wait a few years. And four, if you get into ANY trouble you promise me you’ll call me first. Deal?”
“Deal!”
The world is changing. It’s always changing. Life now, looks different than it did 50 years ago. 50 years ago, life looked different than 50 years before that.
People change, cities change, technology changes, culture changes.
Very few things stay the same. But a lot of times, the things that don’t change, are the most beautiful and often most forgotten.
The sun has been rising in the east and setting in the west since time began. But it’s never lost it’s beauty. Every year, without fail, the leaves on the trees change color. This is something we know and anticipate, but it’s beauty never ceases to amaze me.
Every night, when the sky is clear, I like to look up and stare at the stars. Every night they are there to welcome me, and every night I’m in awe of their beauty.
No matter how much the world changes, beauty never does.
It’s been 20 years since humans left Earth. From what I hear, us and Russia destroyed the planet and forced us all up here. We Americans live in the Mayflower. The Russians live in the Ushakov. I only know this because my father told me, before they moved me away. He was there that day. The day Russia attacked.
Now we’re stuck up here, searching for a new planet. They separate kids from their families at age 12. I haven’t seen my family in 4 years. But in two years, I graduate. Every child gets assigned a role when we’re born. I’ve been assigned to be an engineer like my dad. I’ll probably get to work with him when I graduate.
I often wonder what Earth was like before the war. I’ve always read about animals and plants but I’ve never seen any. I’ve never felt the warmth of the sun or the mist of the ocean. I’ve never seen a bird fly and even a tree for that matter. I wonder, if our governments knew what life would be like up here, would they still have attacked each other?
I often wonder how much my people like me. It’s not easy being king. It’s not easy being responsible for the success or downfall of a country.
I have absolute power. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, to or with whoever I want. I know this is dangerous. I saw what absolute power did to my father. The people hated him. He was an awful king, filled with greed and corruption.
I don’t want to be anything like him. I loved my father, but he was a disgrace to our family name.
I want my people to love me. I want to go down in history as the greatest king the world has ever seen. But how? That’s the question that keeps me up at night. How do I do what’s best for my country. How do I know what’s best for my country? How do I know if I’m making the right decisions? How do I know who to trust and who to avoid?
There’s no books on this. No classes, no guides. Just a throne and a crown.
I’d like to think I’m a good man, but how would I know. I haven’t met very many good men. My father certainly wasn’t one, but my grandfather; people say he was a great king. I don’t remember him very well, I was very young when he passed.
I do however remember one thing he told me. “Power is like fire. If used carefully and wisely, it can light up a dark path. But if used foolishly, can destroy everything it touches.”
“I think I just met the happiest person in the world!” Little Billy exclaimed. “Oh really? Tell me about them.” said Mr. Brown. “Well Mr. Brown, her name is Sunflower. She has pretty blonde hair, big brown eyes, and loves to run!” said Little Billy. His eyes lit up as he spoke. Mr. Brown replies, “Oh wow! She sounds like a lot of fun!” “She is! I met her at the park. We played catch all afternoon, then her owner took her home. She was tired and got all dirty.” “Owner?” Mr. Brown thought to himself. Little Billy continued, “But he said that Sunflower will be back tomorrow and we can play all day! I’ll bring her some water tomorrow too! She has such a long tongue, she gets real thirsty I’m sure.” “Billy, does Sunflower has four legs and a tail?” asked Mr. Brown “Of course she does!” said Little Billy with a huge smile.
