Money Matters
I got this idea while thinking how cool it would be to be able to see into the future. Alice discovers the stock market :). I did about 30 seconds of research, and the stock market was on the computer when Alice and Jasper joined the Cullens as far as I can tell.
Alice walked into the library, looking for something to do, and found Edward tapping away on the computer. On the screen, she saw some kind of line chart, many, many numbers, and the names of what appeared to be companies.
"What are you doing, Edward?" she asked.
"Keeping this family out of the poorhouse," replied Edward with a smile. He elaborated, "I'm on the stock market."
"What's that?" asked Alice.
"Well, it's like this. When you buy stocks, or shares, of a company, you're investing in it. If the company is successful, the value of the company, and therefore the shares, grows. If the company has a setback, the stocks decrease in value. Basically, you just buy shares at a low price and sell them at a high price to make money."
Alice thought about it, and then asked, "Can I try?"
"Sure," Edward agreed. He was preoccupied with his latest music composition, and eager to get back to it, and so didn't think very thoroughly about the request. "Just don't buy too many shares of the same company. It would give us power over the company, and of course, attract attention."
"Will do," Alice replied, and so, Edward left the room and Alice took his vacated seat, and started working.
8 hours later…
Alice walked out of the library after selling all of her stocks and investing all the money on one company and went to find Edward. She found him in his room, reading a book.
He saw her, finished the rest of the book in about five seconds, and turned his attention to her. "How did the stock market go?"
"I'm up two million," Alice announced.
It took Edward around two entire seconds to process this information. Then his jaw dropped. "Umm…Alice, there was only one hundred thousand in that portfolio."
"I know," Alice said smugly.
"Well," Edward said, leaning back and running his hand through his hair, still looking slightly surprised. "I guess this solves our money problems."
"We were having money problems?" asked Alice, worried that her and Jasper's presences were responsible.
"Well, no. But if we were, they'd be solved," said Edward.
"Oh," Alice said, relieved. "In that case, I think I'll go shopping."
"Go ahead. You're worth several million dollars."
"Edward?"
"Yes?"
"The company I invested all the money in has hit the top of its bubble and is going to crash in around 60 seconds. Bye." And off shopping she went.
"Argh," Edward muttered, and jogged to the library (in less than a second) to avert potential disaster.
Of course, after all the stocks were sold, Alice was worth several billion dollars.