Omniscience
The thing about original stories is that you don't have to worry too much about keeping people in character; it's perfectly normal for people to be one way in a minute, then another way the next.
Claimer: I'm not too sure if 'claimer' is a real word. But I'm scared of looking it up and finding out that I've made a mistake ten times in a row. Oh, and I own all of the ideas portrayed in this story. That is, until some random prick comes along and gets the rights to it in his name. But we'll all know…check the publishing date.
10.
"But in all things considered, you just lost ten years of your life." Keith stated worriedly. "Isn't that good cause for concern for you?"
Richie thought about it for a moment. "Nope. I've heard that people who got their lifetimes shaved off by the decade die suddenly. At least in this way, I won't have to worry about a painful demise."
All was silent for a full minute.
"Good idea, Richie," Lisa said in congratulatory tone. "Keith, what am-"
"Lisa. Stop." Smith warned.
"Hmph. Whatever." She rolled her eyes in distaste. "What happens now then, Richie? We plan his memorial service for the end of the month?"
"I can envision some lilies here, chrysanthemums there." Richie answered. "I think his mom likes those flowers. Maybe she'll like them on his casket."
"…Damn, Richie. That's too morbid to be a joke." Keith furrowed his brows, now upset.
"That wasn't a joke. It's no secret that you're going to die. We gotta fix you up with all the things life has to offer." His friend said with a grin. "We're going to have to fix you up with some sort-a bucket list, since you're going to…um…"
"Kick the bucket?" Lisa suggested.
"Yes." The boy took the answer and affixed it to his speech. "Kick the bucket. You'll have to learn how to drive, vote, drink liquor, win a race, lose your virginity-"
"Hold up on that!" Keith sputtered like a dying motor-vehicle engine. "I don't think I care for any of that. Besides, the Oracle from 2006 seemed alright with dying. On the last day, she knew all, so she knew what death was like and she wasn't scared. Why should I?"
His two friends shared a look. "I thought you would know everything." Lisa said.
"Do librarians know everything?" Keith shot back. "And yet they're surrounded by vast collections of knowledge. I think I'm the same. It's like I just get the answer from somewhere, and I say it. But you have to ask me directly. But don't, alright?"
Lisa thought for a moment. "There is something I want to ask, though. Let me just think it over carefully…and get the wording right…"
After thinking it over in silence for around two minutes, she spoke again. "Where can I buy the winning ticket to the Supreme Grand Lottery today at the precise moment when it's the next ticket that reels off?"
Richie who had listening to the question could only marvel at how intricate the wording was to form one question. He eagerly turned to Keith whose eyes seemed to have rolled upwards and his aura changed.
"It will be available in the New Haven Mart at two hours, fifty-one minutes and 34 milliseconds after midday." Keith shook a bit, before his aura reverted back to his previous one. "Damn, that feeling never changes. Hope I won't have to get used to it." He looked at Lisa, who seemed to be writing something. "I don't to recall the details of what I said. What was it?"
"I wrote the time."
"But the New Haven Mart is clear on the other side of Town. And school lets out at two thirty. And-"
"Minors can't buy tickets. Gambling." Keith finished. "What're you gonna do with useless info?"
"Guys, it's two hundred million. At the very least, one of us, and I mean one of you two, has to convince their older sibling to go buy it. With our instructing, of course." She said with a smile. "It'll work out."
"I sure hope so." Richie grumbled. "I wanna cut of it."
"I'll share."
"Only the buyer of the ticket can claim it." Keith deadpanned. "Not you. So that person has to transfer all two hundred to your account. And won't it look weird for someone to just send two hundred mil to a teenage girl's bank account?"
"Questions." Richie said in a sing-song voice.
"I'll pass." Keith muttered. "I've had enough of questions ruining my life. Or what's left of it, anyway." He leaned back in his seat and rested his head on his hands raised behind it. "What the heck will you do with that much cash, anyway?"
"As a girl, I have expensive tastes."
"And ten years short of a full life."
"At least my wish has worth, Richie." She said coldly. "I don't like all this pessimistic energy. Cheer up! We'll all be living the good life!"
Keith became very downcast. He sighed deeply, and he sounded as if he was crying.
"I won't be 'living' with you guys. I'll be dead, remember?"
Lisa frowned, before she patted his back. "Look, I'm sorry about all of this. It's just that the thought of getting rich- ugh. This isn't coming out right. Rich, help me out?"
"What she means is that we're here for you, buddy. Right there until you're dying breath."
Keith couldn't help but smile, albeit wryly. "Again with the twice-damned morbidity. Will you ever change?"
"Life is never the same, but death is always the same culmination of it." His friend replied.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Now we're getting somewhere. At first, I was thinking of using the lottery and a bucket list to be the main idea of the story, but then I said "Nah!"
I left a 'story' window open, and I'm going to exploit it. I've even taken the liberty of planning the whole plot of it…
Valete omnes,
MRAY 4TW.