Standing next to him [TFWC]

My entry to
Writting Contest: A Time Travelers Friend

Thursday May 20th 1997

"The Devil is only cares about the Truth.
So much so that if the truth were born on
earth he would crucify it, just to make
sure that it was the truth. And then he
would complain that the Truth is dead."

Daoud rolled back from his computer.
"What crap. Why is the internet full of these ''I'm the Holy Spirit, ask me a question'' threads. How come it's never a Lost Prince, or a Time Traveler. It's always some junk about a ''secret invention'' and ''I just need your help'', or ''The Holy freakin Ghost'' with all the answers."

Daoud checks his email.

þ Desperately nned access to a wall socket
þ Hi, My name is Prophesor Yagi Minamoto I need your help.
þ You can help me. Please don't delete.
þ This device will change everything, and it fits in your hand.

Daoud chooses select-all, then delete, and closes his browser in disgust. He gets up goes to the fridge and takes out the orange juice. A small tumbler from the cabinet and he pours a shot. Closes the cabinet, puts up the juice and closes the fridge. The Juice is gone in one gulp. After pacing a bit he goes back to the computer. Opens a browser and clicks on TV listings.

"Groan. Why is nothing good ever on."

He logs into Facebook.

"Update status: Why are there never any time travelers on the Internet?"

Just before he clicks it through he hears a voice.

Because I'm hoping to be the first?
"What the hell!"
Are you Daoud Smith, born 1984, Father of Mariam, and Meka'il?
"Who said that! What the Hell!"
You can hear me! It's working. I can't believe it's working!
"Neither can I. Why am I thinking to myself. Is this a Jinn? WHAT IS YOUR NAME."
I'm Yahya, you're great great grandson! I'm talking with you through a time machine.
"Bear droppings. I'm deaf, an no machine can talk to me. Obviously you are voice in my head, and a Jinn. I cast you out!
I didn't know you were deaf. The Facebook archives don't say anything about it. Though people did have a bad habit back then of not recording their medical conditions.
"Right. I'm deaf. So there is no possible way you are communicating with me. With a time machine. ha! Or any other machine."
The tunnel will collapse soon, so get ready to write this down. The winning Powerball numbers for the December 17th drawing in 1997 are going to be 3, 5, 13, 18, 45. The reason you can hear me is probably because time travel only works through DNA and family lineage. The mathematical sequence of DNA being one of the few constants in the universe unaffected by light scale. As the variations are quite vast every fifth generation it is possible to have the same ...

Daoud just sits there in the dark room with the monitor glowing on his face. The lottery numbers written in an open notepad. He doesn't move for a moment. Then, without saving the file, or turning off the computer, he gets up, walks to his room and goes to sleep.

Wednesday December 17th 1997

TV announcer: "and 45! That concludes our drawing
for the evening and as usual we
wish everyone a good night!"

Daoud clicks off the TV
"Holy #" he thinks to himself, and looks at the winning lottery ticket in his hand. He immediately logs onto Facebook and posts an update. "I'm deaf! Do you hear me world. I'm deaf as a freakin rock." and clicks post.

"Now to collect my winnings."

Daoud drives over to Jimbo's house and bangs on the door. Laughs at himself in his haste and buzzes the light frantically. A few moments later Jimbo answers.

Jesus Daoud I didn't think a deaf person could be so laoud.
Reading his lips Daoud signs to him "Did you see the Powerball drawing this evening?"

"Slow down. No." Jimbo signs back "Why?"

Daoud holds up his ticket very slowly as a smile spreads across his face.

"No way." Jimbo signs: "No way! How many numbers did you get. Come in."

Daoud and Jimbo go to the computer and Jimbo looks up the numbers

"All. Omg that's sixty six million dollars. Holy # man. Holy #!"

Daoud picks the ticket up off the computer desk slowly like it's going to bite him.

"Can I represent you man! Translate for you?"
"That's why I'm here."

Daoud and Jimbo grin at each other like a couple kids.

edit on 13-9-2013 by mikegrouchy because: (no reason given)

Friday December 19th 1997

...as there are two verified winners of the Powerball it will be divided equally. That gives your client Mr. Daoud Smith thirty three million dollars. Does your client wish to remain anonymous or will he allow us to publicize his winning?

The Lawyer looks to Jimbo, Jimbo to Daoud.
"Daoud gestures with his right thumb to his mouth"
Anonymous says Jimbo

"Very well. But I must advise you Mr. Smith that you will be missing out on some great opportunities, and offers. Many of our lottery winners are selected for free cruises, and invited to various resorts for housewarmings." The Clerk looks at Mr. Smith. "No? Well the taxes will be higher if ... do you have an accountant Mr. Smith, I would be happy to recommend one..."

The Lawyer speaks up. "I'll be handling Mr. Smiths taxes. If we may proceed."

Of course, of course. I just seems a shame, to miss out on all the free country club offers, the chance to meet famous people, the invitations to show openings... No? Ok. The clerk pulls out a sheet, then another and lays them on the desk. The Federal taxes are forty percent, If you will just sign here, and here. the clerk indicates the bottom of both pages.

The Lawyer picks up the pages and looks them over. "Why does this say 'County Tax Form' at the bottom?"

"Does it? Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Ummm. Roots around in the desk. "Ah yes here they are." Produces two pages that look identical.

The Lawyer reads them over carefully. "Ok Mr. Smith, these look right." They take some while filling out all the information and signing them.

Now we come to the issue of State taxes. If you will just step into the next room.

The clerk rises with the signed papers and moves to a door, the Lawyer following close behind. The Lawyer stops in the doorway. "Why is there a Camera in here."

Oh, we do that for all our State Winners, incase they need to verify to the bank who they are.

Lawyer: We expressly desired to remain anonymous. On behalf of my client I must refuse this intrusion of Mr. Smith's privacy.

Now Mr Smith, this isn't for publicity, this is for your protection. We don't want just anyone to go to the bank and claim they are you do we?

Lawyer"I want a guarantee in writing. Otherwise my client says No. Got that? No."

The clerk returns to the office and closes the door. Pulls two more sheets out of the drawer and hands them to the lawyer.


Two hours later they are at the bank with the first of ten certified checks for 1.32 million dollars. Daoud and Jimbo look angry.

Four hours later they leave the bank. All three look angry.

"What does that mean we have to wait for the check to clear."
Jimbo signs: "It means they are gonna sit on the money for a a couple of weeks and make interest on it, before you get to spend any of it. That's what it means."

edit on 13-9-2013 by mikegrouchy because: (no reason given)

Friday May 20th 1998

"I've tried hard to make friends,
but nobody wants to be a friend.
They're too busy being evil.
That makes me sad. : (
-Fancy the Famous Bard

Daoud is checking his email inbox

þ Royal Bank of Scotland Plc Official Message
þ Royal Bank of Scotland UK Online Service
þ TREAT AS URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL
FROM NEW GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
þ Compliment" From Mr. John, Please Reply Back

"Same old email scams." Daoud selects all and clicks delete. "Let's play some Ultima Online."

One hour later


"This freakin server is overrun with freakin PK's. Why is it that only level 5's get to go anywhere. I can't believe I'm thinking of joining an evil guild."

Daoud sips his orange juice, and then begins his ghost run to recover the online body of his character. There are campers waiting for him gathered around his characters body. He sets down the Orange Juice, and adjusts his flat screen. "Holy #, they actually have a camp fire set up."

One of the campers types out, "Don't worry dude, you were a good sport. We won't kill you again."

"Yeah, we already got your stuff.

"No point."

"It's cool man"

"We'll even escort you back to town."

Unsure, Daoud approaches. Suddenly a trade window opens. There is some beef jerky in it.

"Here take this."

Daoud accepts the trade"Thanks" And eats one of the slices.

The group erupts in laughter

"Cannibal! LoL."
"Lewl, eating himself!?"
"What do you taste like?"
"LoL."
"Lol"
"OMG whut a noob."

Daoud has his character throw a bedroll on the ground and logs out instantly. "What the hell is wrong with people."

"Being anonymous gives them a sense of power."

"What the hell. I hear voices again."

Are you Daoud Smith, born 1984, Father of Mariam, and Meka'il?

"Yes. But you never did give me your name."

"Write this down. The winning lottery numbers for the July 29 1998 drawing are 8, 39, 43, 45, 49."

Daoud opens a notepad and writes it down "8, 39,43,45,49. Why do you sound so faint?"

"My name is Yahya. I told you that. You told me you were deaf right?"

"Yes."

"We talked about that a lot. Look, In 2001 a company called Facebook is going to launch. Buy stock, and put the fact that you are deaf in your profile. Ok?"

"Umm, ok."

"What is your online activity like right now. I mean where do you write or post anywhere under a username or alia..."

"Hello? Yes I play Ultima Online. Hello?"

For a long while Daoud just sat there listening in his head, but nothing. Nothing at all.

Friday July 31st 1998

...as there are twelve verified winners of the Powerball it will be divided equally. Out of two hundred and fifty million that gives your client Mr Daoud Smith twenty million, eight hundred and thirty three thousand, three hundred and thirty three dollars. Does your client wish to remain anonymous or will he allow us to publicize his winning?

The clerk looks stiff, with eyes that keep darting to the side door.

The Lawyer looks to Jimbo, Jimbo to Daoud.
"Daoud gestures with his right thumb to his mouth"
Anonymous says Jimbo

The side door bursts open, and police officers fill the room. There is a woman with them who mirrors their words in sign language.

Mr. Daoud Smith, you are under arrest for suspected Lottery fraud. According to 18 U.S.C. 2326 there is up to a 10 year penalty enhancement when the fraud is carried out by telemarketing. We have a search warrant, and federal agents are entering your house as we speak.

The Lawyer is up out of his chair "This is outrageous!"

A police man puts a copy of a warrant in his face. "Sit down!"

Two days later.

"All Rise!
The Judge enters the court room and takes his place

"You may be seated

Judge, without looking up: Mr Daoud Smith.
Daoud and his lawyer rise
Judge: "Bail is set at two hundred thousand dollars. Your share of the winnings are to be held until the FBI finishes it's investigation of any connection between the twelve winners. And Mr. Smith." The judge looks him in the eye. Don't leave the State."

Saturnday March 20th 1999

"Greetings
I am a time traveler from the year 2036
I am on my way home after retreiving an IBM 5100
computer system from the year 1975."

Daoud is in a small cramped apartment reading a bulky CRT monitor. "Obvious Hoax. Time travel is only possible through one's own DNA. No point in ruining his fun though." And he logs off for the evening.

"Maybe you should. Ruin his fun, that is.
"Yahya! Is that you.! I can barely hear you."
Are you Daoud Smith, born 1984, Father of Mariam, and Meka'il?
"I don't have any kids. None that I know of."
...are you ... uh... deaf?
"Yes I'm deaf. I told you that the last two times. Why are you so soft. I can barely hear you."
Write this down. The winning lottery numbers for June 30, 1999 are 5, 10, 12,...
"I don't want your damn lottery numbers. Why are you so hard to hear? Can you hear me?"
... 20, 40. Our timelines must be diverging too far. This will probably be the last contact possible unless....
"... Unless?"
"Hello?"
"Unless?"

Daoud sits there for a while. Then he gets up and walks to the bedroom, and into the closet. On the top shelf he pulls down a scrap book and takes it to the bed. Opening it from the back he leafs through pages of lawyers bills, until towards the front he finds a picture of his graduating class at University. He brushes his finger along the hair of the girl standing next to him in the picture.

-Fade to black-
-Cue Music-
-Roll Credits-

Great story, and uniquely formatted.

It had me wondering about the plot, so I had to read it again. Interesting.

SnF.