52stories

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“Money doesn’t necessarily have any connection with happiness. Maybe with unhappiness.”

- J. P. Getty

The social policies of students in Clemmons High School, North Carolina, mirrored the time honored tradition of a social caste system. Jocks and pretty people enjoyed popularity, while smarts and integrity held much less influence.

Lucas Timberland and Aaron Ringus sought a quiet place to eat lunch, away from the boisterous cafeteria, prying eyes, or cheerleaders ready for yet another joke at their expense.

“Oh, I have something cool to show you.” Aaron said sitting down on concrete curb. Technically not off school grounds, the duo retreated to their own semi-imposed solitude. “I know what I’m going to buy first.”

“Have you finished the encryption algorithms yet? It’s never going to sell if you don’t do the work.” Lucas, a far more practical man, viewed their joint ‘business’ of software creation as a real job. Of the two he’d actually had a real job, nothing special, just slinging trash and hash at a local fast food chain. Aaron on the other hand, ‘worked’ for his father in an office, and pretty much did nothing from 3:30 until 5:00 pm.

“I’m close. Besides, I still need the revisions to the main kernel if we’re going to make this sync universally. I’ve hammered out the Vista changes, and Linux updates, but you never let me work on your precious Mac.”

“Lisa is special.” Lucas bit into his sandwich. It was ham and cheese again.

“I still can’t believe you NAMED your computer. It’s not even a Lisa model. Didn’t most of those end up in a landfill?” Aaron laughed, not that he was particular about any brand of computer, but he did marvel at Lucas’ almost religious devotion to all things Steve Jobs.

“Shut-up.” The words were slurred by food. Lucas swallowed. “Okay, what did you pick?”

This was a long-standing game between the two of them, ‘What would you buy first’ was a game they played to give them inspiration, that one day Google, or Yahoo, or Microsoft or anyone else with deep pockets would buy their product. Collectively they had been programming a new security program that would totally and completely ensure safe financial transactions via the internet. When that day came, and the real money truck backed up to their door, they wanted to know exactly what to buy first.

“This!” Aaron handed over a color print-out of an eBay auction. Lucas simply stared at the picture.

“A fire truck? You want to buy a fire truck?” Lucas found himself at a loss for words. Other first-buys included a Playstation 3, a night out with friends, booze maybe. But a fire truck?

“Yeah, think about it. No more waiting for red-lights.” Aaron smiled, the smile of a man content with having just killed a wooly mammoth with his bare hands.

“Do you know how much gas this thing takes? Or where you’d park it? Come on, quick joking around.” Lucas tossed the paper back toward his friend.

“It holds one hundred gallons, and at three miles per gallon that’s about as far as your old Pontiac goes.” Aaron defended his choice, “Plus haven’t you seen in front of stores ‘fire lane’ that’s be for me. Besides haven’t you seen Backdraft?”

“Yeah, so?” Lucas furrowed his brow.

“Chicks man. Remember Jennifer Jason Leigh? On top of the truck? Huh, huh? If the fire truck is rockin’ don’t come a-knockin’.” Aaron swayed back and forth a little, enjoying this description just a little too much.

“Well, you’re not William Baldwin.” Lucas replied in between bites.

“Yeah, but the auction comes with a fully functional fireman’s uniform, and you know what they say about guys in uniform. Chicks can’t resist them!” Aaron began crunching his pretzels. Since first grade he’d never had a lunch packed by his mother without pretzels.

“Okay, man, I guess you’re right.” Lucas realized he wasn’t about to change his friend’s mind. Time would do that for him. While Lucas was far more practical about the game, Aaron had previously listed items such as, one of the Olsen twins, the international space station, or a helicopter. This was just another fading whim.

— 2 Months Later —

Lucas and Aaron sat in Aaron’s room. Still in their graduation gowns, they were working on their first real attempt at getting drunk. It was going to take a while sipping Bud Lite.
“Where are your parents?” Lucas was still unsure they should be doing this.

“Off to a party.” Aaron drained the last of his second can. He wasn’t eager for a third. He stood, a little buzzed, and flopped down in front of his computer.

“How’d they get more popular than us?”, Lucas asked, not really expecting a reply.

“Holey rusted metal batman!” Aaron said, not taking his eyes off the screen. “It’s Google! They’re interested! They’re interested!”

Lucas fell off his chair as he staggered to stand. Forgetting the drink, he scrambled to stand, and get next to his friend to read the news. The email was simple and to the point. Google’s reply was non-committal, but they did want a meeting.

“Do you know what this means?” Aaron smiled, “I’m getting that fire truck!”