Here is this week’s 100 word story for Friday Fictioneers. It is based on a true story that is happening now and on the photo prompt shown below courtesy of John Nixon. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for winding the ship’s chronometer, to Ben Franklin for my title and to R. A. Heinlein for everything he ever wrote. The stories of all contributors can be found here. Take some time to check them out. Never know what you’ll find.
(For those of you new to Friday Fictioneers, the founder, Ms. Madison Woods, is getting married this weekend. Talk about your ripples in a pond. She has changed many people’s lives for the better, even if she doesn’t know it yet, or modestly denies it.)
Madison, thank you for all that you’ve done. May you find the magic and love you have deserved for so very long. Aloha, D.
Life was a holding action in which I could see no future. Seventy years of bad decisions found me worn out and headed straight to hell on a bad road paved with good intentions.
Which is why I paid attention when my doppelganger walked into the store and placed a satchel full of hundred dollar bills on the counter.
He handed me an envelope and one-thousand dollars.
“Tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby. Bet the trifecta, 19-6-5. After you collect, open the letter and follow the instructions. Don’t screw this up. Don’t think. You’ll only hurt yourself. We’ll talk again twice. It’s time.”
Click this link.
Or not.
ironwoodwind 
The only thing I can think of here is Back to the Future. Sadly, I can offer nothing constructive because I can’t get past that thought
To me, the title says it all. As for “Don’t think. You’ll only hurt yourself.”, I got a good laugh out of that. I know a person or two like that. Or maybe they’re in office somewhere. Whatever.
janet
Dear Janet,
You are very kind to grace my story with such a nice comment. I thought about how I’d talk to myself should I ever find myself in that position. As for the office holders…we are in so much trouble.
Aloha,
Doug
The “talk again twice” line is so full of mystery and promise. Nicely done, Doug.
Dear Craig,
Thanks for the the comment, sir.
Aloha,
Doug
Oh I really like this one. It’s very Rod Sterling! 😀
Dear Linda,
Who is Rod Sterling? Googled him but they thought I wanted some guy named Rod Serling. I told them they were mistaken, but it didn’t help:)
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Ahahha! I can’t believe I wrote Rod Sterling! I think I’m getting to be like the guy in the picture, Doug . . .sigh . . . 😀
Doug, my phone isn’t letting me see what I am typing so I hope there aren’t any crazy typos when I’m done. You’re sweet and I hope the doppelgänger really did leave you with a good tip.
Dear Madison,
Today’s the day you are married. I am so happy for you! Stop reading this and get back to that honeymoon thing.
Aloha,
Doug
You and Buckminster been hittin the hookah, hangin in da cosmic garage? ? ? Love this one, Captain.
Dear L,
R.A. Heinlein’s packing the bowl. Nice to see your words here.
Aloha,
D.
I may need to borrow your time machine…
Dear Patti,
We all need to borrow my time machine. Come on over and get in line.
Aloha,
Doug
I knew I could rely on you to avoid the obvious take on the prompt. You didn’t disappoint and I’d love to read more. I liked the line “We’ll talk again, twice.” Full of innuendo. Well done.
Dear Sandra,
What? You didn’t want to read another wedding dress story? Glad I didn’t contribute to your canal rage this week. Thanks for reading. it’s nice to know you’re there.
Aloha,
Doug
do you think you can get Saturdays winning loto numbers from his? SWEET
Dear Patricia,
I guess if I could have, I would have already. That’s the trouble with time travel. You’ll know it the minute I get my machine running. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
I’d bet it all, no doubt. But I’m curious what will come next. I’d also hold that envelope up to a bright light. Maybe even try to steam the seal.
Dear JK,
Which is probably why he tells himself not to think….
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Do the deed, embrace the excitement.
Dear Joe,
Done deal.
Aloha,
Doug
Seventy years of bad decisions – yikes. Things aren’t starting off well…
Dear Denmother,
Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you. This guy has had a long run of bad luck. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
hmm hope he is a betting man
love the mystery
Dear MDW,
I think he’ll make the right decision. Thanks for reading and commenting,
Aloha,
Doug
I’m eager to know what happens next!
Dear Draliman,
Thanks for reading and commenting. Stay tuned.
Aloha,
Doug
But if he could go back to when he was seventy in order to win lots of money, why not choose twenty, when he would have had lots more time to spend it? I love the instructions. I think that’s just how I would talk to myself (actually that’s exactly how I do talk to myself).
Claire
Dear Claire,
The why’s are contained in the letter and in what he’ll say to himself in one of the two more times they will speak. Sharp eye and discerning mind you have.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Ooh – I am thoroughly intrigued!
Dear Freya,
Thanks for saying so.
Aloha,
Doug
I agree with Claire. I don’t why my future self has waited so long to save me…. Then again, after a certain age, I must admit the chances of a “future self” are dwindling!
Dear jan,
You never know with time travel. Take heart and stay fit. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Cool idea to include time travel! You wove it into the story very well, in between the suggestions of a complicated, difficult past (“seventy years of bad decisions”) and suggestions for the future (“open the letter, follow instructions”). Well written!
Dear ZW,
i couldn’t think of a dress story. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
There needs to be a next episode. Inquiring minds want to know.
Dear Russell,
Your wish is my command. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Very nice! I’ll be sure to pay attention to my future self now. 😉
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/reminiscing/
Dear Maggie,
I really enjoyed your story this week. Well done. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Good one Doug, enjoyed it.
Dear Summerstommy,
Glad to hear it. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Boy, I’d like that to happen! And I hope the me of the future still has some hair too. Entertaining story even without clicking any links.
Dear Perry,
Thanks for reading and commenting. The you of the future has a surplus of laugh lines crinkling your face. Hair? Future is not clear. Please try again later.
Aloha,
Doug
Oh, very nicely done! The more I read this, the weirder and better it gets! And yes, kudos to you for not taking the obvious path with this prompt.
Dear Lisa,
Thanks for re-reading and for the kudos. I appreciate them more than I can say.
Aloha,
Doug
La this is perfect.. Alderney references and a good story. Indeed I think back to the future.. Interesting with trifecta as the trifecta weekend challenge is about time travel 😉
Dear Bjorn,
Strange coincidence, eh? Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Vastly enjoyable story Doug. As one prone to ‘premonitions’, I’ve been hurting myself over the question of time for many years! Ouch! But in your story, there is the also the possibility that this is not the man’s doppelganger but somebody pretending to be so. I would like to read on, to find out what happened after he placed that bet. 🙂
Dear Ann,
What happens after he place the bet and collect s is that he reads the instructions and returns to the shop to tell himself what to do and to give himself the thousand dollars and the letter. And then there is one other small task…. More soon.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Ah, a sequel. 🙂
Hi Doug,
That part about not thinking, it’s one of my rules of life. This is one of those time travel tangles that makes your mind do gymnastics. I sat in front of my screen numbly thinking (thereby breaking my own rules) for quite a while. Very far out and thought provoking take on the photo. Ron
Dear Ron,
Thanks for thinking. If you think reading it was hard, you should have been in my head as I wrote it. Thanks for reading and commenting. (and stay tuned.)
Aloha,
Doug
Does the “We’ll talk again twice” refer to the two of you (doppelganger and you) carrying on the two possible conversations on the morrow depending on whether you follow his instructions or not? To be perfectly frank, I think I’d keep the cool thou and bag the track. Doppelgangers are notoriously capricious creatures.
Dear VB,
The ‘two more times’ line is spoken because the doppelganger has already had both conversations. Some would keep the cash and pass on all else. Parallel universes are made from such decisions. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Sounds like he has nothing to lose.
Go for it!
Dear Dawn,
Exactly right. Takes some impetus to make that leap of faith. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
I did click on the video to learn all about the problem with the source of origin. Is the second link for a Tumblr account page? My computer is wacky these days. This is fascinating stuff, Doug. Well done!
Dear Amy,
Yes, the second link is to Tumblr sites that feature the meme photo ‘Nothing Really Mattress’, a play on words and a countervailing opinion to the first link about Ontological paradoxes.
Thanks for reading and commenting in such a kind way.
Aloha,
Doug
Oh, thank you. I thought so. I just wanted to be sure. Frequently, I click on a link and it takes me somewhere else first. Funny, see, I read it as “Nothing Really Matters.” Ah! Good one.
You’re welcome. Always a pleasure to read your work.
Aloha!
Aloha Doug!
Dopplegangers are a nuisance. A bane. They must NEVER be trusted. ESPECIALLY when they give you money. This story cannot end well…..
Dear Quackz,
It ends well, indeed. This doppelganger is the exception to your rule. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Aloha,
Doug
Aloha Doug!
Funny to find a German word – Doppelgänger – in your story! Really mysterious, I´d like to know what will be the instructions in the envelope! Creating suspense is not so easy, but you managed it.
Good stuff to go on with…
regards from Germany
Carmen
Nice work Doug! Love that Derby twist… didn’t expect it. Freshly Pressed this weekend, and it’s kept me from reading all these wonderful posts! I really appreciate you stopping by, and love reading your weekly contributions. Nice work! Aloha.
How about Two tomorrows are worth three todays? I watched the video, which was very charming. I love the paradox – and I love conundrums, and I love Star Trek’s Voyager series, which often presented these paradoxes with great fineness and usually heartbreaking results. If you have not seen them, I suggest you look at Episode 37 “Deadlock”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadlock_(Star_Trek:_Voyager)
Love from Athens,
Lindaura
Ooh. Doppleganger. Haven’t heard that in awhile. Nice take on this prompt.
I hope he makes the right decision this time and does as he’s told. I wish we could have more of this story.