Prophet and loss

“Um what about that one?”1

“Oh that is definitely an excellent choice sir.  That is the model known as the Forecast 1000.”2

“Excellent huh?  Gosh no offense intended, but so far you’ve said that about every different model that you’ve shown me.”3

“I did so because it is true.  All of our products are truly masterpieces of invention.  We take a great of pride in offering nothing except quality to our clients.”4

“Well then perhaps I should ask, which is the most er, accurate?”5

“Hmmm.  Honestly that would be a very difficult question to answer.  All of our products are so efficient that I just couldn’t actually say one was better than another in terms of accuracy.  The main difference has to do with options, not dependability or reliability.”6

“So you’re telling me they are all so efficient that you will guarantee me as to their results?”7

“Sir were are so confident in our merchandise that all our products at All Seeing Techtronics come with a money back guarantee.”8

“That’s a start I guess,” Wilson Chambers says as he stares into the display case at All Eye Techtronics retail outlet.  Not too surprising the store reminds him of a place you go to buy electronic equipment.  Like so many such places he’s been they interior is mainly dark with the exception of the spotlights that shine down on a given product.  He gets the feeling that is done for some sales effect.  It also fits perfectly with the ads he’s seen for the place on television that had a certain futuristic quality like visiting their store meant you were stepping into the next century.9

Despite the sales clerks confidence, the store’s enticing climate as well as the impressive appearance of all the items for sale Wilson still had certain reservations about the place.  Something in his gut still tells him this is a bad idea, but he is just too curious to totally give up on shopping.10

“I’ll be more than happy to let you try it out for a demonstration before you decide if that will help.”11

“Okay.  I suppose that wouldn’t hurt.”12

“Fine, fine.  Why don’t I let you test our deluxe Elite Seer 1200.  It is the top of our line.  I have no doubts that once you tried it you’ll never have any doubts again,” the salesman13

insists removing the small black box that looks like a calculator from the display case.  He gently cradles it in his hand and then gives it to Wilson.14

“So what do I do now?”15

“You have to press the button related to what you want to know.  Press the number one is to find out about money, two is the future and so on.”16

Wilson presses the button marked number one.  “Now what?”17

“All you have to do is concentrate on your question and keep looking at the digital screen till you get the answer.”18

“Sounds simple enough,” Wilson responds.  He does as suggested and concentrates on his concern.  A few seconds later the screen flashes with the number zero.  Looking puzzled he asks, “Zero?  What does that mean?”19

“It depends on your question?”20

“I was wanting to know if that big promotion I have been waiting for was going to take place.”21

“Ah.  Well the Elite Seer 1200 by giving you a zero is saying no.”22

“No?  How is that helpful?”23

“I don’t know what you had in mind sir, but our products only tell the future, not create it.  And bear in mind that this is only for the next six months, not for your entire future.”24

“I see.  But I still don’t know how that is going to help me?”25

“That is where you have to understand that you need to ask the right type of question.  For example you mentioned a promotion.  You didn’t ask about something like a job change.”26

“So what you are saying is try again?”27

“Exactly.”28

Wilson hits the number one button again and this time concentrates with a different phrased question.  In a few seconds the digital read out is flashing with a ten.  He looks helpless and confused when he stares at the salesman.  Then he lifts up the dial so the salesman can read it.29

“Oh very good sir.  I’m assuming that you asked it about a job change?”30

“Yep.”31

“Then rest assured it will happen.  A ten for money and career is the numeric forecast for a job change.  So perhaps some other company will seek you out during the next six months.”32

“Well to be honest there has been one company I was talking to and considering going to work for them.  But they didn’t have an opening for me at the time.  They are supposed to start a new location eventually and I was told they would offer the slot as manager to me.  However there was nothing guaranteed.”33

“So now you know it will happen.  Wasn’t that worth trying it to find out?”34

“I hate to be skeptical here, but how am I supposed to know these numbers mean what you claim they mean?  Heck you could be making the whole thing up.”35

“Every one of our devices comes with a code chart.  Here’s one you can check.  Now look at the code reference and decide if you think this was a fluke.”36

“I see.   Hey, I noticed there isn’t any button here for things like the lottery or gambling in general?”37

“It is that way on purpose.  You see when they first came up with a program to make our devices work based up psychic power we quickly appreciated how it didn’t function right on areas of complete chance.  It was simply too unreliable.  Plus confidentially I think the government wasn’t too keen on the average person having possible access to such info. That sort of takes the fun out of it, if you know what I mean.  So basically our devices are designed to provide you realistic forecasts about your future in areas that are truly practical.  The kinds of information that will ease your mind and help make life a little more tolerable.  It is after all a tool like anything else.”38

“So does that mean it can also warn about things like emergencies and health problems?”39

“We hope to have those features on future models, but for the present we can only assist with certain areas such as career, love and the usual questions that might concern most people.”40

“Um if I do buy this particular one do you offer any rebates or discounts when the upgrades become available?”41

The salesman smiles more from knowing he’s about to make a sale on their most expensive unit.  “Of course.”42

“And how soon before they expect to come out with the new models that can predict things like accidents and health problems.”43

As with so many others who have asked that question, the salesman is ready to give the usual company rhetoric.  What he is mainly thinking about is how once again he has made a sale to a client who will be back for future sales again and again.  That makes it all worth telling a few lies about when a new model will arrive in order to inspire hope, not to mention keep the person coming back regularly so you might sell them some more accessories.44

“Wow a five, cool,” Wilson says about two months later when he sees the read out on the screen after he asks his question.45

Over the last couple of months he has to admit that his little gadget has come in very handy.  It has been particularly helpful in the area of his love life.  Before when he went to a singles bar and managed to buy some woman a drink there was always the question of whether or not he would end up scoring.46

Thanks to the Elite Seer 1200 things were different.  All he had to do was excuse himself head off to the bathroom. Then ask the right question and depending on the number on the screen he would know if he was wasting his time with this gal.47

It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate the other features.  Most were handy to some degree.  They had made things easier at work.  Just knowing all his efforts at playing the corporate game wasn’t going to end in his promotion helped him stop wasting time with trying to suck up to the jerks in upper management.48

Now thanks to his little device it was just a matter of waiting for the call back from that other company.  Just as the device had predicted that other firm had contacted him.  They were almost ready to branch out.  The moment they called him with the good news he would be ready to give his two weeks notice.  He would resist the urge to tell off his boss in the process.49

Chambers tool down the familiar street with the usual look of anticipation in his eyes.  He pulled into All Seeing Techtronics’ parking lot like he had on so many other occasions.  Lately it had really begun to get very crowded.  Obviously their business was booming.  And for Wilson he hoped it meant they would be cranking out new upgrades even faster.  For a person who started out thinking this whole thing was a joke, he had truly become an addict.  From what he could tell he definitely wasn’t alone in that regard.50

“So anything come in new yet?” Wilson asks, as he finally stands at he counter of All Seeing Techtronics after being in a waiting line for nearly a half an hour. 51

“Oh hi Mr. Chambers,” the salesman says, doing his best to hide his annoyance over having Wilson show up at his sales room sometimes as many as three or four times a week.  “No sorry nothing new yet.  You are on our mailing list right?”52

“Yes.  Of course, but I just thought it wouldn’t hurt to stop by and see just the same.”53

“I understand.  And don’t worry, the moment we have a new accessory or change I’ll be glad to let you know.”54

“Thank you.  Um I guess I’ll see you later then.”55

“Fine.  I’ll be looking forward to it.  Always a pleasure as usual.”56

Wilson turns and leaves and then the salesman hits the button to flash the next number being served.  He shouts it out and the line moves forward at a snail’s pace. 57

Later he locks the front door after they close and exhales heavily.  Business is really getting too good.  He’s exhausted from the line longs that never seem to end from the time they open to the time they close. 58

“Hey Bill, somebody from Corporate is on the phone for you,” one of the other salesman says.  Being recently promoted to sales manager Bill is getting used to the idea of having to answer calls from corporate.  Hopefully this is one to let him know when the latest upgrades will be out.  It will be such a relief to finally be able to get people like Wilson off his back.59

“Hi this is Bill.”60

“Hi Bill it’s Walt.”61

“What’s up Walt?”62

“We’ve had an unexpected problem with the current models.  You need to call your customers and have them bring in their units for a modification.  I’ll have one of our techs coming by to be sure we get them done right.”63

“Oh?  We’ve really had a lot of sales you know.  I do have all the customers in our computer, but it will take time to get a hold of them.  So what kind of problems are we talking about?”64

“I don’t have all the details, but apparently we’ve gotten reports of the units malfunctioning.”65

“Can you be more specific?”66

“I was hoping to avoid it, but the basic problem is that the units have somehow managed to be able to actually cause things they predict to take place.”67

“That sounds like a great selling point to me.”68

“It might be, but the problem is that the units have started predicting bad things.  Their whole programming has gone haywire.  I just finished handling a case of a man where he thought he was punching in to get info about his career.  Then we found out through our rely systems that the unit actual predicted that he was going to have a fatal car crash.  Then it made it happen!  Publicity is working over time to keep that little news item from being made public.  So do me a favor and be sure you don’t say anything to your clients.  Just have them drop by for a free maintenance service.  I imagine the free will get them to respond.”69

“Right, right.  I’ll start calling them right away.”70

Wilson comes home and puts his Elite Seer 1200 on the table.  It won’t hurt to double check the read out on a career change one more time.  He hits button number one and then concentrates.  Then he looks at the digital read out.  Huh?  What’s this?  It doesn’t give you a number like normal.  For some reason it is flashing something crazy about cardiac arrest? 71

Suddenly Wilson feels an incredible pain in his chest.  He clutches at his chest as the pain grows to the point he can’t stand it.  Seconds later he collapses on the ground as the heart attack claims its victim.  72

Chambers lies on the floor as the life ebbs from his body.  Unable to move or stop the pain he suddenly hears his telephone rings.  The answer machine takes the call.  Wilson takes his last breath and then his heart stops before he can hear the message.  It is Bill calling from All Seeing Techtronics asking him to bring in his unit for a free maintenance check up.  73