Year of the Jackpot 16

rich woman, so I can travel."
"Yes, yes, I'll let you know when I get my first million,
but-"
"That's the first time you've proposed to me this week."
"Shut up. Have you ever looked into the prophecies they
found inside the pyramid?"
"Hub? Look, Meade, that's in the same class with
astrologystrictly for squirrels. Grow up."
"Yes, of course. But Potty, I thought you were interested
in anything odd. This is odd."
"Oh. Sorry. If it's 'silly season' stuff, let's see it."
"All right. Am I cooking for you tonight?"
"It's Wednesday, isn't it?"
"How soon?"
He glanced at his watch. "Pick you up in eleven minutes."
He felt his whiskers. "No, twelve and a half."
"I'll be ready. Mrs. Megeath says that these regular dates
mean that you are going to marry me."
"Pay no attention to her. She's just a statistic. And I'm
a wild datum."
"Oh, well, I've got two hundred and forty-seven dollars
toward that million. 'Bye!"
Meade's prize was the usual Rosicrucian come-on, elabo-
rately printed, and including a photograph (retouched, he
was sure) of the much disputed line on the corridor wall
which was alleged to prophesy, by its various discon-
tinuities, the entire future. This one had an unusual time
scale but the major events were all marked on itthe fall of
Rome, the Norman Invasion, the Discovery of America, Na-
poleon, the World Wars.
What made it interesting was that it suddenly stopped
now.
"What about it. Potty?"
"I guess the stonecutter got tired. Or got fired. Or they
got a new head priest with new ideas." He tucked it into his
desk. "Thanks. I'll think about how to list it." But he got it
out again, applied dividers and a magnifying glass. "It says
here," he announced, "that the end comes late in August
unless that's a fly speck."
"Morning or afternoon? I have to know how to dress."
"Shoes will be worn. All God's chilluns got shoes." He
put it away.
She was quiet for a moment, then said, "Potty, isn't it
about time to jump?"
"Hub? Girl, don't let that thing affect youl That's 'silly
season' stuff."