FATE MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS
©1988-2010
By David Robb
This is a work of fiction. All name, locales and events are the author's invention, unless otherwise specified. The odd inconsistency may pop up every now and again, but this story refuses to take itself seriously, and I recommend you, the reader, taking the same attitude. Just sit back and enjoy the ride - I know I have!
The two Bible texts quoted herein are taken from:
THE MESSAGE
New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs
© 1996, by Eugene H. Patterson
The lines quoted from 'On the Ning Nang Nong' were taken the book 'Silly Verse for Kids', © 1959 & 1968 by Spike Milligan
Timeframe of the story:
February 13 and May 13 in the year 2099, do indeed fall on a Friday and Wednesday respectively, but I didn't know this at time of writing. I have, however, had to slightly adjust two other significant dates mentioned.
V. Extended Copyright © details
This story was first written between September 26 & October 3, 1988, when I was sixteen years old, and didn't even have a proper working title or chapters! A few days later I started on an extensive rewrite, but stopped and didn't resume until a few months later. Since that time the original story has undergone *many* major rewrites, revisions, additions and subtractions since, with an updated version being written at least once per year. By the early 2000s I had grown tired of doing all these rewrites, when all I really wanted was to create a copy good enough to be published, so interest waned considerably. Now, in June 2010, I am trying for what may well be the last time, and hopefully *you* are reading the final product! Thanks for reading these notes, and I hope you enjoy the actual story itself.
PART ONE - FRIDAY THE 13TH
Chapter One - Black Friday Blues
I.
When Mark Petersbury woke up at 7am on February 13, he had the feeling that this would be a very strange day. His first indication of this was when his alarm clock went absolutely cuckoo, which was a function its designers had never included. Then the conveyor belt under the moving floor moved too fast, and the bathroom Identi-Machine refused to acknowledge him five times. All in all, Mark was feeling quite disgruntled when he finally trundled into the kitchen, fifteen minutes later than usual.
Maureen Petersbury, usually a very level-headed woman in any crisis but finding even her temperament tested this morning, looked up from her battles with the Food Centre as Mark was dumped rather unceremoniously at the kitchen table. "Good morning dear," she said. "I see the Black Friday Blues have struck you too!"
"Huh?" exclaimed Mark, as this remark slowly permeated his consciousness.
"Yes, my boy," said his father, "it's that time of the year again. Behold, the LCD!"
Mark turned to look at the Electronic Wall Calendar, which obligingly showed him the date in big, black, bold letters:
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13th
!!
"Oh, no!"
"Exactly," said his father.
"Richard. Darling," Maureen interrupted sweetly. "Could you help me out over here please?"
Mr Petersbury focused on a point somewhere near the ceiling and proceeded to proclaim thus: "Word is out that Harvey Norman have a new range of Household Easy-Living Centres. I hear they cannot break down or become faulty in any way, unlike these ancient machines. I was thinking of obtaining a quote or three..."
