"Make a copy of it so you have it on you."
George hadn't thought of that. He pulled the ticket back out of his pocket and walked over to his printer. He made two copies, one for him and one for Ford, making sure he got both sides of the lottery ticket on the printout.
He folded his up and stuck it into his wallet then handed the other one to Ford. "Here, hold on to this for me. Put it in your wallet or something."
Ford shrugged as he took the printout, folded it up, then slid it into his pocket. "Why do you want me to have a copy?"
"In case I lose mine."
"Better hope you don't."
George chuckled nervously. "Right?"
He slid the original ticket back into his pocket. "Okay, let's do this."
He needed to make sure his future was somewhere safe before he started planning it.
"Have you thought of taking a picture of yourself with the ticket, just so you can prove you are you?"
George glanced at his cousin. "Do you think I should?"
Ford shrugged. "Couldn't hurt."
George dug the ticket back out of his pocket then held his phone out to Ford. He lifted the ticket until it was right in front of him then stared at the cell phone Ford was holding up. "How's this?"
"Raise it up a little. I want to do a close-up so we can read the numbers."
George raised the ticket up a little more then looked at the camera lens on the cell phone again. He wasn't ready to smile simply because he was too freaked out at the moment, but he tried not to look too upset.
"Okay." Ford handed the phone back. "Let's get that little gold-plated beauty somewhere safe then go talk to Dad."
"I want to put your name on the safety deposit box so that if anything happens to me, you have access to the ticket."
Ford raised an eyebrow. "I could bump you off for all those millions."
"And leave you to deal with Uncle Allan and Aunt Helen all by yourself?" George snickered as he shook his head. "I don't think so."
He placed the lottery ticket back into his pocket, his cell phone in his other pocket, then picked up his jacket again. There was a part of him that was terrified to step out the front door. His luck had never really been this good, and he was scared that it was all some cosmic joke.
Another part wished he could teleport directly into the bank vault. He wanted to get the lottery ticket somewhere safe as quickly as he could. That part of him was scared that something would happen and he'd lose the lottery ticket. The building could catch on fire. The elevator cable could snap and he'd fall to a crushing death. He could get mugged on the way to the bank. He could be hit by falling space debris.
The possibilities were endless.
George was kind of surprised at how easily they reached the bank. He expected someone to jump out at them at any moment, demanding the lottery ticket. It didn't happen. He was even able to get a safety deposit box and place his little sheet of future gold inside without any hassle, although he did put Ford's name on it as the only other person able to access the box.
It wasn't until they got outside that his knees began to shake.
Ford grabbed his arm and pulled him toward a bench in front of the bank. "Come sit down before you fall down."
George took his cousin's advice and walked over to sit down on the bench. He dropped his head forward into his hands and just breathed, hoping he didn't start to hyperventilate.
It was a very real possibility.
"How's your bear?"
George checked deep within himself where his bear lived when not out and about. "He feels my agitation, but he's under control at the moment."
It would be really bad if his bear decided to make an appearance. Humans tended to get upset when a huge bear suddenly appeared in front of them. Considering he was bigger than a Kodiak bear, he'd freak everyone out.
