"NFT, what's that --", I dug at my cousin, "Not For the Thompsons?"

"Hardy-har-har", he mocked, measured and sardonic, "Very funny, Vin. But, I'm serious... we could have a little celebrity on our hands. And I know y'all need the money since this nightmare pandemic took your career."

"Russ -- We all need money, and stability, and a chance to earn a living to support who we love, and I'm far from the only one. Hell, the whole world's on fire! What we don't need, however, is money so badly that I'm willing to pimp out my daughter for a quick buck. That's not what my little human in training needs, is it Merry? My Merry-Berry."

"Gaaaaaa"

A deep sigh. "Vinnie, please, for the love of lord, let's not be ridiculous... you're not pimping out your child. Look at it like this; it's her present to the family. She made the world fall in love, as only the the most adorable family member could..."

"Gaaaaaa"

He pinches her rosy little cheeks, "That's right you did. Who's a cute baby? Who spit up on Pappa Vin and became a star? You did. That's right, you did."

"Don't encourage her."

"Gaaaaaa"

"Face it," He went on, "the world loves Merry, and her rainbow colored spittle, so accept it, would you? Claim it for her. People are already using the video on the net, which they stole from your social media, right? That's pimping. That's exploiting her for free. It's already a thing." He gestures at the screen gregariously. "So why not Protect it? Protect her? Claim it forever and mint it."

"Claim it? Mint? You just said it yourself, it's already all over the net!"

"But I'm talking about the blockchain, Vin. The net is the net, and it's owned, and bought, and manipulated and dying. This is the Blockchain, and it's immutable, forever -- You gotta trust me, here: this could be her future. All of your futures. Your whole family, for all time. Whoever has claim to this digital wallet will benefit. Isn't that better than leaving it to a bunch of strangers and weirdos on the net?"

"Digital Wallet." I scoff. Reaching inside my back pocket I grab my worn leather brick and toss it at my cousin, hitting him on the side of the face.

"Jesus, ow! What is wrong with you?"

"Sorry, I forgot... you never could catch."

"You make it so hard to love you, you know that?"

"Hate you too, little Cuz. That, though, is a wallet. And it hurts because it's real. A digital wallet isn't real. A digital wallet is just an idea. It's not a guarantee."

"Vinny, nothing is a guarantee in that dead cow." He counters, rubbing the rosy mark blooming on his forehead, "Which needs to go on a diet, by the way. Nothing. Not that paper FIAT, which could lose all it's value because nothing backs it, not those plastic cards, which siphon off your hard earned money for practically nothing in return, not even the thread that binds it, which will just deteriorate to dust over time."

"I beg to differ."

"Just, look... I know you're this hard-headed caveman who knows everything most of the time, but please, please, I'm begging for your families sake, just humor me -- If only just this once."

"How many times have I heard that?"

"When have I..?" He paused to collect himself, taking a deep breath. "Look, I'm telling you, we're at the right point in history for this, and you need to jump on it when the iron's hot for striking. Claim the original. Just click this button, and publish this adorable meme moment to the network. The Blockchain is set up with smart contracts to get you paid for every single person that uses this to create something -- and they will. It's a wonderful moment, Vin, that's why everyone is stealing it for edits. Maybe you can be the next Nyan cat, who knows -- so make it yours!"

"Russ, I told you, no."

"Why not?" He balked, "It's free money, Vin, courtesy of your adorable daughter..."

"Gaaaaaa"

"...and right now other people are taking it from her hands. Like candy from a baby. It's her money. Her adorableness can become her stability if people keep using it, you never know. Hell, you might wind up supporting her and her family for a lifetime, and all you have to do is mint this right now, by clicking this button. That's it. That's all you gotta do to protect her forever. Isn't that worth it?"

"Russel, enough!" I say through clenched teeth, throwing my hands in the air," I said no -- and that's your answer. NO. I won't do it. Look for yourself:" I slap his monitor, "It's already over. The genie's out of the bottle. It's not safe to expose my babydoll anymore than she already is, especially not to a bunch of internet pervs! I'd rather let this pass, and let people forget. Give her a chance at a normal life. You'll see, it'll go away. And so will this Blockchain stuff, just like any other fad. It's just digital Pog's."

Softly, "It's not digital Pogs....."

Raising my voice over him, "I'm not putting my daughters face on a useless, overblown, unsafe digital fad just to flip a quick buck, and that's final!" Scooping up Meredith, I stomp toward the door and wrench the handle, jerking it open.

"Vin, wait!"

I turn back in the open doorway, realizing he was only trying to help... "Thank you, Russel. Genuinely. I want you to know that I do see you, and appreciate what you're trying to do for us. But I'm a father, please understand, and I have to make the call -- and I say no. I have to make the call." 

He rolls his eyes, sucking in a deep breath, his chin tucked. "Alright...." He dragged out the word, "Have it your way, you old fool."

"Thank you, you naive optimist."

"Danke"

I walk out and talk over my shoulder, through the screen and over it's whining hinges, as I go, "Don't forget, next week is her Birthday. She'll need a present, Russ! Barb still gives me crap about last time!"

"You got it. And, don't worry..." I hear a distinct click, "I won't forget her gift.

Thank you for taking the time to read a bit of fiction, set against the backdrop of the Blockchain -- I hope you enjoyed part One of Three.

We don't often see how we're already being profited off of, and exploited, by our very digital existence, but I hope to highlight in this story the idea that we can take ownership back, and show how doing so just might echo into future generations. Therefore I plan to tell this tale across three periods of history, in three equally quick, very human and relatable tales.

If you enjoyed this flash-fiction please tip appropriately, and subscribe for all the following entries into my attempt at making Blockchain fiction, and humanizing the space. 

Thank you again for reading!

~The Rube