Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
After hearing his elder brother Melvin talk to their billionaire grandfather, nine-year-old Milton Trent took courage and called the businessman in the family he felt was more on his level first: nine-year-old cousin Vertran Stepforth.
Cousin Vertran, overseen by his parents, was running two wildly successful video channels: one on YouTube and one on Threespeak, which runs on the Hive Blockchain. His video series about “How to Survive” in kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and now third grade picked up waves of new viewers every year … some kids, under the supervision of their parents, felt more like they were not alone, getting used to school and different things that went with that … a ton of adult family members, getting a kid's view of how school life is, and also laughing hysterically when not in their children's presence at Vertran's presentation.
Vertran Stepforth did not know he was not his 65-year-old grandfather's miniature – and his grandfather had been a child prodigy who stayed prodigious – and so carried himself on camera just like the old mogul in bronze.
Consequently, among the Stepforth grandchildren, Vertran was indeed the first “thousandaire,” even ahead of his 21-year-old cousin Melvin. Milton called to find out how he made his money.
“The power of movies and television, Milton,” he said when cousin Milton called about it. “Think about it. People love to see other people looking at other things they are interested in learning or doing, and adults love it as much as we do.”
“I guess so,” Milton said. “Vanna is constantly on the phone with her friends whining about they can't go to the movies or anything. She's so tired of hearing it.”
“Well, that will stop when she's ready for it to stop,” Vertran said.
“You sound just like Pop-Pop, Vertran.”
“Milton, if paying for rent and college is where you need to go, but you're not even a decade old, you gotta listen to the right people. And, I'm listening even more lately, because I've taken a big step in life. You know that new girl that moved up here with the Dubois family, Louisa?”
“Yep.”
“I've asked her to marry me and she said yes, so, after a nine-year engagement, I have to have things together. You're working on rent payments. I'm working on mortgage payments.”
“Wow, Vertran, congratulations! Do you ever worry that the adults will say you are too much in a hurry?”
“Not really. My dad, your Uncle Major, was just on the phone talking about the United States is in a rough season that she's not going to get out of for a while. Everybody needs to get prepared. I listen to my dad too, real hard.”
“Right. That's why I feel like it's time to get busy helping Melvin and Dad with this rent.”
“You're doing the right thing, Milton, and I want to help you. Give me an hour to think about this and talk to my people, and I'll call you back.”
“Okay. I'll call the Ludlow man-training unit too and get them on.”