The new God dashed out of his bedroom in a hurry, almost knocking over his father who was carrying some dirty laundry in a basket outside.
"Careful there, champ!" he called out "Just because you can do whatever you want doesn't mean you can't run into me!"
"Sorry dad!" Eric called back, his new pet Whiz following close behind.
Eric went to the kitchen, but on arriving, decided he wasn't hungry. He thought about taking a shower, but he soon realized he was already clean & looked amazing. What was more, it dawned on him that he hadn't even begun to scratch the surface of his true potential.
Just then, Eric's mom walked in. "Hey, sweetie, it's a school day remember?" she said politely "Do you want to go?"
Eric's eyes widened. "You mean ... I can choose whether I go or not?"
"Sure thing, honey. You can do anything you want now."
Eric considered both possibilities. In one alternative future, he imagined himself sitting bored in a maths classroom, listening to a clock tick down the seconds before the school bell rang. In the other, he was playing basketball at the park with Whiz, laughing and having fun. Eric might have been an all-powerful God, but he was still a young teenager at heart.
"You know what, mom?" replied Eric "I think I've got a few other things lined up for today..."
Five minutes later, Eric was actually at the park, having fun with his new pet. Eric conjured a flying disk and a basketball, and together with his pet, had lots of fun playing together. Whiz was a really great sport, joking around with Eric and putting up some competition despite Eric's superiority in every respect over everything in the universe. In addition to catch and basketball, they also played tag on the playground and hide & seek in the bushes. Eventually, the almighty boy and his perfect pet wrestled for a while on the ground, and after Eric let Whiz win, the pair lay on the grass catching their breath.
"This was way more fun than school" said Eric.
"So what do you want to do now?" asked Whiz.
"Hmm..." thought Eric aloud "I think we should go to..."
Five minutes later, Eric and Whiz were at the local swimming pool complex.
"Sorry, no dogs allow..." the girl at the counter trailed off. Her bored expression on seeing the dog changed to one of worshipful adoration on seeing Eric. "Uhm, actually I think I can make an exception" she said to Eric with a wink. Eric smiled and walked into the pools.
Soon enough, Eric was floating on an inflatable doughnut in the middle of the pool, his dog happily paddling around him on a pool noodle. A cool, refreshing soda was miraculously balancing on Eric's doughnut, and every so often Eric would lean over to sip from a straw coming out of the glass.
"This is definitely more relaxing than school" noted Eric.
Whiz barked happily.
Before they left, Eric and Whiz also went down the slides, sailed down a lazy river, soaked in the sauna, and had a couple of fun races (Whiz was a surprisingly good dog paddler, and against anyone but Eric would have stood a good chance). These races were enthusiastically watched by a couple of surprisingly skimpily-dressed female lifeguards, who after the victory gave Eric a free ice-cream.
It was about midday when Eric and Whiz left the pools. Eric's body glistened with water drops he hadn't bothered to dry off, but he didn't feel cold in the slightest. The pair were walking off to the movies, as Eric wanted to see Ghost Story 5. Soon enough, they were there.
"Oh darn, that film's only for those 18 and over..." groaned Whiz on seeing the poster outside.
"Uhm, I can do anything?" said Eric "I'm pretty sure seeing this movie won't be a problem."
Eric was right - and in fact, the cashier happily gave him a free popcorn. The whole movie theatre was empty except for Eric and Whiz, who both got the best seats in the house. Thirty minutes into the movie, though, things started to get really scary.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go..." said the film's main character.
"No!" shouted Eric in fright.
The main character of the film stopped mid-sentence and looked towards Eric, sitting on his seat in the cinema. "No? You want me to stay here?" he asked.
Eric was initially confused while the film's cast waited for him to respond. "Yeah" he said "Uhm ... that's where the demon will get you. I mean, it's pretty obvious right? Also, you should probably apologize to that girl you were talking to at the train station, and then give that weird doll back to your freaky new neighbor. I mean, obviously it's cursed, isn't it?"
The character looked at Eric dumbfounded. "Yeah, I suppose you're right" he said "Alright, change of plans, I'll do that right away."
Soon enough the credits rolled, with the movie ending happily thanks to Eric's good advice. During the credits, all the demons individually apologized to Eric for being so mean and scary, and as they exited the theater, Eric saw the movie's rating had been dropped from over-18 to just over-12.
"What a nice movie" said Whiz "The ending was a bit predictable though."
"Definitely more entertaining than school!" said Eric.
As Eric and Whiz walked on towards the skatepark, laughing and joking around, Eric noticed the church had its door open. This was unusual for the middle of the day as there had been a few robberies recently. "Hey, uh, Whiz?" said Eric "Wait here for a bit, okay?"
"Sure thing!" replied Whiz happily.
Eric walked inside quietly and found the church empty. He continued inside, walking slowly up the aisle. He heard a side door open, and saw a priest come up to the alter. Eric thought it strange he'd never seen this priest before, although he came to church often. He looked old and wise, with a long beard, and his robes were kept very neat. At the same time, however, he seemed very frail and unwell.
"Welcome, my child" he said kindly from behind the altar to Eric "What's been troubling you?"
"Who are you?" asked Eric.
"Father Joe, from the Eastern Suburbs parish" replied the priest "I was expected to die of cancer yesterday, but suddenly a new doctor came to see me. Told me I had to come here and help the first person who walks in before I can die and go to heaven. That is why I am here. My coffin is already prepared in the wings over there if you want to take a look. How about you?"
Eric did so, and saw that indeed a coffin was ready for the man to walk right into after this. He hoped the priest would actually be able to enjoy heaven, and somehow he knew that he would. He also hoped the priest would die happily and painlessly, and again, something in his mind confirmed that would be the case.
"Well ... I've just become God" confessed Eric "I mean ... I've always been somewhat good-looking and talented and athletic and smart and stuff ... but like, now that I have truly ultimate and unlimited power, I don't really know what to do with it. I'm having a great day hanging out with my dog but ... well ... is that all I'm supposed to do?"
The priest listened thoughtfully. After a considerable silence he said "That sucks."
Eric sighed. "Yeah" he said eventually "Do you know what I should do with my power?"
The priest listened again and thought for a time. "I don't think it's about power" the priest replied "It's who you are on the inside."
Eric looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
The priest laid an encouraging hand on Eric's broad, handsome shoulder. "I mean that if you are a good person, you will be a good god. And I think you are good. Don't you?"
"Yeah" said Eric.
"Then that is your purpose" replied the priest "You are on a pilgrimage, a sacred journey. As you grow up you will help others, the world and the universe. And you will learn what it means to be a good God along the way."
Eric blinked. "Thanks" he said "But, how do I help others?"
Once again the priest paused and thought carefully before replying. "Well, I like to listen to others to know how to help them" he said "Sometimes you might need to help redeem a bully, or fix a neighbor's fence. Sometimes it'll be making people happy... actually I think you could make some women very happy with your body! Sometimes, I'm afraid, it isn't so easy. But listening is always a good idea. Sometimes when I pray, all I really hope is that somebody will listen."
The priest gave Eric a soft tap on the shoulder before drawing away. "Thank you for your advice" said Eric "Are you going to pass away now?"
"Indeed, the time has come" said the priest, withdrawing to his coffin "Farewell, and good luck!"
As Eric left the church, he heard funeral bells ring behind him.
"Anything interesting in there?" asked Whiz.
"Yeah" said Eric "Just ... something to think about."
"More thought-provoking than school?" asked Whiz.
Eric laughed. "Yeah" he chuckled.
After a good hour or so skating around, performing all sorts of tricks together (and Whiz impressing onlookers with the very fact he was a skating dog), it was time to go home. Whiz and Eric sat down at the top of a half-pipe before going, enjoying the warm sun glowing on their bodies.
"Thanks for a fun day, Whiz" said Eric.
"No worries pal" replied Whiz "It's my duty as a dog to be the best pet I can for you."
Back at home, Eric's parents were both still at work. It was after school, a time when Eric usually came home to eat a biscuit and drink a hot drink before heading out for sports practice or extra music lessons. Whiz retired to a dog house that spontaneously appeared in Eric's back yard. Once again, Eric admired himself in his bedroom mirror. "Yip, I still look stunning" he said to himself, and he really did. He stroked his light brown hair, twinkled his amber eyes, flexed his powerful muscles. Just for fun, he picked up one of his old weights and effortlessly crushed it between two fingers!
Eric just couldn't wait to show his new body off to his soccer team.
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