Chapter 36: Live Streaming
"Even if I can cook everything he makes, I still love watching," Sheila said, eyes glued to the TV. Cooking was one of her few passions and joys.
"Sheila, do you know how to use the internet?" Frank suddenly asked, an idea forming in his mind.
"I can browse the web, though I'm not good with games. Simple browsing, I can handle," Sheila replied.
"Great. Have you ever thought about live streaming?" Frank suggested.
"Live streaming?" Sheila asked, puzzled. She wasn't familiar with the concept.
"Like this," Frank said, bringing over his computer and opening a live streaming platform website.
"You love cooking so much, you could stream it. Look, this person is streaming their cooking," Frank showed her a cooking stream.
"Wow!" Sheila gasped, covering her mouth in amazement at the rapidly advancing technology.
"See, live streaming is like TV. Anyone with internet can watch you, from all over the country, even the world. If you do well, you could become an internet sensation," Frank explained.
Frank had recently noticed the potential of live streaming. After paying off his credit card debts, he'd focused more on family and happened to see Veronica streaming provocatively to make money.
Intrigued, Frank started exploring the world of streaming.
The live streaming industry was just budding, not as mature as in Frank's previous life, making it a blue ocean of opportunity.
In his previous life, Frank had seen how lucrative streaming could be, with streamers earning more than some celebrities.
Sheila, due to her agoraphobia, couldn't leave home and had few friends, making her feel isolated.
If Sheila started streaming, she could connect with the world without leaving home, potentially aiding her condition.
Besides, Sheila loved cooking and had skills comparable to professional chefs—a perfect talent for streaming.
"Do you think I can do it?" Sheila asked, doubting herself.
"Of course, you can. You're at home anyway, so why not try? It doesn't cost anything, and you might make some friends online. Plus, you can chat with people through comments," Frank encouraged.
"Alright, I'll give it a try," Sheila agreed hesitantly.
The next morning, Frank helped Sheila set up an account, teaching her how to log in and start streaming.
"Hi, everyone," Sheila said nervously, facing the camera.
"Don't worry. You're just starting, so not many people know about you yet. You'll get used to it," Frank reassured her.
Frank spent the day helping Sheila learn and adapt.
"You're having her stream?" Karen asked, surprised when she found out.
As a young person, Karen was aware of new trends but hadn't expected Frank to suggest streaming for Sheila.
"Her condition might improve with interaction. Streaming could help," Frank explained.
Karen, always hoping Sheila would overcome her fears and lead a normal life, found Frank's argument reasonable and decided to help.
Being young, Karen quickly grasped the streaming operations. Within minutes, she was familiar with the platform, ready to assist Sheila whenever needed.
"Frank, look! My followers are almost at a hundred!" Sheila exclaimed excitedly at the dinner table, clutching Frank's arm.
"There'll be more soon," Frank assured her.
"Streaming? Followers? Do you think you're a star now, you old hag?" Officer Eddie sneered, dismissive of Sheila's streaming efforts.
"Hmph," Sheila retorted, ignoring him.
"Mom, don't mind him. He can't say anything nice," Karen said.
Over the next few days, Sheila's streaming improved. She became comfortable cooking on camera, unlike her initial nervousness. Her subscriber count grew, with more comments and interactions.
Daily streaming and engagement gave Sheila something to focus on, making her feel revitalized with a newfound purpose and meaning in life.
Seeing Sheila's transformation, Karen's view of Frank changed, and she stopped threatening him as frequently.
While managing Sheila's situation, Frank didn't neglect his family's issues.
"Carl, how about a game? Let's see who can dig more dirt. If you win, I'll treat you to a feast," Frank said, holding a shovel.
"Really?" Carl's eyes lit up as he jumped down from the steps.
Debbie sat nearby, enjoying a hot baked sweet potato, watching Frank and Carl dig around the backyard in the cold.
Frank's reason for digging was to find something specific.
He wasn't searching for treasure or buried money; he was looking for Ginger.
While he had resolved the credit card issue, Ginger's problem remained.
Years ago, 'Frank' and Ginger had gotten high together, resulting in Ginger's overdose and death. 'Frank,' wanting to claim Ginger's pension, hid her body, claiming she lived in a nursing home.
Though the pension fraud hadn't been exposed yet, Ginger's remains needed to be found.
According to 'Frank's' memories, Ginger's body was buried in the backyard.
Frank had often cursed 'Frank's' sloppy decisions. If you're going to hide a body, at least find a better place than your backyard.
If someone discovered a body there, it would be a disaster, leading to potential murder charges against the family.
The fact that Ginger's remains hadn't been discovered in over a decade was a miracle.
Frank couldn't rely on miracles, so he needed to dig up Ginger's body and clean up 'Frank's' mess.
"Hey, what are you doing?" a voice called from outside the yard as Frank and Carl dug holes searching for Ginger's remains.