Jennifer Maston

Keep Your Thumb Up

The man at the bank handed Denise a twenty-thousand dollar personal check and a black pocket-sized Moleskine notebook. She was instructed to eat it and burn the notebook by the end of the week. The check was made out to her and signed by her recently deceased husband, Ron. The notebook only contained four words, 'keep your thumb up.' The man softly closed the safety deposit box. He turned towards her while shrugging his shoulders and said, "I wish I could tell you more, but those were your husband's only instructions." Denise nodded her head in understanding and stood up to leave. She snapped the little elastic band around the notebook and grabbed the check, then slide them both into her purse.