A Well Timed Gift

What little savings David James had in his account was down to the last $100. He guessed that the groceries in his cart would total about $90. Desperation clouded his thoughts with each passing day. He had applied at 3 jobs personally earlier that morning and applied for 6 more online. Same as he had done a few times a week for the last 6 months. He had worked a long time at Haywood and Cook Business Services. Had they not laid him off, he would have celebrated his 15th year with the company. Now he was unemployed, near broke, and struggling to even keep food in the house. It was the same for most of his friends and family since the pandemic. 2020 had been the worst year of his life.

He watched the shoppers in front him move up to the next mark on the floor, each one meant to keep customers 6 feet apart. Most people followed the guidelines, but he noticed a portly man in a cheap suit who was standing nearly on top of the woman in front him. Of course he was also not wearing a mask. David could feel his face get hot. He had lost a friend to the virus early on and Emma, his daughter, hadn’t been to school in nearly a year after her English teacher had passed from covid-19. These anti-maskers were thoughtless jerks and their behavior was worsening. He had seen it three times earlier today and now, tired and wanting to get home, he thought he might snap. When it was the man’s turn, the cashier told him to put a mask on. David couldn’t hear what the man said, but was surprised to see the man pull out a surgical mask and put if over his mouth and nose. He paid, then he gave the cashier the middle finger.

What a shit day, David thought.

#

Gabe entered the Grand Hall of Records to find Rafe was already staring intently at the large monitor in the current events section. He was pleased to find his brother taking the initiative today. It was usually a chore to get him to help with selections.

Rafe heard Gabe’s boots on the marble floors and peaked around the monitor. “It seems only some of us are expected to be punctual,” Rafe said with a smile.

“I really despise your sense of humor, Rafe,” Gabe said, “but I am glad to see you here so early.”

“That last one has been on my mind,” Rafe said.

“I can understand that,” Gabe said.

“Yes, I suppose they are not so bad after all,” Rafe said.

“Not all of them,” Gabe said.

“Of course… not all,” Rafe said.

“Have you found any prospects yet?” Gabe said as he came to Rafe’s side and took notice of the file list on the screen.

“Just getting started, actually,’ Rafe said.

“All right,” Gabe said, “Let us have a look.”

#

David sat at the dining room table and watched Emma work on her math. He wondered how much longer he could bear the weight that seemed to grow heavier with each day. He was going to miss the mortgage payment for the first time since buying the house in Norcross. Though he knew the virus was the main cause of his current financial predicament, he bore the guilt of ignoring Ronnie when she told him to invest in the retirement plan HCBS had offered. He felt it was more important to keep the money on hand until they were stable enough to have extra cash to get into the 401K. The bosses had made a minor contribution each month, but that was the first to go when he was laid off. He had too much faith in their meager savings. Ronnie had been right and now he was close to losing everything. He missed her. She was always his strength. She knew how to give him confidence. She was better at being an adult and far better with the family budget. He felt useless.

“Dad?’ Emma said, breaking David from his thoughts.

“Yeah sweetie,” David said. He tried on a smile, but doubted it was convincing.

“Are you OK?” Emma said. “You’re not looking too good.” Emma was observant, just like her mom. 12 years old and she could see her dad was in trouble. He just stared into her bright blue eyes. He didn’t know what to say.

“I’m just tired, honey,” he finally said.

“K,” Emma said. It was her response when she didn’t believe him.

“Really, honey,” David said, “Daddy’s just tired. It was a long day and too many run ins with anti-mask idiots.”

“Uh huh,” Emma said, now pretending to be more interested in her math homework.

David wasn’t going to try to convince her. He knew he couldn’t. He knew what his face must look like. They both knew Ronnie was the responsible one. It wasn’t fair she was taken from them 2 years ago by a drunk. He wished the man had lived so he could do what the man did to himself. He shoved the thoughts out of his head and watched Emma. She was bright. She kept him going. He decided he would call his father after she went to bed. It was time to eat crow.

#

“What do you think of this one?” Rafe said.

“Really?” Gabe said.

“Yes, of course,” Rafe said. “Single father, lost his wife because of an irresponsible man. I would say he is over all a good man.”

“Yes, I agree,” Gabe said, “but it is him and his daughter. There are others who have many children that I think would be better options. I am also not convinced he has exhausted the resources he has available.”

“What do you mean?” Rafe said.

“See here?” Gabe said. He was pointing to family history, the line marked father. “His father has substantial wealth. He has family he can go to for help.”

“I suppose,” Rafe said. It was protocol to close the file on any that both reviewers could not agree upon, but Rafe dragged it to the side and left it. If Gabe noticed, he said nothing.

#

When David was sure Emma was asleep he called his father. Sitting in the same chair he had earlier in the evening, he gathered his nerve and dialed. After a few rings, there was a stop followed by a click and a robotic voice informing him he reached 678-555-3232 and to leave a message. “Dad, will you give me a call when you get this?” He said after the tone.

He stood up from the dining room table when his cell phone rang. He checked the ID. It was his father. He swiped to answer and said, “Hey dad, how’s things?”

“Fine, good actually,” his dad said. Frank James was stoic man. He rarely showed emotion other than anger. He was named after the Frank James of Frank and Jesse fame. Or was it infamy? David didn’t care. There wasn’t another boy in the James household, so when David’s aunt, the younger of the two siblings, was born she got the name Jessie. She used to tell David she hated it, but couldn’t change it because it would hurt her father, who did not get an outlaw name… he was Glen.

“So, uh,” David started to say.

“Spit it out, son,” Frank said. “You want money, right?”

“Sorry, dad,” David said. “You know I would never come to you if I had any other choice, but I’m not finding any work right now because of this pandemic mess.”

“You’re not trying hard enough,” Frank said.

“Dad, seriously?” David said. “There’s a pandemic going on. No one is flipping hiring.”

“I’m sure you can get a job with Amazon or some grocery store,” Frank said. “Hey, have you thought about one of them food delivery services?”

“Jesus, Dad,” David said. “None of those jobs are going to pay enough for me to keep up with the house payment and utilities and school supplies for Emma, let alone food so we can eat. What do you think they pay?”

“Hard work, son,” Frank said. “You never were one for it, but now you’re gonna have to do it. It’s ‘bout time you earned an honest living.”

“What are you talking about?” David said.

“You’ve been lucking with employment most of your life, David,” Frank said. “You should sell the house, get a cheap apartment. Or you could move in here.”

“Right,” David said, “We barely get along just talking on the phone, dad.”

“I don’t mean in the house,” Frank said. “The loft over the workshop would give us space enough apart.”

“No, dad,” David said. “I want to keep the house.”

“I’ve said my peace, David,” Frank said.

Frank James ended the call. David sat with the phone to his ear for a moment, stunned at his father’s response. He knew his only other option would be Emma’s college money. There was $20,000. It should get them by until he found a job. Tears filled his eyes.

#

“Why do you keep bringing this one up?” Gabe said.

“Hear me out,” Rafe said. He walked to one of the tall filing cabinets and opened a drawer. He reached in a pulled out a black notebook and placed it on a table next to the monitor. It was thin, bound in leather, and tied together with ornate gold ribbon. Rafe opened it and the book appeared to hold thousands of pages, maybe more. It seemed infinite and yet was able to fit on the table.

“Go on,” Gabe said.

“Look, here,” Rafe said. He was pointing to the last paragraph. “See? His only safety net, his father, refused to help him. He is close to losing himself.” Rafe flipped a few pages and pointed again, “and here, his daughter. Look at her potential.”

Gabe leaned in to get a closer look. His eyes widened. He looked at Rafe and said, “OK. You came here early. You did the all the work and you pleaded your case. David James it is then.”

#

The morning after David called his father, Emma was online with her virtual lessons when someone knocked on the door. David had been dozing in his recliner and was startled by the sound.

“Dad?” Emma said.

“I heard, I got it,” David said.

David stood up and stretched as another knock came from the door. “I’m coming,” he shouted.

David opened the door to find a young man of about 19 wearing a yellow polo shirt and dark khaki pants. “Whatever you’re selling, I ain’t buyin’, kid.” David said. “I ain’t even working.”

“I’m so sorry to hear, that sir,” the young man said. “My name is Michael and I’m from Anglebook Sweepstakes. I’m here to deliver your certified check.”

“What?” David said. “Uh, what check?”

“From the raffle you entered,” Michael said.

“I didn’t… “David started.

“Yes, sir,” Michael said. “I have the ticket here, your name, address, and a blurred phone number. We normally call, but no one could make out the number.”

David looked at the ticket. It looked like Ronnie’s handwriting. He looked at the kid, “When was this?”

“The raffle?,” Michael said, still holding the envelope toward David. David looked at it and accepted it. “I think earlier this year, I’m not sure. You have a good day.” Michael left the porch and got in the back seat of a bright silver Bentley.

David closed the door, feeling dazed. He tore open the envelope and stared at the check in disbelief. The amount was $20,000.00. He looked at the signature and thought, Ironic… Raphael Gabriel. He had never felt so relieved. Part of him believed Ronnie was up there somewhere looking out for them.