And So It Shall Be...

Walking down 9th street towards his mother's house a few blocks further on, Deshawn comes upon what looks to be a large pile of clothes off to the side. As he starts to step around it a man's shaggy head lift's from where he was laying and he peers up at Deshawn.

''Hey, kid!'' the man says, his voice raspy with disuse. ''How 'bout I make this your lucky day.''

Deshawn stops to get a good look at this person claiming to have luck at his disposal.

''Man, you don't look like you got enough luck to be passing out.'' he tell's the man.

''Look here, son. I got way more than I can stand and I'm tryna throw a lil bit your way but if you're too stuck on what you're doing then keep on walking and I will give it to somebody who don't deserve it.'' the man has risen to one knee and is looking up at Deshawn.

Deshawn takes a step back as the smell of the man hit's him. He wave's a hand in front of his nose.

''You making a helluva claim old man but smell like you ain't bathed in a year''.

''It's only been a few days, week at most'', the older man replies nonchalantly.

''OK, whatever you say. anyway, what is it you want me to have?''

'' Oh, it ain't me that wants you to have it. see, I was just put here to make sure you get it.'' the older man says.

''Ight, man whatever. I think you just crazy and and bored. I'm outta here.'' Deshawn turns away towards home.

'' well, I gave it a shot..'' the old man shakes his head and walk's away, leaving the pile of clothes.

...The next day...

Deshawn is walking down 9th street headed home. At the corner before he makes it home he encounters the old man again. He pauses,looking down on him as the old man writes in a small black book.

''What you writing 'bout?'' He asks.

The old man looks up at him, grunt's and starts writing again.

''Check it out, my bad about yesterday. my mind was somewhere else and I should have heard you out.''

'' Good thing for you I'm patient.'' the old man says. He closes the book and holds it out for Deshawn. ''This is yours.''

Deshawn reaches for it but something stop's him from grabbing the book.

''What's it for?'' he asks.

The old man shows him the cover.

~~ Your Lucky Day ~~

''First time in a while I seen somebody get two in a row.'' he says.

Deshawn takes the book and opens it to the first page.

It read...

'If you truly believe this to be your lucky day, read on. if not, return this to the person you received it from. If you believe that in life good things sometimes just happen, take this gift. Take it and make the most of it. Enjoy the opportunities that come your way, then pass this book on to someone else. you will know when it's time...''

Deshawn looks up from the page and blinks in astonished surprise as he realises the old man has vanished. He looks both ways down the sidewalk but there's no sign of him. The book suddenly take's on a strange weight in his hands. He decides he wants to know what is really going on with this book.

Opening it to the next page he resumes his walk home.

'You're probably wondering how you came to be the person to receive this book.' are the first words on the page. Deshawn shakes his head in wonderment and read's on.

'You have done so much for the people you love. But there are so many things you wish you could do. This book is the tool that you've been missing.'

''Man, this is some crazy stuff right here.'' Deshawn arrives at his home and pauses on the front steps. ''I really think I need to find out what the old man got going on.''

''Son who you talking to out here?'' his mom is standing in the doorway looking closely at him. ''And what's that you're reading?''

''Oh, nothing ma. Just something I came across that seems kinda interesting.'' he replies, tucking it away in his pocket.

''Well what's it about?'' she asks.

'' See that's the thing, I really don't know if it's for real or not.'' he replies. ''I think I need to find the person I got it from because it's kinda confusing.''

'' OK, son. whatever it is I'm sure you can figure it out.'' she tells him then goes back into the house.

Deshawn smiles to himself and pulls the book out again. He opens it. to the third page and reads:

'They say that money is the root of evil. That's not necessarily the case. Money is a means to an end. If a person with access to money has a genuine purpose then where could evil find a place?...'

''What is this book?'' Deshawn whispers aloud.

'' What the book is isn't the question,'' the old man says from behind him.

Deshawn let's out a small yelp and turns to see the old man standing in his front yard.

''Hey, man!!! what are you doing sneaking up on me like that?'' he exclaims. ''You scared me half to death!''

The old man chuckles.

''Listen, my apologies. Didn't mean to startle you, just came by to tell you that the book you hold changed my life.''

Deshawn looks him up and down.

'' Yeah, I know I'm not much to look at but before I earned the blessing you hold, I was a mess.'' The old man's gaze drifts into the distance. ''I had so many plans but no direction. So many dreams but no drive...''

''So what happened?'' Deshawn asks.

'' A woman approached me and said: 'Today's your lucky day'.

The old man sighs.

''Before you get back to your reading I have to give you this.'' he digs in his pocket and pulls out a crumpled envelope. He passes it to Deshawn. ''Now, I got places to be.''

The old old man chuckles again and head's off down the street.

Deshawn watches as he turns the corner. He breaks the seal on the envelope.

Inside is a check made out to him for $50,000.

He drops both the book and the envelope in disbelief.

''Deshawn, you OK?'' his mother is standing in the doorway again.

''Yeah, ma. I'm good.''

''Who were you talking to?''

''Truthfully ma, I have no idea.'' Deshawn tells her. ''But I think that today really is my lucky day.''

What do you mean?'' she is curious what's going on with her son.

''I will let you know when I'm done reading this book.'' he replies.

''Whatever you say, son.'' she disappears into the house again.

Deshawn pick's up the book and the check then sits down on the steps. A signed, $50,000 check. He resumes reading.

'You may be wondering how it is you are holding a check you never asked for... Well, put simply, you deserve it therefore you have it. All the times you put the needs of others before what you wanted, it's all coming back now.''

'Is this dollar amount allowed that your works add up to...? Probably not. But this isn't a payment of debt. This is merely a show of appreciation. Your deeds have been noticed and fortune has finally favored you.'

Deshawn finds himself at a loss for word's as he flip's through page's of things he's done and people he's helped selflessly.

He looks up at the sound of someone coming in the yard.

''I forgot to tell you... my name is Peter but all my friends call me Saint.''

Deshawn smiles as he turns then walk's back up the street.

He turns to the last page of the book and notices the carefully handwritten words.

'God is in everything good. When you act with goodness in your heart, your spirit is rewarded. So, from this, know that your works have preceded you and the hand of God is upon you. Thank you.'

Deshawn closes the book and lift's his head to the sky.

'''Thank you...''