Little Black Book Adventure

There were several paths I took home from work. I would randomly choose each day which path I would walk so I wouldn't become too predictable. (There is lots of riff raff in my town.) One day I decided on the path that goes by the park. It was a chilly day so I zipped my coat and put on my hat and put my hands in my pocket. ( I had no gloves because I always tend to think I won't need them and then I leave them at home and regret it later.)

There are several benches at the park and I usually don't pay attention to them. No one sits on them, why should I notice empty benches? I passed by one bench and almost passed another when a gust of wind came and caused a rustling sound from something on the ground.

Out of instinct I looked and saw a little black book. No title, no name on it. I shrugged and started to walk away but stopped. I had several thoughts. Maybe someone was looking for it? Maybe it's a diary? Maybe it's a type of treasure map? I chuckled at that last thought.

Well, there was no sense in wondering so I picked it up and sat down on the bench. I peeked inside and then opened it. Definitely an address book. But it was blank. It seemed like it had been gone through many times so that didn't make sense. I figured I could make time for a little mystery. I looked harder at the book. I looked at every angle, even upside down. Then I noticed grooves on the pages, like indents from writing but there were no pen or pencil marks. I decided to take the book home since it was getting dark.

I got home and sat at my kitchen table with a desk lamp. I got a pen and pencil and some blank sheets of paper. I had a plan. I remembered back in elementary school doing a project with leaves in the fall. The teacher would have us make their outlines on paper using crayons. I planned to do the same kind of thing now.

After shading every page I set the book aside and look at the formerly blank sheets in my hand. I took a pen, since it is darker than pencil, and filled in the light parts that were skipped during shading. Now I could clearly see the addresses- from another town. What?? I supposed a train ride was in order.

When the weekend came I rode a shaky train into the other town. I wasn't sure what I was going to do yet but traveled on, sure I would figure it out when I got there. When I arrived I sat at a restaurant and sipped a water with lemon while I looked at the book and shaded papers. Using the map on my cell phone, I figured out the path to the first address. It was walking distance.

A while later I was standing in front of an average looking house. I had half expected it to look haunted. I wondered if the owner knew who this book belonged to. I walked through the gate, grateful that no dogs ran out after me. I went to the porch and rang the doorbell and waited. I listened for footsteps and watched for a curtain to move, anything to show that someone was home. I rang the doorbell again and realized it was silent. It was dead.

I knocked firmly on the door and heard dogs barking. That figures. At least they sounded small. I heard footsteps and saw a curtain move as an elderly lady looked out at me.

"Hello? Who are you!"

I started to explain about the book but she vanished from the window. Oh well, she must not care. I turned to go and then the door opened.

"I'm sorry, dear, I couldn't hear you through the window." I smiled and explained again about the little black book and told her where I had found it and of my journey to her porch. She reached for the book and I handed it to her.

"Oh my," she said shakily. "This was my husband's book. I always wondered why it was blank but no I see it was not blank!"

I shifted nervously. Hopefully her husband hadn't been a cheater! She seemed too sweet to have been betrayed like that. She looked then at the addresses I had shaded and laughed.

"Oh my, I know these places! They are friends and family here in town! Oh, he always was mysterious, bless his soul!"

I was relieved to see she was not in distress. And then I was surprised at what she asked me:

"Will you come with me to these places, please? You might as well see how this ends!

"Um- ok. Sure!" I stammered as she put her 2 little Pomeranians on leashes.

It turned out it was a treasure hunt. I hadn't been too far off with the treasure map idea I had laughed at. Her late husband had set up in advance for her to find some left behind wealth for her at each address. Then he had given the address book to someone to plant somewhere after his passing.

This sweet lady had one more adventure from her husband and I got to be there for it. She shared some of the wealth with me but more than that I got to meet many new friends and we exchanged addresses and phone numbers the normal way.

I am so glad I stopped and picked up that little black book!