The Book Said "Simply Pick Me UP" That's All It Said.

First off I want to tell you I have (or had) very little belief in anything to do with the supernatural. Ghosts, destiny, fortunes, I'm hardly what someone would call a believer. One day that all changed when I found a little black book near a trashcan by a psychic reading stand on the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, California. Looking back now however, I must say that some voice, something deep inside me did tell me to look down near that specific trash can and pick up that book, which said only that "Pick Me Up", a book that would have a significant impact on my immediate, upcoming life.

The book wasn't a thick book, it was probably a couple hundred pages or so at the most. It was an old book, black, looked really old anyway, covers were worn, hardback, if you could call it that, but worn enough to be considered paperback. However, the messages and writing on the book were very clear, on the outside anyway. The book said "Pick Me Up". I was in a rush and with friends so I just grabbed it and tossed into my backpack.

Truthfully though, it sat inside my bag for the next two days. I had just thrown down my bag when I got home and the only reason I needed to get back into it was because I had a pack of ummm.. cigarettes that I needed to get out of there. Well, a long side of what I was looking for was this book and it said "Open Me Immediately!".

I swore had it had originally said "Pick Me Up". But on both sides of the book it no longer had that phrase. The book now said "Open Me Immediately!" on one side on the front of the book. It was weird!! I felt a dark energy coming from the book almost like it had been mad that it had sat just untouched in my bag for last two days. So I opened it immediately. When I opened the book, I was welcomed with a riddle. The book said "You came to a fork in the road with two identical men (impossible to tell apart). One man always lied and wants you take the path to destruction and the other man always told the truth and wants you to take the path to the equivalent of "Your Heaven". Now for a little back story, one of the road leads to riches and is basically fantasy land, and the other road leads to the equivalent of hell. The guys standing next to the paths (the 100% liar and the 100% truth teller) aren't' necessarily standing next to the good or evil path but they know which one is the right one and they know which one is the wrong one. So the book asked "What is the one question that you can ask them that will guarantee that you go down the correct road to the equivalent of fantasy land. Once you know the answer text it to (463-555-1777). That was the only thing in the book. The rest of the pages were blank.

Now this riddle was the one riddle that I fooled my grandfather with years ago. He was a great man, but passed away for at least ten years. He was really good with riddles, he waited out three whole days before he had me tell him the answer.

So I texted the answer to the number. " Which way would the other person/thing/entiny tell me to go? Then turn around and ask the other one the same thing. Then go the opposite direction. The trick was getting them to say the same answer."

Joke explained: For example: Bad Path = right . The truth teller would say that man over there is the liar and tell you to go right. The liar would tell you that man over there was the liar and tell you to go right. You now know the only option there is left, to Paradise.

Within 5 minutes I got a response from my text all it said was correct, congratulations, and posed another question for me. The phone asked me "What were the two best types of pie?" Respond to the same number with your answer.

Now, this might not be a particularly weird question to a normal person, but this really hit home for me. My grandfather used to ask me all the time if I knew that he only liked two types of pie? He was a portly, great hearted guy that loved his pie and iced-cream. So I told him of course, "You like all kinds of all pie grandpa". To which he replied "Hot and Cold". So I responded immediately with "Hot and Cold". The phone buzzed again within only a minute or two, quicker this time. Correct it said. Wait for further instructions.

Things were definitely weird about now. I couldn't think of anyone that knew about those things to do with my grandfather and I. Besides I was on the boardwalk in Santa Cruz and he was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. What was going on? How did this book lead to this? Really, was somebody playing a prank on me? But who, cause I have not family here and it started with that black book that I happened to pick up.

A day or two later my phone got a text from an unknown number. It merely said check your bank account and congratulations. I checked my bank account and saw that an anonymous source had sent me a payment through zelle for $20,000. I couldn't believe it. This had to be some kind of mistake. I called my bank. I asked if they were sure that there was no mistake and they assured me that no mistake had occurred. I didn't question or argue with them I just hung up the phone. I picked up the book one last time, but I noticed something peculiar, AMAZING, all that the book said was CONGRATULATIONS on the front and back. Your mom and I love ya, see ya someday had magically appeared on all of the pages of inside the book. From that point on I guess I can no longer say that I do not believe in the supernatural.

Travis McDonald

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