The Exchange

The Exchange

It was 3:33 a.m. It was no use. He could not sleep.

He could not lose her.

"God I will do anything.. Just don't take her.

Thomas's wife Evelyn was dying from cancer. She was 42, and they had an 8 year old named Katy. Named after his Grandmother. They had been together since 17. Eloped because her Father didn't want her with some "Struggling musician that would just get his daughter pregnant and drain him dry.

Why is all he could think. She didn't smoke, or drink. Why her?

The why's, the rage, the tears, the pain

consumed him everyday. Every night that he watched her look less and less like the woman he married, and if looks were the only thing holding them together than he would have left by now, but he hadn't and he had no plans on it. He couldn't see a future without her.. and he couldn't watch his daughter burying her Mother at 8 1/2 years old. She needed 20,000 dollars for the surgery.

He was gonna get that money.. and he had to get it soon.

The Next day Thomas gets up to walk Katy to school. The school was only a

a couple of blocks away and it gave them a chance to have Daddy Daughter time. "Daddy is Mama going to die? Thomas's heart dropped to his stomach. What could he tell her? It was a reality that she could but he was determined not to let it. He kneeled down and hugged her. He looked her in

her eyes and told her "I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen." He kisses her on the forehead. "Now go learn something and get good grades so you can go be a Dr." "The kind that will save people like Mommy?" She asked.. "Yes just like that.. She smiles and then runs into the school. As Thomas watched his baby run off he was even more certain he had

to get the money for the surgery, but how?

He was way over his head with his bookie. He owed them 15,000 for bad bets. They had no mercy for his situation. He remembered telling them of Evelyn's Condition and why he needed the money. They didn't care. One

of them after giving Thomas a few smacks told him "Well you better have enough insurance when she croaks to pay the boss or you'll be lying beside her!" He had borrowed from every single last friend he had just to make payments to pay the bookies.. If he got one more credit card and maxed it out he would die himself.

As he walked trying to think of ways to

get what seemed to be a million dollars.

He walked over to the park and sat down on the bench that he and Evelyn would always come to.

He hung his head in despair.

What could he do? He was not God..

Thomas then looks down to pet a cat and notices a black leather Moleskine

Notebook. It had a lock on it.. He then turns it over and sees a "If Lost please call this number" message on the back of it.

Thomas takes out his cell phone and calls the number. "If you are calling because you have located a notebook that you would like returned, press 1" the automated voice said. Thomas pressed 1.

He listens to hold music for about 5 minutes. A Woman then answers the phone and asks "Are you calling about a lost notebook?

"Yes I am" Thomas says

The woman then replies "Is this the best

number to reach you?"

"Yes it is." Thomas says

There is a brief minute of silence.

"Thank-you for calling us to return the notebook. There is a 10,000 dollar reward for its return. Would you like that in cash or a check?"

It seems time stopped for a minute. Thomas had no idea that there was a reward for the notebook and as much as it was. Sir.. How would you like your money? "Ummm I wasn't expecting a reward" he says. "I understand. Someone will call you to arrange a meeting place to exchange the notebook and whatever method of payment you choose. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

Still in shock Thomas replied "no Thank-you", and the call ended

Why were they going to pay so much for a notebook? Most importantly if they were willing to pay 10k for it.. Thomas thought would they pay more?

Would he ask for more?

Would they give him more?

If they wanted it badly enough then they would, he thought.

Well he had to wait until whoever was going to call him to call and then he

would ask.

He went home and tried to rest.

He laid beside Evelyn and held her.

4 hours later his phone rang..

It was an area code he had never recognized before. This had to be them he thought. He left out the bedroom. Evelyn was still sleeping. He closed the door and answered

"Hello"

"Hello is this Thomas?" A Man's voice asked.. "I will be the one that will be doing the Exchange with you. We will meet at the bench you sit at at 9 a.m."

"Have you decided the way you want your money?" CI am happy to return your notebook but there is something else I need inreturn

"How much more do you need?" The Man asked. This was the moment and question that had plagued Thomas's mind for the last few hours. He had

added up everything. The operation, the bookies, his friends, the credit cards and enough to move Him, Evelyn, and Katy away so they could start over fresh somewhere. That number came out to be "150,000 dollars?" The Man repeated.

"Yes" Thomas said. "If you don't mind waiting I will place you on hold for a couple of minutes. Once the man returns and asks him "How would you like your money? Unmarked bills in a briefcase, or a check?"

Holy Crap he thought to himself. Was this real? Did he just ask me how I want 150,000 dollars? Not wanting to carry that type of cash around Thomas replied "a check will be fine." I look

forward to see you tomorrow Thomas. Then the phone hung up.

By this time Katy was ready to be picked up from school.

After Thomas had picked up his baby girl, and they returned to the house. He told her to go hug and kiss her Mother and run upstairs and do her homework while he made dinner.

After dinner he tucked his baby in and kissed her goodnight.

He was exhausted. He took one of Evelyn's valiums. He thought to himself "I will have no problem sleeping tonight."

The Next Day

Thomas does his regular routine, and

takes Katy to school. He was so distracted thinking about what was about to happen. If it wasn't for The screeching of the tires he almost would have gotten them hit by a car.

The driver screamed at him and sped off. "Snap Out Of It." He said to himself.

He then dropped her off. Once he got to their bench it was 8:45. He just sat there and patiently waited. At 8:59 he saw a man walking toward him. He was dressed in all black.

Except his Long trench coat was Grey. He wore a hat and shades as well as gloves. He was incognito to say the least. He walked up to Thomas and greeted him. Thomas stood up to shake his hand but the guy only wanted to tell him a few things. He told him that the notebook contained dates, times and coordinates to where swarms of mosquitoes that carried a deadly virus would be released. They would be released on those dates, times, and exact places. He also told him that he decided that he could no longer go along with the plan and watch a genocide of innocent people dying due to population control. He told him that he was being watched, and that they

were being watched now.That the people that wanted this notebook back knew his address, where Katy went to school, and that his wife was dying from cancer. How could they possibly know that? "When you called to return the notebook. Your address was traced to your cell phone. Which made it simple to get all your other personal information. How do you think I knew to meet you here at this bench?" Thomas' memory took him back to the phone call "We'll meet at the bench you sit at at 9 a.m." Thomas immediately became anxious. The next thing he made clear to him was that if he exchanged the notebook for the cash, tens of millions of people would be infected and Die. Thomas

could not believe what he was hearing. Was this some twisted sick joke just to see what he would do? He had Evelyn's surgery within reach. A whole new life for him and his family. He thought the world is kind of crowded and he could .. No, Evelyn would not approve, and he would not even be able to enjoy his life with her knowing he was partly responsible for millions of people dying.. He looked at the man that held his wife's life in his hands and with tears in his eyes he told him he wouldn't do it. He would just have to find another way to save her.. The man was pleased and told him They will expect me to bring the notebook back. Once they see I haven't returned with it this check will be voided.

However I have something else for you. It is not what you wanted but maybe what you needed. He then hands him a cashier's check for 20,000 dollars, sets the book on fire, and walks away. Thomas couldn't believe what just happened. He cashed that check and immediately set up surgery for his Wife. He would have to figure another way to pay the bookies but that was ok. He would find a way.

After Evelyn's surgery the hospital kept her there another week for observation. After she proved to be ok. They sent her home. Thomas sat and thought about everything that had transpired over the last month and just shook his head. He had saved his wife, saved the world, and

was lucky to land him a new job paying twice as much as he was making at his other job. He guessed doing the right thing in the end did pay off.

20 Years later..

Thomas is looking at his still baby girl and telling her how proud He is of her. "Thanks Dad, Mom always says I got my Ambitious side from you." He hugs her and kisses her on the forehead. Which is quickly interrupted by the loudspeakers voice "Dr. Katy Phelps You are needed in The O.R. Dr. Katy Phelps you are needed at the O.R." I gotta go, Dad. I know I know. Gotta go save people. He watched her speed off as he use to when she was small. Seeming to be like

It was just yesterday. Thomas began to walk out when he caught a glimpse of something on the floor. It's a black leather Moleskin notebook. He thinks to himself this is nice. He turns it over to see if lost please call this number. It can't be he thought. Not another one. He starts to just put it back down or better yet throw it away but curiosity got the best of him. He calls the number on the back. Someone answers the phone. "Hello Thomas. It's nice to hear from you Again."

The End.