Consequences

"Here you go dear." the little old lady across the hall said to me as I was moving in. In her hand is an old little black book. "This belonged to my husband Jeffery to keep track of his thoughts and things. Since he passed I figured another young man would appreciate it." I accepted the gift with a half-hearted smile and honestly felt a little weirded out. I tossed the book on the couch and continued with getting everything moved in and settled.

"Finally done" I laugh to myself looking at the complexity of my electronics now all plugged in, connected, zip-tied and neatly out of the way. Then a tear develops as I remember the only reason this is happening is because I screwed up and now she is gone. Wiping the tear from my eye I push on. I turn on the music player to some soft jazz as I begin working throughout my little apartment getting it all organized.

“Whew” as I drop to the couch. “Now this is how it should be” looking around admiring my diligence at getting it organized and everything where it should be. I turn on the TV to some movie channel and work on relaxing. Feeling a small poke in my leg I find it. The book the little old lady gave me. I open the cover, written on the inside some strange little doodles. I flip through several pages and notice all kinds of scriblings. Then some odd list.

-Open business

-Marry love of my life

-Nice house

-Kids

-Money!!!!

-Grow old with her.

All of them checked off like achievements. I set the book down to go take a shower. I break down in there. I used to have a list like that. I didn't write them down but one similar. Got some of them but not all of them. If I hadn't pushed her away and did some of the things I did I would have finished it. What did he do to get them done “ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!” Pulling myself together I get out of the shower. I exit the bathroom in my lounge pants and a towel on my shoulders go back to the book.

“Sometimes you just have to put it on paper to make it happen”

“You can not force love.”

“You can not affect free will.”

Interesting, and I begin reading. The old man wrote down everything, his goals, people he owed, people who owed him, both financially and in life. He had it all. Then the list. Underneath is the inscription. “These are the things that will happen”

“OK old man, we will try it your way.” I turn to the end. Pen in hand I begin to write. I put the pen to the paper.......nothing. What do I write. What a time for writers block. What do I want? I don't know. Maybe something small.

-Free cup of coffee.

I smile to myself. That seems simple enough to start and get up to go to bed.

The next morning I wake up. Thank goodness for being off work on the weekend. I get dressed to go to the store for some groceries. I stop by the little convenience store on the way. Pay for some gas. The man behind the counter “New around here?”. I tell him that I was and just moved into this area in a little apartment close by. “Grab yourself a cup of coffee on me as a welcome to the neighborhood.” I thank him and grab myself a cup.

On my way to the store I listen to my playlist that I have for when I am down. I feel a little better. I grab my coffee and take a drink. The lid falls off and hot coffee spills down my shirt. I grab the towel I keep just in case and try and dry it off. Well there goes that. I get my groceries and head home. I take off my shirt and change into a clean one.

I sit back on the couch and see it again. I pick up the book and begin to read more about the old man. He details pieces of his life. Meeting his wife, his kids, his business, and more importantly his belief in making things happen no matter the cost. He tells that that for anything you want you have to be willing to pay for it and sometimes those consequences may be a lot but it can be worth it. He also explains that for this reason to not waste this on foolishness.

Taking this in I make my own list.

-Fall in love

-Better job

-Find happiness

-Begin a hobby and be good at it.

There, that should be a good start and not foolish. Let's see how that works out and continue my weekend before work Monday.

Monday morning. I arrive at the office. Normal day goes by with no issues. Feeling optimistic about starting again. During lunch I receive a call from an old friend, Joe, at another firm. He asks if I would meet him for dinner to catch up. I agree and finish the day.

Trying to catch my breath from laughing we remember some old crazy stuff we did. He tells me his new company is amazing and constantly making strides and growing. “Hey man I am just thankful they got me before they heard of you.” he tells me. “Why do you say that?” I ask. He goes on to tell me that after he got the job he told them about me and to be looking for me to replace him when he moves up.

I head home for the night, typical work week. Wash rinse repeat. That is until Friday morning. I get a phone call from Joe's mother. He passed away that morning. A sudden brain aneurysm early that morning was the cause. I offered my condolences to her. I just had dinner with him and this happened.

It's raining the day of the funeral. It seems funny in stories, TV, and movies it is raining at funerals. I hug his mother and father and express how sorry I am that this happened. Walking back to the car an older man walks up to me. He introduces himself as Mr. Smith and that he was the CEO of the firm Joe worked for and how he talked me a great deal and how I would be a great addition to their firm. “I know this isn't the best time or place but would you meet with me this weekend?” I accept his offer feeling rather low doing this after burying my friend but felt it would honor him in some way.

Saturday morning in casual dress I meet with Mr. Smith at his country club as a guest. He tells me about the work they are doing and that Joe was actually moving up to a department head for the firm. “Given Joe wanted you to replace him and when he moved up we figured why not go all the way. We thought very fondly of him respected his opinion greatly.” Mr. Smith goes on to tell me that with the position there is a sign on bonus as well of $10,000 and that would be extended to me. I accept without hesitation.

That evening I go back and find the book. I find my list and there is a mysterious check mark next to Better job. I didn't write that but OK, maybe there is something to this.....

Years go by, I meet a woman and fall in love, working on being happy and everything is going well, I forgot about the little book and probably boxed it up somewhere. Then the day hits. Sitting in the doctors office we are told she has cancer. A brain tumor that is inoperable and she has 6 months to live. We cry together and decide to make the most of it. I take a leave from the office to be with her till the end and Mr. Smith tells me not to worry that they will take care of things till I get back.

She is very weak at the end. She sometimes doesn't recognize me at all but I stay there.

It was 7:34 AM on a Monday when she passes. Her last words were that she was thankful she found me and loved every bit of the life we had. Tears come heavily as she draws her last breath. So much happiness and sadness all at once. After the funeral I sell the house and decide on another small apartment. I am much older now and decide on a simpler hobby than gaming and begin writing.

I stumble on a site that has a contest for short stories and decide to enter it. There is a top prize and think why not. Before I submit my entry I decide to finish putting stuff away and find an old black book. I decide to look at the last page the old man wrote. “Give this away or the magic goes as well as the consequences.” My eyes grow. This whole time this book gave me those things I asked for but took their price. Being older I decide to submit my entry and once done decide what to do with the book.

A week goes by. An email from the company shows up. I won. My story was the winner and with it was the prize of $20,000. The book did it. Sitting astonished; I hear a noise in the hallway. Opening the door is a beautiful young lady moving in across the hall. I go get the book. “Excuse me young lady but I have this book that has changed my life and wanted you to have it” Extending the little black book to her. She takes it and thanks me and shuts the door.

I sit in my chair and doze off, never to wake up.