The Book of Giving

Rejected... once again I find myself in front of my computer reading an email from yet another company telling me that they regret to inform that they decided not to continue with my application.

It is hard for a 30 year old like myself with 8 years of experience in different restaurants to find a job. Specially given the current situation with the Corona Virus. Despite my experience , finding a job that pays enough to cover my bills and rent has proven to be awfully challenging.

And here I am once again, after 8 months,40 emails and 10 interviews.Still jobless, once again Rejected.

It's not as bad as it seems. The government is providing good help for now which I am thankful to God that they're. I have a beautiful bachelor apartment near Downtown Toronto, family nearby who loves and support me no matter what. And I've been given the miracle of time... I have so much time in my hands. I pass my time watching Tv, learning Japanese and Karate online, and talking over the phone with my girlfriend who is currently back home with her parents.

So like I said... it's not that bad... yet. I feel that in my effort to keep myself occupied and distracted I am spending more money that I am actually getting. To address this problem I decided to invest in buying an electric scooter to deliver with UberEats.

The first few weeks everything was going great. Until I got into an accident that scared the living hell out of me. I was able to walk out alive and well from it. But that definitely scared me. So much so I've decided to stop riding my scooter for a while.

It's been a week since then. The end of the month is rapidly approaching and I honestly don't know if I am gonna be able to cover this month's rent. I could ask my mom or my girlfriend for money...but my stupid man pride would not stand it. I can resume my deliveries and see if somehow I can cover the amount I need. I am running out of options. Unless a miracle happens and I get the money I need I am gonna have to get on my knees and beg my family to give me a hand. Which just the idea of it it's making me sick.

Just thinking about all these things was driving me crazy. I needed to get out of my apartment. Go for a walk, take some fresh air. Something that thanks to the current situation with the virus has proven to be also pretty stressing. But I went on a walk anyway.

Toronto is really cold around this time of year. Which made my walk much less enjoyable. After 30 minutes of walking around without direction or destination I decided it was time to go back home. I was hungry and tired, not really in the mood for anything. I was just gonna go back home, order some food and watch tv before going to sleep.

Before heading back to my apartment I decided to check my mail. See if there where any bills to add some salt to my wounds. To my surprise there was a pretty big package inside my mail box. So much so it made me wonder how the hell did the postman put it in there to begin with. It was a white envelope, it looked like it contained a black book inside.

I was confused. I don't remember ordering anything like this. I am not an avid reader and if I do read I do so online. So getting a book was something out of the blue. I thought maybe my mom bought me one since she's always encouraging me to read more.

I checked the back of the package to check the senders name. His name was Mounty Black. No Address. I thought it was weird since I don't know anyone with that name. Nonetheless since the package was addressed to me so I just took it back to my apartment put it on the dining table and just let it be there until later that night. I was to tired and to hungry to even bother with it. I just went and take a shower, order some food and waited patiently for it.

As I was waiting for my food... curiosity about the package stroke me. So I decided to open it. Like I mentioned before and since the envelope was white almost transparent it was a book. A black leather book. No name on the front or back.

As I was lifting the book a big white envelope filled with cash fell out of the book. I was stunned. I haven't seen that amount of money in quite some time. Specially not cash. As I lift the envelope out of the floor I saw that there was a white piece of paper on it that said 'Read the Book before you do anything'. The first thought that came to mind was ' Mmm ominous much?" but since I am usually a careful person I decided to read the book before I decide what to spend the money on.

I opened the book and the first page of the book said. This is the book of Giving! and it continued with the following. " We know you've been struggling with money lately, but worry no more... your prayers have been answered here attached to this book there's an envelope with a check for $ 320000 for you to enjoyed and get your life and worries back in order"

The first thing that I notice as I was reading this is that there was no check, just a bunch of cash in the envelope, and 2 there were only $20000 in it. Not that I am complaining I mean $ 20000 it's a lot but could not help but wonder what happened with the rest of the money. So I kept on reading

The book proceed the following way " Since you've been such a good person we thought you could use a hand every now and then so here's some money for that" However.... since this is The Book of Giving... it is of outmost important that you don't keep it with you. That you continue to give this book to the other good people in the world just like you. And don't forget that it's not only about the book. This book also contains money in it. So all we asked is that you sent it to a complete stranger with exactly half ,no more no less of the money you have received"

After reading that paragraph I was feeling both sceptical and disappointed for one I wanted to keep all the money and also that explained what could have happened with the rest of the money.

While I was deciding what to do about giving away half of the money to a complete stranger my food finally came. The guy took a good 40 minutes. I tried to be understandable since it was a Friday night and it was raining so I did not want to make a fuss about it. Besides I was now $20000 well technically if I followed the book's rule $10000 richer than this morning. Enough to pay the rent a couple more months until and actual job came by.

Since I was in a good mood and I knew how hard is to deliver food in this times , I decided to take a $100 out of the money I just got, put it in a envelope and slide it under the door for the delivery guy to take. I told him that I really appreciate his work and the money was a small token of gratefulness. He replied happily through the door and just went his way.

As I was sitting to start eating my food I heard a loud crash outside of my apartment. I checked through the window and to my horror the kid who delivered my food was involved in the crash. I hurry downstairs to check on him and to call and ambulance but it was too late... He was already dead.

After a few hours the police and the ambulance arrived to the scene. Of course since I was still at the scene of the accident they asked me for a testimony. I told them everything I knew. Except about the book. Not that it would have added anything to such a horrific accident anyway.

After some time talking with police and the ambulance crew I was allowed to go back to my apartment. My food was sitting there waiting for me freezing cold. I turn the oven on to warm it up and while I was doing so the book pages started flipping on it's own. As I got to the book , something that was not written there before appeared before my eyes... Generosity and giving can be tricky, that's why we give specific instructions. If you give money away, next time don't forget to included this book as well as the EXACT HALF OF THE MONEY GIVEN TO YOU" I was shocked, could the book and my actions had something to do with that delivery kid's death ? The book continued please don't be discouraged we make mistakes as well and we know how you meant well, but please follow the instructions to the letter or else more mishaps might occur"

I could not believe it... I... my actions... my recklessness killed that boy. That just does not make any sense. As I was revolting and suffering upon what could have been my fault more text got added to the book. This time it was a list of names and numbers. Some of them were crossed and some of them had a heart beside it. The name at the top of the list was Agnes White to the right was the original amount of money that was supposed to be on the book $320000 as well as a heart right beside it. The following names where a mix a match between crossed names and names with hearts and to the right the amount of money reduce by half from top until the bottom. The last name had a cross in it followed by the amount of $ 40000 exactly double of what I got.

I panic this confirmed it. People had this book before and made mistakes just like me, or even worst they actually died themselves. Which made me think if that was the case how come there was no money lost in between exchanges a death to what the book gave me the following answer.... out of thin air a $100 bill appeared before my eyes and the following text read on the book " Here is how"

It was clear to me... there was something wrong with this book. I have to get rid of it. I have to do so now. I packed the book back into it's envelope with EXACTLY HALF OF THE MONEY I was giving and addressed it to a couple of streets down the road to someone called Maria Vega. I got her address from Google and just send it as Steven Red.

And that was it for a couple of weeks... I got rid of the book and I had $10000 to myself. I heard in the news a couple after that a person by the name of Maria Vega was found dead in a suite in Las Vegas. Apparently she had died from natural causes after a night of drinking and illegal gambling.

The only thing that the police found that belonged to her was a black book... "The Book of Giving".

I guess giving can be indeed be tricky.