The Checkbook

Making my rounds for those daily errands. First stop: the Credit Union. I always make it a point to arrive once they open to avoid a long line, and to minimize the risk of encountering strangers during the Coronavirus Pandemic. I don’t know if it was luck, or some kind of elaborate setup, but everything changed since that morning.

I thought I was the first one there, but someone looked like they were on their way out of the building. I couldn’t make out the face because it was covered in a black facemask. This character was also wearing a long black coat, a black fedora hat, and large rounded sunglasses. It was every cliché you can possibly think of for someone trying to don a stealthy disguise, but the facade causes them to stick out like a crow surrounded by pigeons (which defeats the purpose of wearing the outfit). The stranger reached into their coat pocket, and a small Black Book bounced onto the concrete. “Hey wait! You dropped something---” by the time I grabbed the object, the person in black was gone.

The Black Book was actually a sleeve to a checkbook: each check signed by a Gene Orus. They were each marked for one thousand dollars! As I kept flipping, the leather sleeve also contained a blank Deposit Record. I continued to examine the pages and found a slip of folded notebook paper bookmarked in between the pages...

To Whom It May Concern:

This Black Book is not a lost item. Please accept my conditional gift. These checks are yours as long as you do not consume more than Twenty-Thousand U.S. Dollars from it. Pass it on to another stranger after.

The moment you endorse a check, you are signing a contract to agree to these terms. Stick to this agreement, then you can do no wrong. If you violate these terms, any extra money you exploit from this book will be cursed.

Sincerely,

Gene Orus

What kind of a name is Gene Orus? This can’t be real!

Am I desperate? I have been out of work for over 2 years, but I have just finished college as a returning student. I pulled it off without taking a loan, but the Coronavirus has made things difficult. I am one of those thirty-something adults still living with their parents, and they are both in the vulnerable age group. I cannot get a job, because I will be putting them at risk every time I go into the outside world and come home. This Black Book could be an answered prayer!

The Credit Union was empty, so I can try dropping off one of those checks. I could feel my body temperature rising, and a beating pulse coursed through my entire upper body. This could get me into trouble if I arouse suspicion, but here goes nothing.

“I want to deposit this check, and withdraw five hundred dollars. They can all be in large bills,” my voice cracked to a high volume because I was nervous about pulling this off. Wearing a cloth mask must have been a blessing in disguise because it muffled my voice. I usually avoid asking for large bills, but I was in a hurry to get out before anyone else enters this building. The clerk at the counter may not have noticed my anxiety since their cloth mask visibly hidden any facial commentary. Business as usual.

“Would you like this in an envelope?” As the clerk asked this, the check was being processed. I nodded, and discreetly pocketed the envelope and thanked the clerk on my way out.

Once I drove home, I opened up the envelope with excitement. It worked! I have a new income! The receipt from the Credit Union reflected the check I deposited and the money I withdrew. I opened up the Black Book to suddenly see my name had been written in the checkbook’s log book. “WHAT HELL!?” Luckily I was still in my car, so my parents couldn’t hear me shout. I didn’t remember writing this. The person who made these checks, Gene Orus has been tracking me. Was this magic? Was the clerk at the Credit Union counter actually Gene Orus? The letter in the Black Book is the only assurance that I need because I only used one check. I could only deposit nineteen more checks.

I can do this, I can keep the money as long as I keep track of these checks. For extra measure, I will alternate between making a deposit in my Savings and Checking Account. It seems scary that Gene Orus is tracking my moves with this money, but this could be used to my advantage. I could see this as a warning.

I finally decided to leave my car and open up the front door. My mother looked at me and said, “you have some mail today.” One letter is from an East Coast University I applied to for Graduate School. The second letter was from Gene Orus. My body flashed with nervous heat. I opened the East Coast University letter, and was given the biggest surprise…

Dear Applicant,

Congratulations! You have been accepted to our Graduate Program for our Design & Production Department!

Please check your student Admissions Portal to confirm your acceptance if you wish to proceed to the next step.

We eagerly anticipate your response.

College Admissions

I was ecstatic! I did not think I would get accepted to this school, because they are extremely competitive. I proceeded to read the other letter from Gene Orus.

Dear Black Book Recipient,

It pleases me that you have decided to use this checkbook. You are wondering how I found you, and it is very simple. My Bank confirmed that my money went to you, so I traced your name to your address.

Remember, you have agreed to my contract.

Sincerely,

Gene Orus

I was able to feel a drip of sweat roll down my back. Gene Orus is hot on my trail. This is a person with large financial resources. I should be fine if I keep track of my spending. I left the bathroom out of breath, and naturally my mother was nosy about the letters.

“What are those letters about? So are you going to that school?” She asked this because she was looking to discourage my interest the moment I interviewed.

“I got accepted!” Despite the events that transpired that day, I was still thrilled. I have been investing into this path for 15 years of my adult life. It is about time I have something to show for it.

“How are you going to pay for this? You know your parents aren’t going to.”

“I have a way. There are all sorts of gift aids out there. I told you I am approaching Grad School like my Undergrad: if I can’t find a way to pay for it that does not involve taking a loan, I will turn it down.”

“What about that second letter?”

“It’s… Actually how I am going to pay for this. That’s all that I have to say about it.”

My mother is unimpressed. She is only more suspicious, “Why? You better not be doing anything sneaky, or I’m going to tell your father!”

“That is all I am going to say, I have this handled.”

This is an exciting turn of events, and luck was on my side. I went to my room to check The Black Book. My name is still in the Deposit Record. I can do this, I just have to plan carefully. I can move to the state of my new college.

Twenty three weeks have passed, and calamity befell me. I visited my Credit Union to deposit my last check from Gene Orus. Like the first time, I made a withdrawal of only depositing the check, and withdrawing Five Hundred Dollars. Halfway through the road, I tapped my right leg pocket to discover my envelope was missing! I quickly pulled over to see that my pocket had a hole in it! Somewhere along the way, I have lost the money. Luckily I hid the checkbook at home for safekeeping. Trepidation began to overtake me, because I had miscounted. I noticed that that Checkbook still kept track of my activity by mysteriously logging in my deposit record, but it only kept track for the first ten checks! I grew too dependent on this method of tracking, and did not bother to keep track myself! How could I have made such an oversight? I have shot myself on the foot!

Stay calm, I might not be in as deep as I thought. I checked my Credit Union website to check my Savings and Checking Accounts. Surely enough, it kept track of twenty-three checks each marked with one thousand dollars. I broke the contract; I over deposited three-thousand dollars! Why didn’t I check this website sooner to keep a more reliable paper trail? I am set to move any week now, but my plans have changed into damage control.

VOOOM! VOOOM! VOOOM!

“Hello, this is your Credit Union contacting you about an unusual withdrawal made in your name, we need you to visit our nearest facility at your earliest convenience.” I had to return to the Credit Union twice in the same day. This time, I brought the Black Book with me.

“Can we confirm your account number?” The Credit Union clerk then informed me of the situation, “Did you make a deposit of one thousand dollars and a withdrawal of five hundred dollars today?”

“Yes, I have. I lost five hundred dollars. The envelope slipped out of my pocket. By the time I realized this, it was too late.” Despite my tears, I had to remain calm.

“Did you also have this morning’s receipt in the envelope?” Even though the clerk was in a mask, I could see eyes of concern. “It gets worse than that, your first and last name is on the receipt. If a hacker knows you are affiliated with the Credit Union, they can access your account and has been funneled. The good news is that only the Checking Account has been phished, because that was the last deposit you made which the hacker traced. We will assign you a new account number, and recommend that you change all your passwords.”

“Thank you for tending to the matter. On the upside, I still have my savings.” I could feel my face was heating up, but I tried to maintain my composure. This is what Gene Orus meant by the extra money being cursed. I have exceeded twenty thousand dollars, and had to pay for it at a great expense. The only way I can break this curse is to give this to another stranger.

“Is there anything else we can be of service? We can try to restore what was lost, but cannot guarantee a full recovery.” I could see the clerk was trying to be helpful, so I did not want to take my anger out on someone who had nothing to do with the situation.

“Are you able to spare a pen for me? I need to update my checkbook of this catastrophe.” I was thinking of Gene Orus’ terms.

“Absolutely, you can keep the pen. Please have a good rest of the day, and be safe.” The word of kindness motivated me to try to pay it forward.

I opened The Black Book to find the note which described the terms. Below Gene Orus’ name I wrote…

PS Gene Orus will only track your first ten checks. Keep a log of everything.

I closed up The Black Book and left it in the Credit Union parking lot where I found it. I might have to live with the guilt I will curse someone else, but I must hope whoever receives The Black Book after me does not repeat my mistakes.

My mother was right to be suspicious.