Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover

My day started like any other; filled with dread. I did all the things, and played all the songs trying to get myself into the mood to have a day that was somewhat of an adventure. Since COVID, every day started to look the same. Blurring into one another, with no individuality or fun built in. I listened to the meditations about discovering myself as I bathed. "Take care of your body, for your body is your home" it said. I laughed out loud and sunk deeper in the water.

What if every day was going to be just like this I thought? Since I lost my dog, my sunshine was gone. Now all I had to look forward to was sleeping. This was always the sign of big changes in my life. I needed a change, but I just was not feeling it yet. I had enjoyed my life and gotten used to the feeling of being content. However, now that my companion was gone, I felt like I was starting all over.

I rushed around to get ready like any other day. I looked into the mirror and told myself that it would do for today, and ran out the door. Everything about today was just like any other ordinary day. I cranked the 90's music in the car hoping for some divine inspiration or hidden messages within the lyrics. Nothing.

I clocked in right on time, and laughed to myself at how proud I was of myself. It felt like I had won an award. I never seemed to be late for anything else, but at this point, getting to work was one of the most epic struggles for me. I climbed the stairs slowly, suffocating on my facemask, and turned on all of my supplies. I was a virtual teacher, and needed to put on my game face.

That was when I saw it. A little black moleskine notebook; sitting on my desk. I looked around the room trying to find clues of where this thing might have come from. Surely someone must have left it by mistake. After all these things can be quite expensive. There were no clues to be found, so I opened the first page.

On it it read, "Welcome to the Beginning of an Extraordinary Adventure." I rolled my eyes and became a little bit embarrassed. Had my depression shown it's face so much at work that someone needed to intervene? My brain quickly filled with anxiety over every single thing I had done or said that week.

On the second page it said, "Yes, I'm talking to you."

At this point I was even more weirded out. I put it down and decided to continue onto my morning routine. I did not have time for something so silly as a mystery notebook that could potentially be a prank.

I sent out an all staff email informing them that someone had left their notebook on my desk. Most people did not even know what a Moleskine was; so that quickly shortened my search.

I thought to myself, "I'll give it until the end of the day."

Then no takers. All day while grading student work, all I could think about was this strange black notebook on my desk. Where did it come from? Who put it there? And why was it here?

When the clock struck 3:45, I grabbed the notebook and ran out the door. With no sign of an owner, I decided I was going to spend my weekend learning more about this book.

I settled into my couch, and flipped to the third page.

It said, "Your life is far from ordinary, but you just have not seen what I have seen. You have so much coming to you, if you plant the seeds."

I do not know if in my thirties, if I had suddenly become a sassy teenager or what, but I rolled my eyes for the third page of this book. This must be one of those self-help books that someone is trying to write. Some token quotes will be in there about strength, perseverance, and compassion. There will probably be tips on how to be a successful person. I was not interested in self-help, but I was interested in learning more about this book. After all, I'm over thirty, I am single, a teacher, and it's a Friday. I literally have nothing better to do at this point.

I flipped to the fourth page and on it was a map. Alarmingly, the starting point was from my very address. This was getting really creepy. The ending point was the side of a gravel road about five minutes away. I instantly called my sister. I asked her why she was pranking me. I knew she was trying to overcompensate for accidentally letting my dog out, and it leading to his death. I was sure she set up something silly to pull me out of my 2021 depression.

She got upset and informed me that she did not have the time to do such a thing; especially with three kids running around.

So I did what any person that has no life on a Friday night would do; I decided to put my coat on and go on an adventure.

I slowly pulled onto a backroad of gravel, where I saw a suitcase in the ditch. Suddenly, every single murder show I had watched in the past year flashed before my eyes. I sat in the car for about three minutes debating what I should do. Surely I was paranoid and there would be nothing crazy in that suitcase. It was most likely a friend playing a prank. It had to be. However, no matter what it would make for an odd story to share with coworkers on Monday, or at least make for a good Snapchat story.

I could use all the coolness factor I could get at this point, so I thought to myself that I might as well. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and pushed on the latches to the suitcase. I heard the sound of the antique levers hitting the side of the bag. I lifted the lid a little bit, trying to see if there was an odor of any kind, and opened my left eye in a squint.

In it was a note that read, "I told you today was an adventure; you will find what you are looking for where you find the most joy."

What? Where do I even find joy? My life seems pretty miserable at this point, all I really do is stay home. Then it hit me. My home is the answer. I spent every day of quarantine with my happy puppy, running through my backyard. We swung in the hammock, played in the pool, and I laughed as he jumped off the deck with his body completely straightened out. My happiest place, was being in the yard with Archie.

So I drove home, and before entering, I turned back on my security cameras. I was still on that whole envision a murder streak. There was absolutely no one to be seen. So I quietly entered my home, grabbed a flashlight, and headed into the yard. But what was I looking for? I did not know. I just knew I was looking for something that gave me joy.

I sat in the deck chair, and tried to think where in the heck something spectacular could be in my yard. It is a big yard, but it was not a place where anything could be hidden. I looked out into the yard and saw a bone. One of Archie's many bones that he left. I did not have the heart to move them or take them anywhere. Then instantly I jumped up. I remembered he always liked to hide a bone in the couch. It was in the corner of the sectional, and he always liked to hide things there.

I ran inside and tore through the cushions. I threw them all over the living room. When all the cushions were removed, I teared up seeing all the little bones left behind by the one I loved; my best friend. Then I decided to pick up the rawhides, deciding it was probably time to not be sitting on a sectional with dog bones underneath the cushions.

When I grabbed the final bone, I carried them into the other room where all of Archie's things were hidden in a dog crate covered by a blanket. When I opened the door to the crate I saw something white hanging down and stuck in the top. I pulled at it, and after about three minutes got it loose.

I opened the envelope, and inside of it was a check for more money than I could ever imagine. There was a signature of a person I could not connect to. I tried to think of all the different ways I may know this person. I googled, I looked them up on every social media; and nothing.

Inside of the envelope was also a note. The note read, "My dearest friend, You do not know me, but I know you. I see the heart you have, and all the difficulties you have faced over the years. I see the hard work and dedication that you have put into everything you do. Most importantly, I see the love you give to others. Your adventures are just starting. Use this money to beat the monotony, and do more; for you were designed for more. It is time."

What in the actual world is happening right in this moment? Is someone stalking me? I had no idea who this person could possibly be, and I did not understand how they would know me. I literally hangout with no one, and keep to myself the majority of time. I decided to sleep on it; with the cameras on of course.

I went to the bank the next day to cash this check, and see if they could figure out where in the world this came from, or if it was actually real.

I handed the lady the check over the counter. Her eyes widened, and she went to work. I laughed nervously and asked her if she knew anything about this. She said, "Yes. Just trust the process."

She handed me the large bills, and then handed me something else. Another envelope. Inside of it was a receipt showing my house had been paid off, my car had been paid off, and a ticket to the other side of the world. It also had a note that said, "Every day is an adventure, go find yours."