Everything happens for a reason

Beep, beep, beep, is the sound from Earnie’s alarm. He looks over at his clock as he does most mornings and it was flashing 7:30 am time to get up for work. You see, Earnie is very accident prone, just last week he ended up hitting a deer with his brand new car! Yes, I also asked myself, “an accident prone guy buying a brand new car?” Why? But, Earnie hemmed and hawed about it for a few days until he finally made the jump and bought it. But anyways, Earnie snoozes his alarm again and again until he has just enough time to get ready and leave for work. Needless to say, Earnie was very hungry this particular morning and wasn’t in the happiest of moods either. Earnie will never forget what happened on this day, and will start questioning this very moment and every moment after that.

Okay, so let’s rewind to just a few days ago. Beep, beep, beep. SWAPP!! as his arm swings over and hits the alarm as he always does.. “Ughh, another day another dollar” he says before getting out of bed. “Please nothing go wrong today,” he whispers to himself. Then a few flash backs swarm through his head again....Finger in the car door, dinner was left in the oven, the fire alarms going off...Ernie was always a day late and a dollar short for everything.....

While getting ready for an interview Earnie stops, and takes a breath because he realized he had started with his left leg in his pants instead of his right leg. For a second, he thinks, shakes his head and continue getting ready. Next he brushes his teeth, and pets the cat (Bro) always before leaving and then walks out locking the door behind him. Hoops in the car, fastens his seatbelt and then tries to take everything out of his pockets, “damn it.” “Can’t get my hand in my pocket, stupid seatbelt.” “I do this every time,” he then says to him self followed by an eye roll.🙄 Finally gets all situated, begins pulling out of the drive way and ends up knocking the trash can over that had been sitting by the road. “Ahhh," he then yells, banging his balm against the steering wheel a few times. Stops, takes a deep breath, and just keeps on going running that can over! “ Yeahh! What now garbage can.” “Damn it, now I’ve got to buy a new one.”

Driving down the road coming up to a red light. Earnie lightly taps on his break then fully to come to a complete stop. Earnie looks up at his mirror since he now sees headlights coming upon him. “Please stop, Please stop. BAMM! Well not that loud but you get it. Earnie’s head then sways forward a tad, and back. He then looks down at his pants says loudly, “I new it wasn’t going to be nothing pants!” He then gets out and sees the other guy is already out heading towards him. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. My breaks are bad and I tried to stop but they slipped and well you know. Please don’t call any one.” Earnie then stops him and says, “let’s go see what the damages are then go from there.” They both then start walking to the back while josh continues. “Josh,” he says, putting his hand out and repeats, “I’m Josh.” Earnie looks down grabs his hand and says “Earnie.” “I’m Earnie” with some relief in his voice as he can see there’s not much damage, or was it the garbage can? He shakes his head again and ignores that thought. “I’ll pay for the damages but please” Earnie then interups him with his hand up, palm facing Josh, “it doesn’t seem to be much damage soooooo I won’t report it. Your car seems to be in rougher shape even before it kissed mine. Haha, sorry that's not funny. Josh replies with, “Oh my god thank you, it’s been a rough couple of weeks with the pandemic.” Earnie replies, “I hear ya there, I unfortunately was one to loose my job which brings me to having to go. I’m running late for an interview.” He then looks down at his watch and notices something in the snow right beneath his foot. Earnie bends down to unburiey it. "It's a small black notebook." He says. Opening it up. "It's empty except for the first page and the last." What's on the first page," Josh asked? "A date. What is the date today,” Earnie asks? “I believe it's February 28th.” says josh. "Hmm" Earnie all puzzled and confused. The date in here is in 2 days. Earnie then flips to the last page. “Everything happens for a reason.” "Thats it?" Asks josh. "Yep," says Earnie. "that's it. But Ive really got to run, I'm so late." Earnie hands Josh the book and he says. "IDK it's yours now." Got to go. “I hope the rest of your day goes better for you josh." He then replies, "Yes thank you, you also and good luck in the interview.” “Maybe I’ll see you there,” chuckling a bit. Earnie hops back into his car, and drives off. All confused, “I’m also heading to an interview.” Josh then says to him self. He then gets back into his car and drives slowly to the interview. Didnt see Earnie’s car. “Hmm, must have been a different one.” Josh gets out, walking away pushing the lock button twice on his keys heading towards the door.

Arriving to the 3d floor. Josh walks straight to the front desk and says “good morning, I am Josh here for an interview at 9.” “Ok, you can take a seat over there.” The desk lady pointing to a few chairs up against the wall. “Yeah,” nodding my head, “sure.” Says Josh.

Bzzz, Bzzz. “Front desk. Yes, yes, ok will do, mhmm bubye. Josh?” says the front desk lady. "Yes” he responds and stands up. She continues with, “unfortunately the position has been filled.” “Wait, what?” Josh says confused and disappointed. “Your telling me I drove over here in this weather, rear ended a guy to find out it was all for nothing.” The front desk lady replies, “wait?” With a little chuckle behind it. “I’m sorry, sorry I don’t mean to laugh but I just heard the front end of this story about a half hour ago.” Josh then says, “it was the same interview, well good for him.” "Earnie must’ve gotten the job I take it.” He says out loud to the front desk lady. "I’m sorry Josh but when one door closes one opens. Just remember that.” She says. And with a smile on his face and his chin up, Josh relied with a, “thank you.”

A few days go by and Josh still doesn't have a job so then he sets out in search of one but first, he needs to get some gas. Josh finds a gas station and pulls in. He gets out, goes inside and heads to the back of the line. The gentleman in front of him turns and says, “you can go ahead, I may.” then realizes who it is. Chuckling a little, then says, “hey, long time no see,” “Josh right?” Says Earnie. Josh reply’s, “Yeah, oh and I heard you got the new job, congratulations." "Wait, What how did you know?" Says Earnie. “Well, I was kind of on my way to the same interview and the front desk lady told me about the front end of the story." he then chuckles a little, Josh puts his hand on Earnie’s shoulder and says, "it's OK, really. I'm going to be OK." Earnie pauses for a second and looks back up at Josh and gently says, "Okay."

"Next!" rudely says the cashier. "go ahead," Earnie says to josh then steps aside. "That's why I turned around, to see if you would like to go ahead. Getn me some lottery tickets because I'm feeling lucky today. So it's going to be an extra minute for me."

Josh then walks up to the counter. "hi, could I just get $8 regular on pump 6 please." the cashier says, "absolutely, can I get you anything else?" "no but thank you, " Josh says back. "Okay, and your welcome.,” she replied. Continuing with, “that will be $8 even.” Josh hands her the money and finishes with, "have a great day, Nancy.” Says her name tag. Josh says to Earnie while putting his hand out for a shake, “good luck with your journey, I'm glad I ran into you." Haha they both laugh. "I meant again," Josh says with a smile and then walks out the door.

Josh gets back to his car, opens the gas tank, picks up the nozzle, hits 87, sticks it in and begins pumping. He then looks up over at the doors and notices Earnie walking out. Josh waves and Earnie waves back and heads to his car.

Josh finishes pumping, jiggles the nozzle to make sure every last drop had come out. Then puts the pump back where it goes, grabs the cap, screws it back on and gets back into the car. Fastens his seatbelt. Trying to get his wallet out of his pocket. "Ahh I did it again," he slightly chuckles but with a little frustration. He then puts the key in the ignition, turns the key and the engine turns on. He looks down at his shifter and puts it in drive. Bam! Bam! Bam! On the window. "Ahhhhhhh shit!" Yells Josh. He then looks at the window and sees Earnie with tears and excitement. Josh then puts his hand on the window nob and starts cranking it around to roll the window down. "Jesus Earnie you scared the shit literally almost out of me. Wait, What is it, are you OK?" Josh says with his heart still racing a little. "I won, I won!” “Josh I won $40,000. Earnie shows Josh the ticket still shaking a bit. "And I wont to split it with you. So each of us wins $20,000. This whole series of events these past few days wouldn't, no couldn't have happened if it wasn’t for you kissing my bumper."