Grandmas little black book.

"Dad!, Can I ask you a question?" John asked as he entered the kitchen.

"Pretty sure you just did. Weren't you going to help grandma for some cash today? How'd that go?"

"Very funny. Yeah I did but,.. I'm kinda confused on what happened after."

"Well, walk me through your day."

Well I woke up this morning with a single goal. Earn some cold hard cash. My car had seen better days and it was time for an upgrade. I'm wanting to get myself a newer ride with all the new gadgets. Like power windows and AC, and room in the back for all my other needs.'

"Remember the saying about backseats and accidents kiddo."

"OK, NO, not touching that, anyways"

So I had made plans with grandma, deal was the usual. I help her out with some stuff around her place, she helps me out with some cash. Fast forward to round mid-morning and off I was in my glorified piece of crap on wheels. I'm glad grandma lives in the valley of those hills, from the way the car sounded on my trip I doubted it would have made it over a speedbump much less those monsters. But I got there round lunch time and knocked on her door.

"Did she make you one of her amazing lunches?"

"Not at all! She was all business from the get go, I'm lucky I ate a big breakfast."

I chopped wood and stacked it, weeded her garden, washed her windows, mowed the lawn, and fixed that loose board in the back fence. After that was all done she brought me inside for a cool drink and handed me an envelope. It only had a hundred bucks in it! and while I'm grateful, it would barely cover the gas to get there. So I asked if there was anything else I could do for her since it was only mid afternoon. She told me she could probably help me out a bit more, but in return she'd like some white flowers with a teal center for her table.

"Not a blue one with red thorns?"

"She was very specific."

So anyways, I asked her where to get them from and she said that its up to me. Well luckily for me I remembered that last summer i saw some when she took me up into the hills behind her house last summer.

"Wait, So you remember flowers from a hike a year ago but nothing when i ask you to take out the trash?"

"Selective memory, now do you want the story or not?"

"Carry on."

So up i went, following the trail that led up behind her place, the goal now, was to remember where I saw those flowers. We had spent an entire day up there that summer but now I only had a few hours. So i put on my thinking cap and headed up the trail.

"I hear those caps are all the rage nowadays."

"..."

After climbing the trail for roughly half an hour i came to another realization; I am definitely outta shape. I can't remember another time in my life I sweat so much. Luckily for me there was a little brook winding its way down the hill side where I could cool down. Unfortunately for me the crayfish I met had an issue with my bare feet intruding on its home. I felt like a cartoon character jumping around with it stuck on my foot. So after that fiasco, I carried on with my mission. Now bearing a small limp and a grudge against all shellfish.

Sweating again I decided that I'd aim for the trees to get a little shade. Me and water seemed to be on the outs so walking under the trees should have provided a bit of relief. However, it seems I upset a bird by getting to close. Next thing I knew I had a feathered murder pillow chasing me through the trees. I made it into a clearing and I guess the little death ball decided that was far enough as it let me be.

"Guess the shade idea, was for the Birds! ... Don't give me that look."

Luck was on my side whole heartedly this time, for across the clearing was a small ridge with my goal nestled on top. This time I used my smarts and went around to a suitable place to climb up. Prize in hand I headed back to grandmas. Thankfully the trip there was uneventful. Grandma met me at the door, grabbed my flowers and rushed me into a shower.

Once I was done I came into her kitchen, the flowers were in a vase on the table and she was sitting there with this little black book, and a pen in her hand. She told me to sit down and tell her all about my trip up into the hills. So I told her all about the bird and the crayfish and as I was telling the story I watched her pen move. It flew across the page as fast as I could talk. Once I finished my story grandma asked me again what I needed the money for and just how much I needed. So I jokingly told her i could use twenty grand for a new car. And now then this appeared.

"So dad, my question is, where did this envelope come from?"

"Have you looked inside?"

"Yep, It's there, Twenty thou, Told me I had to take it, the book found my story satisfactory."

"Well son, I don't know how it works or why. That's a question for your mother. All I know is if you get something from the book you take it."

"Hmmm, MOOOM, I have a question about grandma."

"No John, There's nothing I can do about her perfume. Its her favorite."

"What? No, What's the deal with her little black book?"

"Ah, Well now, She brought that out did she? That's been in our family for generations."

"UH-huh, And the magical money?"

"Well it won't up and disappear on you if that's what you're asking."

"No. How, why, how?"

"You said how twice."

"Not now dear, Johns' having some difficulties with this."

"Just a little bit mom"

"Sorry hunny, I don't know much as it hasn't been passed to me yet. All I can tell you is if you want something and you give it a good story, it'll give you what you desire."

"That's impossible"

"Oh, but it is son."

"You've used it before as well dad?"

"Well of course he did hunny."

"What's the best thing you ever got outta it dad?"

"Well son, You know the extra large big screen T.V. in the den? Well you see, I was ..."

"You know dear, we'll need the garage cleaned up to fit Johns new car."

"But I'm about to tell him about.."

"It's gonna take all night if you don't start now."

"Alright, Alright, Come on John, I'll tell you as we clean."

"Sorry Dear, John has some money to deal with, and a long day to rest up after. Chop chop, off you go."

"Uh Mom, Your smile is a little unnerving right now."

"It's ok hunny, I just figured your father needs some exercise to clear his head."

"Uh"

"I mean, he must need it if he thinks that T.V is more important the ring on my damn Finger."