Money Money Money

Monday's are always the rough days, Joe thought to himself, as he got ready to clean out his bus for the day. Sure enough, as Joe swept out his bus he found pieces of food on the floor and wrappers from pre-made foods on the floor even though the sign clearly states NO FOOD on the bus. Joe had an eye for detail when it comes to cleaning his bus. He made a small pile of debris in the middle of the bus. Before he got ready to sweep the trash up, he looked down and saw a little black book, he bent down and dug it out of the rest of the trash in the pile. Now he was curious and opened the book, The book looked old and worn, on the inside of the cover it said, FOLLOW ME TO RICHES. The rest of the pages were in a language Joe didn't understand, he closed the book and continued to clean out his bus. When he was finished he headed to the shop to clock out for the day. He turned in his cleaning supplies signed his worksheet handed the dispatcher his phone and clipboard and turned in his money, and proceeded to make his way home.

Before leaving the shop, he reached into his pocket and took out the little black book he had found and continued to look at the pages every page was in a different language Joe couldn't read but he was able to read the last line on every page. Each page said something different, this puzzled Joe but he figured why not he had nothing else to lose. Down the bottom of the very first page, it said SMILE AT SOMEONE. Joe continued to pick up his nightly paper at Elle's News Stand, she always greeted him with a smile and sweet disposition. As Joe walked up, he could already hear Elle... Hello. Joe top of the evening to you. Joe looked up and smiled and a pink heart appeared above Elle's head. Elle said well would you look at that a smile from Joe ... my day couldn't get any better as she turned to hand him his change. See you tomorrow Joe.

Joe continued down the street heading for his favorite diner to get some dinner to save him from cooking. He paused for a moment, he pulled the black book out of his pocket to look at the next page, and sure enough. the second page said COMMIT A KIND ACT. Joe smiled and continued down to the Fairmount Diner. Joe making his way through the diner took his favorite table, the one next to the window facing the main street so he could watch the people go past. The waitress came along placing a menu card down on the table in front of Joe and inquired what Joe would like to have to drink, without hesitation Joe replied coffee please two sugars two creams. The waitress hurried off to collect his coffee, while Joe stared at the menu. He was trying to decide if he was going to have a treat, a fully dressed cheeseburger, or stick to his normal Italian dish. While Joe sat there in deep thought, he peered over the menu sitting across from Joe was an elderly gentleman with silver hair and ice-blue eyes, his manners and style of dress fit the 1950's and here it was 2021, The waitress returned with Joe's coffee, light and sweet just like he asked. She smiled sweetly and asked if he was ready to order. Joe looking up from the menu put his order in for his fully dressed cheeseburger, as he placed his order Joe made eye contact with the elderly gentleman sitting across from him, at the same time he instructed the waitress to bring the elderly gentleman a cup of coffee and slice of their best pie. The waitress nodded in agreement and went off to collect Joe's dinner and the gentleman's coffee and a slice of Apple pie she even threw in a scoop of vanilla ice cream just to top off the pie. The waitress returned 20 minutes later carrying a tray full of food. She placed the plate with a fully dressed cheeseburger and some golden french fries in front of Joe. She quickly proceeded to the next table and set down a cup of coffee and slice of apple pie in front of the elderly gentleman she then pointed to the man sitting at the other table informing the gentleman his coffee and pie was courtesy of Joe. As the waitress walked away a pair of hands appeared above the gentleman's head. turning gold. Joe sat there quietly enjoying his dinner while staring at the window watching the people and traffic past back and forth. Joe finished his dinner and collected his things. Before he left he put a 20 dollar bill on the table to leave for the waitress as a tip. He took one more look at the little black book, and the next page said GIVE TRUE SOUND ADVICE. Joe closed the book returned the book to his pocket and made his way to the door leading to the street.

Joe made his way down Main Street heading towards his home. Three more blocks to go and I will have completed my six thousand steps for the day. As he walked along the streets passing one store after another he began to whistle. he enjoyed his walking and with a busy life.- he was finding it harder to be able to take his walks. As Joe got closer to his house, he could feel the moisture in the air, yep rain was on the way. Joe decided that he would stop at the corner store which was only a block away from his house and pick up a few much- needed items and maybe even play the lottery just this once. As Joe made his way to the corner store, it started to mist out, Joe stopped a minute felt the cool misty rain in his face and. pulled the hood up on his jacket. Joe quickened his step to increase his pace so he could make it to the corner store faster, Just as Joe turns the corner onto Clancy Blvd. big heavy raindrops began to fall. Joe jogs across the street and makes it under the awning leading into the corner store. Joe took a minute to shake off some of the bigger raindrops that managed to hit him before entering the store. behind the counter sat a big man he was very tall and very strong also very friendly. he knew most of his customers by name. Hello Joe, called out Mr. William, as he saw Joe enter the store and head towards the refrigerated section. Good evening Joe calls back towards Mr. William. Joe goes around collecting the things he needed and returns to the front of the store. Joe makes a neat pile of things he collected in the store for Mr. William to ring up, as the men engage in small chatter. Mr. William looks at Joe .. that will be 25.00 dollars, please sir. Joe pulled out his wallet handing Mr. William some cash. While Mr. William makes the change, Joe reminds Mr. William to be ready to use his umbrella tonight as the rain has made it to town early. Mr. William smiled, yes had an idea that may happen. All of a sudden above Mr. William's head appeared a golden question mark. Joe just smiled as he gathered his packages getting ready to leave the store Good night Mr. William, don't work too hard. Mr. William began to chuckle and said Don't worry Joe, I won't. Joe continued to make his way down the street to the front door of his home. Joe finally makes it to his front porch he quickly lines up his packages making it easier to grab and pull into the house.

Once inside, Joe put away all the things he had collected at Mr. William's market. Joe made himself a cup of coffee and settled down into his favorite chair, and that is when it hit him. He forgot to play his numbers for the lottery, oh well tomorrow is another day he thought. Joe rummaged through his pocket and pulled out the little black book, he opened it to see what the next page would say. This time however the pages all seemed to have a golden glow to them, what a strange little book Joe thought as he tossed it up on his table beside his chair. Joe placed his coffee on the table grabbed the remote for the television and sat in his chair, turning to the news of the day. Joe watched the news for about 30 minutes and had enough of that. This world needs to really come together before we don't have a world left, he thought as he gathered up his coffee cup and headed to the kitchen, Joe rinsed his coffee cup out and set it up for the morning. He turned off the light in the kitchen, returned to the living room turning off the television and lamp, and headed towards his bedroom. Joe made his nightly stop at the bathroom and got cleaned up for bed. Once in his bedroom, he decided to lay on his bed and play a few word games on his phone before turning in, Joe completed three more levels in his word game before turning in for the night, he placed his phone on the nightstand next to his bed, plugging it in so it would charge. He got himself settled in bed and reached for the light to turn it off.

6 a.m. and the sun was already starting to leak in through the black and silver curtains hanging on the windows. Joe sat up and hung his feet over the side of the bed, doing his morning stretches for the day, he was now ready to start his day. Joe headed to the kitchen to make his morning coffee. Joe brewed a single-serve cup of coffee and toasted a bagel and covered it with cream cheese. Joe collected his breakfast. and headed into the living room to watch the news on t.v. He went to place his breakfast on the table next to this chair, and that is when the bag caught his eye. Joe didn't recall placing a bag on his t.v. table, he put his coffee and bagel on his chair so he could move the bag, putting the bag on the floor he placed his breakfast on the table. He opened the bag to find money inside, He counted the money to find he had 20 thousand dollars in his possession. Joe decided to take a walk by the auto dealer to go look at that camper van sitting on the lot. Joe grabbed the bag and headed out the door. He made his way to the dealership and hurried across the parking lot to the van. He looked it over one more time, and went into the office.

A gentleman came to meet Joe and ushered him to his desk. Joe informed the gentleman he was interested in the camper van for twenty thousand dollars cash. The gentleman went to the backroom for a few short minutes returning to Joe he accepted Joe's offer, Joe quickly handed him the twenty thousand dollars cash and the gentleman gave Joe the keys to the van. Joe went outside and climbed up into the driver's side of the van and for the first time in Joe's life his dream finally came true, all thanks to a little black book found on the floor in Joe's Bus.