The Choice

The Choice

Every morning it is the same. I get up, get coffee going, grab the paper off the porch, go to the kitchen and relax while reading. That is until this morning. I would never be the same after today.

Opening the door to grab the paper when an envelope slid out from between the folded pages. I stared at it like it was a two headed goat. With utter confusion I glance to my left and right to look for anyone watching or for a suspicious car.

“Well, what the heck.” I muttered to myself. After a few minutes of awkwardly standing and staring down at my feet, I bent down to pick the envelope up. It felt as if it held a hard square object.

I laid it on the kitchen table then began to pace back and forth glancing at the suspicious little package at each turn about. It wasn't until I bothered to look at the coffee pot and noticed the time on the stove. Good thing I work from home for now, I thought as I grabbed a shirt out of the basket on the dryer.

Rushing to my office, I clicked the link to the meeting I was supposed to have been in fifteen minutes ago. I can't believe I wasted that much time staring at a freaking envelope, I mean what if it had anthrax in it--wait if it did, wouldn't I already be sick or dead, I continued this lengthy conversation with myself, so if it isn't anthrax then what else could it be, it has something hard and square--a cassette ta---.

“Earth to Crysta, are you there?” Sarah, my boss, was waving her hands at the webcam as if it was going to wake me up from my thoughts.

“I see her, but I don't think anyone is home if you know what I mean.” John replied in his usual snarky tone.

“Great, I knew this would happen. The pandemic has finally made one of us legitimately crazy.” Alexis, another co-worker I despised, chimed in, “I mean look at her, she hasn't even bothered to brush her hair and is that a robe sticking out from under her t-shirt?”

“I don't feel good. I have to go.” I quickly gave a fake cough forgetting that everyone could see me do so and clicked off the meeting. I ran back to the kitchen and reached out to pick up the envelope then my hand froze in mid air.

Ever since the pandemic hit, I have not gone outside other than to my own back porch. I have had no contact with anyone. Even have groceries delivered by the local grocery store which let me tell you does not carry the best variety of items. Feeling the excitement welling in my body, I snatched the little package up.

It is too late now, just rip it open--no, dont rip it open stupid open it slowly, shaking my head I delicately began to open it. Well this is let down somewhat.

I pulled out the little black book. It looked like your typical miniature journal. I now sat slightly disappointed in what I had received, but only for a moment before a new train of thought pulled into my brain station. What could be in this tiny ledger?

I opened the little black book. Inside there was a list of names that had been crossed out. It wasn't until I got to the fourth page that I came to the end and was rendered speechless. It was my name, Crysta Beck.

Shocked, I dropped the book down onto the table. What the heck, why is my name in this book, why are all the names crossed off, why is mine the only one that isn't? My mind began to race with possibilities. I picked up the book and looked it over better this time. The only thing I could find was a hand written note on the inside cover that read ‘You are Next’.

Locking down the house tight, I sat in the far corner of the living room with a bat next to me. Avoiding windows is what all the crime shows say to do when you are the next victim so I am doing just that! I didn't even turn on any lights when it got dark. I was relying solely on my cell phone's dim light when I pushed the home button to manoeuvre around.

After several potential bruises later, I finally managed to make it to my bedroom. I locked the bedroom door and sat on the bed prepared to jump into my closet should I hear a noise. Who would want to hurt me? I am a great neighbor, not loud at all, no animals, I am nice to everyone--well almost everyone.

The sun woke me from my nightmare filled sleep. I tossed and turned all night expecting someone to break in to murder me. I guess the killer had a dinner date or something. I got up and cautiously made my way to the downstairs. Nothing was disturbed. No signs of any intruder whatsoever.

I peeked out the door and slid my arm out to the paper on the welcome mat. Oh that has to go!, I thought as I pulled the welcome mat into the house as well. I do not want the crazed killer to think he is welcomed at all!!

Just before shutting the door I noticed a larger manila envelope that had been placed under the welcome mat. Guess I should have picked that mat up before now. This envelope felt heavier and much thicker than the other one. Without hesitation I opened and dumped the contents onto the floor in front of her.

Several one hundred dollar bills scattered all over the floor. Looking with confusion into the manila envelope to be sure everything was out, I sat and stared at the money in front of me. After what felt like an eternity, I finally counted it as I stacked it nicely. There was twenty thousand dollars.

“What in the heck is going on here?” I wondered out loud just as I noticed one of the one hundred dollar bills was different. It had a number on it with a note saying ‘once you call there is no turning back’. “Okay I am tired of games so let's just get this over with.”

The number led to a recording saying ‘Casey Miller is a forty-two year old single mother of three and she lost her job due to the pandemic. Your choice is to take the money to Casey Miller at 555 Stone Creek Drive, Guthrie, KY or to keep the money for yourself. The choice is yours and you have one week to complete the task.’.

I jotted down the name and address. Sitting once again in my living room, this time at the bay window as the threat of a murderer breaking in to kill me has faded, I pondered what I should do. I could really use this money to fix my roof. The bathroom ceiling is already starting to cave in. But this woman has kids and I don’t.

I once again had a few restless nights as I mulled over what to do in my mind. This money can do so much for me, but the image of three little kids staring at me starving to death haunted me everytime I closed my eyes. Not sure which way to go I put the money back into the manila envelope and snatched my keys off the shelf in the hallway.

I cannot believe this is happening to me. Maybe if I just drive by to see what she looks like and if the kids really are starving. I pulled up to the curb across from the mobile home. It looked as if it had seen better days. A car that also looked as if it had seen better days pulled into the driveway. A young teenage girl got out dressed in a uniform complete with a ball cap in the shape of a rooster head.

Dear lord that child deserves this money just for having to wear that hat! I cringed as I watched the girl unlock the door and enter the home. Just as I was about to drive away I noticed that the girl was coming back out still in the uniform, minus the hat, with a young teenage boy and a woman who wore a bandana around her head. They had to assist her getting from the house to the car.

I sat in the car for over three hours staring at the mobile home after they drove away. It was clear to me the older woman was sick. I only saw two younger people that could be kids so maybe this isn't the right woman. Just as I decided to recheck the address and looked back up I noticed a younger boy walk up to the door and wave back towards me.

Oh crap, I have been spotted, okay, okay come up with a good lie here--who am I kidding I can't lie to save my life!! Nearly peeing my pants I sunk down into the seat. It was then I realized there were three other boys around the same age walking past my car. Phew, he must have been waving at them not me--get it together girl.

I knew what I needed to do and though it was hard to do so, I knew it was the right thing. I waited until the boy had entered the home for a bit then I grabbed the envelope and headed towards the porch. I had just stuck the envelope between the screen door and front door when I heard a car door shut behind me.

“Can I help you with something?” A defensive young woman's voice called out from behind me.

I am not good at this sneaking around crap at all, I am just going to be honest as I can be--maybe, my mind raced to come up with an answer as the girl helped her mother get out of the car. I watched without speaking as they came closer.

“No, I just realized I had the wrong address as I knocked on the door.” I forced a little laugh as I began to walk down the steps of the small porch. “I am sorry I didn't mean to bother you. I will be on my way.”

“Are you sure we can’t help you? What is the address you meant to go to and maybe we can guide you to it?” The frail woman asked with a warm smile on her face. A tear formed at my eyes as I turned away and began to walk towards my car.

“No, that is not necessary. You have a good day!” I called out and jumped into my car. I sat and watched as they opened the front door. I saw the young woman pick up the envelope and hand it to the mother. I drove away slowly and saw the front door open up as the frail woman was peeking out to look for me.

I cried all the way back to my house. I did the right thing, they needed that money more than my stupid roof does. I felt a sense of pride I hadn't felt in a very long time. I made a difference to someone else.

The next morning I got another envelope in my paper. This time it said ‘For You’ on the outside. Puzzled, I opened it to find another envelope and a note that read ‘Cross your name off the list, mail the little black book back with the enclosed envelope’. As I tucked the book into the envelope I pulled out a check addressed to me for twenty thousand dollars with ‘you deserve this too’ written in the memo space.