X Marks the Spot

Sun filtered through the blinds into Kayla’s face making her throw her arm over her eyes, just as her alarm clock went off. “Damn it,” she groaned, “where did the time go?” Dragging herself out of bed, grumbling the whole time, she staggered over to the bathroom to get ready for work.

Fixing coffee, some lunch, and being thankful it was Friday, she grabbed up her stuff and hurried out the door. Thinking, since it seemed so nice out, she’d take her bike to work, she headed out back to the shed. Yanking two or three times to get the padlock open she swore for the thousandth time to replace it before getting it off and finally getting to her bike.

Dumping her stuff in the basket and realizing she was now running really late, she took off on her bike towards downtown. It was cool but not cold and the sun shone brightly overhead. So brightly that she didn’t notice the little black notebook on the sidewalk before she bumped over it.

“What the…?” Kayla glanced back and saw the little black notebook. Curious, she went back and scooped it up. Feeling a little guilty to be looking through someone else’s property, but telling herself she was just looking for a name or clue to return it, she flipped it open.

Inside the script seemed old-fashioned, like the way they used to write with quills. “Wow, Kayla thought to herself, who takes the time to write like this anymore.” Suddenly the bells of a nearby church rang 8 times making Kayla start and moan, “great! Now I’m super late!” Tossing the notebook into her basket she took off for work hoping she could at least beat her boss there and pretend she had been on time.

No such luck. Walking into the Brew For You coffee shop, Kayla’s boss stood glowering by the front counter. “Have a nice lie in, Kayla?” he growled “This is the third time and three times you’re out”

“But Mr…” Kayla hurried to interject.

“No! I’m done, so you’re done! I’ll mail you your last check!” he snarled and stomped off. Kayla sighed and went back outside to unlock her bike. "Great, she thought, Now what am I going to do to make the rent. I am NOT calling Mom, she has enough to worry about.” Sighing again she rode over to the park to sit and decide what to do now.

It was cool on the park bench but tucking her legs up under her Kayla reached over and took out the notebook she had picked up. Opening it Kayla gasped ! All the writing was gone! The pages were blank except for a set of five numbers across the top. “ok, now I’m losing it on top of everything else,” Kayla grumbled. She closed and reopened the notebook a few times but it remained with the row of numbers and no writing.

Deciding to head back to check for jobs online, Kayla considered those five numbers on her ride home. What could they be for? Not enough to play the lottery. Maybe it’s a code! Not enough for coordinates. The thoughts tumbled around in Kayla’s head until she thought she’d get a headache.

Putting her bike back in the shed and deciding not to bother fighting with the padlock, Kayla grabbed her things and headed into her apartment. Sitting at her desk with her coffee, she booted up her computer to check some online job sites. As usual, there was nothing out there, well, at least nothing SHE could apply for. Sighing and picking up the notebook, she started flipping through the pages. Besides the five numbers across the top of the first page, there was a drawing about halfway through the notebook!

Staring at it, it seemed to be a map or at least a hand-drawn attempt at one. Turning to her computer and bringing up local city maps, Kayla tried to line up the drawn one with an actual map. Surprisingly it seemed really close to the neighboring town!

Comparing them carefully, it looked like there was an “X” over the bus station. “Really?? Kayla thought, “X” marks the spot?” Laughing but thinking, since she didn’t have to go to work at the moment, why not head over and check it out. Heading back out to her bike, Kayla took off to the neighboring town. Thankfully the weather was still holding so it made for a pleasant ride.

Once in town, she rode around looking for signs to the bus station. Spotting one, she took a short cut through the alley and came up on the backside of the wooden building. “It actually looked cool and old”, she thought, “with all those posts and archways”. Leaning her bike on the bike rack outside, she headed up the steps into the building. The interior had rows of old wooden benches that were well maintained and sat atop gleaming wood floors, “wow! Kayla breathed, super cool !”

Curling up on one of the benches, she took out the notebook and opened it. There on the first page under the row of five numbers, was a large number 19 right in the middle of the page! “Holy crap!” Kayla exclaimed out loud. Clapping a hand over her mouth and looking around, she hoped no one was looking at her strangely but the few people milling about didn’t seem to notice. Looking back at the page she wondered, “Now what does THIS mean.”

Getting up to explore the station, she wandered up and down the rows, checking out some pictures on the walls of the same area and building from years ago. Heading towards the back of the station, she noticed rows of lockers that you could rent and store stuff in. “Nice that they kept them with a wood finish and didn’t use those ugly metal ones,” she thought. Noticing the numbers at the top of them she looked for number 19 and found it in the next row.

Deciding it couldn’t hurt to try it, she used the five numbers listed in the notebook on the lock… it opened!! Spinning around to see if anyone was looking, because she felt like she was breaking into someone else’s property, she didn’t see anyone near her or even looking her way. Turning back to the locker, it appeared to be empty, aside from an already scratched Scratch ticket. “Great, I get a map and instead of treasure, I get garbage. Just my luck.” Kayla grumbled. Picking the ticket up she looked it over.

“No way!” Kayla said out loud, and again “NO WAY!” The ticket was worth $20,000 !! “I have to be reading this wrong,” she stated. Slamming the locker closed, she hurried over to the information desk.

“Excuse me” she said to the counter person.

“Yes, what can I do for you,” the older woman behind the desk asked.

“Uh, how does someone rent a locker?” she asked. “Well, we check for any available, tell you the rates and you sign the book, “ the woman replied helpfully.

“ok, could you check please?” Kayla asked.

“Sure thing,” the woman replied and pulled a large ledger out. “Let’s see,” she murmured, “the only available locker at this time is number 19”

“But, that locker was locked!” Kayla exclaimed.

“oh no dear, you must be mistaken. It’s available according to our book here. Would you like to rent it?” the woman inquired.

“uh, no thank you” Kayla replied and turned to walk away.

“Well, have a nice day dear!” the woman called out, but Kayla, her head spinning didn’t hear her and continued out to her bike.

Once outside in the fresh air, she decided, this must be some sort of joke. Hopping on her bike she headed to the nearest corner store that sold scratch tickets. She went in the store and headed for the counter. “Can I help you?” asked the clerk.

“yes, I’d like to check if this is a winning ticket?” Kayla asked.

“Sure thing” the clerk replied. Scanning the ticket, they both her the electronic reply say “This ticket is a winner. $20,000” “Holy shit!” the clerk exclaimed “you won $20,000!”

Gaping at each other, all Kayla could say was “Wow! Now what do I do?”

The clerk laughed and said, “Well I can’t cash that here! You’ll have to go to the state office and talk to them but congrats!”

“Yea, thanks,” she managed to reply and headed back outside.

“I won $20,000!” she kept thinking to herself because it hadn’t sunk in yet. Picking up the notebook she wondered what was going to happen now and opened it. All the numbers were gone and it their place was a statement: “Congratulations! Now its time to “Pay it forward” Please leave this notebook somewhere for someone else to find.”

Blinking, Kayla flipped through the pages but that’s all there was in it, for now anyway. Smiling, Kayla rode back towards home and passing a park with trees, benches and even a fountain, she decided it was as good a place as any. Riding over, she stopped and placed the notebook on the bench under a tree and whispered, “Thanks and good luck to whoever finds you next” Laughing out loud because such a crappy day turned out to be wonderful, she took off on her bike to get her car and head to the state office and collect her winnings.

The End