Black Book Miracle

I flagged down the cab and told the driver “Penn Station please”. As we pulled up to the station, I grabbed my stuff & handed him $10.00 & told him keep the change”. “Really” I heard him reply as I ran down the stairs to the train. Searching for the track my train was on I thought I dropped something but kept running anyway. Looked in my wallet for my ticket to discovered that I must have given the driver $100.00 instead of $10.00 that I was looking at. As my eyes welled up with tears thinking that that $100.00 was supposed to last for a week until payday. The conductor asked me as he collected my ticket “Are you okay?” “Yes, thank you” I answered quietly. Once home, I decided to see if there change at the bottom of my bag for breakfast. I dumped my stuff in the bed. “$2.60 that’s not even enough for coffee. “I really need to clean this bag”. At the bottom of the mess, I find a little black Moleskine Classic Notebook. “Where did this come from? Maybe when I grabbed my stuff from th4e taxi.” I opened up the book to see the name Jane Johnson 212.999.6677. I’ll give her a call to let her know that I found her book. “Hello, Is this Jane Johnson?” “Yes” she replied. Did you lose anything earlier today? “Yes, I did! Oh God did you find my notebook” she asked. “Can you describe what kind of book it is?” I asked. “A black Moleskine Classic Notebook. Please tell me you found it!” “Yes, I did” I replied. “I would love to give it back to you I said. “I’ll pay you anything for it to be returned” she said. “That won’t be necessary”. I replied. “I live on Long Island & can’t get into the city”. If you would like to pick it up, I will meet you to give it back to you.” “My life’s work is in that book.” She replied. We talked about where & when to meet and set up to meet at a coffee shop near my house. I see a little lady looking around. I ask if she is Ms. Johnson. “Yes, I am” she said. “Here you are” as I handed her the book. She hugged the book like it was a long-lost child. “You don’t know what you have done for me.” She told me. “This information will save many lives” She said with tears in her eyes. “It’s taken me over 40 years to compile all of this. I wrote in code, so no one else could read it. Please let me reward you.” She spoke. “No, it’s my pleasure to return it to you!” I answered knowing that I only had about $2.60 left to my name. “May I have your name & address so that I can send you a small gift?” she asked me. “Sure, I guess that would be okay!” We exchanged information & said out goodbyes. A week later the doorbell rang. When I answered it there was a tall older man in a business suit. “Marie Nelson?” he asked. “Yes” I replied. “I have a check here for you from Mrs. Johnson.” “Oh, I couldn’t possibly take it. I just did want I was supposed to do! Please take it back & tell her it’s not necessary.” “I am sorry but I can’t do that. You see Mrs. Johnson passed away a few days ago. She had no relatives. She left everything to you! Her estate is worth 2 Billion dollars!”