"Something in the Snow"

I’ve just arrived home, its 6:30pm and as I open my front door to be greeted excitedly by my dog it suddenly dawns on me; I’ve forgotten to get the dogfood when I got off the bus at the shops before walking home. Bugger. I quickly put my work bag down, putting my wallet, phone and keys in my big fluffy fur coat pockets and head back out the door. The shops is only a five minute stroll through the main park from my apartment, however it’s a cold winters night in Victoria, Australia so my five minute stroll has now turned into a ten minute trek through the snow.

With my coat wrapped tightly across at my waist and both hands feeling the warmth of my side pockets I walk with my head down to avoid the cross-breeze through the park. Once I get to the fountain ill know I’m half way there I think to myself. Hoping that gives me enough incentive to soldier on and not turn around and run for the comfort of my warm heated apartment. I’m about three paces short of the fountain when something in the snow catches my eye. I detour a few steps to the left, reach down and pick it up… It’s a small black notebook.

After admiring its beautiful leather embroiled design on the front I flip the through the pages to see if I can find any information on whom may of dropped it, perhaps its important and holds sentimental value. But to my dismay the little notebook is completely empty, every page I flipped through was blank. How strange I thought, suddenly a gust of cold wind suddenly swept through reminding me of my original reason for being out of the snow in the first place. I must get to the shops before they close, otherwise Genevieve my golden retriever will not be very impressed with me, having failed her a second time today. I quickly shove the little notebook into my coat pockets with my hands and continue my brisk walk through the park and to the shops.

The shops were mayhem, getting there just before closing time at 7pm I was lucky I didn’t spend more time pondering over what I had found moments before, but it was much too cold to procrastinate over what I shall do with it now, I need to stay focused! I collect my shopping and head back out into the cold winter’s night in the direction of the park. The wind had defiantly picked up since before so I only had one thing on my mind, get home and get home quick!

At last, I was home… Genevieve rushing to greet me at the door with just as much enthusiasm as before. I quickly close the door behind me, hang up my coat and crouch down to show Genevieve some much needed love and affection. She was absolutely squirming with joy, I couldn’t tell if it was because she missed me or if she could smell her favourite dog food coming from the shopping bags I had placed on the bench, so I decided I best feed her and get some rest… it’s been a long day!

“BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!”

The sound of my alarm interrupts my blissful dreams. I was enjoying the hot sun at a beach somewhere, watching Geneviève frolicking in and out of the water darting at all the seagulls with an enthusiastic tongue dangling to the side as she ran. My tight shut eyes told me, ‘Keep Sleeping’ with such warmth but my mind told me to: ‘Get up!’ Write down your dream quickly before you forget!

I open my eyes with a determined force, studies show that you only have 5 seconds from when you think of something to action it. Immediately I regret my decision as the bright morning sun shines through my bedroom window and straight into my sleepy eyes. I quickly close my eyes and sit up in my bed, stretch my arms out and yawn, looking around completely annoyed at life’s existence itself for a second.

I reach over to my bedside table and pick up the little black notebook I had found in the snow the night before. Still in the process of waking up but not wanting to forget my beautiful summer dream I open the note book and flip the first page.

“Huh, Wait WHAT!?” I say allowed in complete shock and disbelief. Thinking I must be still asleep I rub my eyes and peer closer at the page again, I don’t believe it!

THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK SUDDENLY HAD WRITING INSIDE IT!!!

‘I must be going mad!’ I thought to myself still shaking my head in utter confusion. ‘How could writing just suddenly appear out of thin air?’

My mind was completely boggled, my eyes rapidly analysing the page and the book itself to see if anything else had suddenly changed about its appearance overnight, but nothing. Nothing had changed on the outside, it wasn’t even on the first page…

‘How could of someone written in the book while I slept?’ I thought out loud. Then it dawned on me… ‘If someone had written in the book while I slept it must mean someone broke in. Someone was in my house? But how? Why? When Who?

So many thoughts rushing through my head as I sit holding the little notebook looking around for any clues of possible break-in or anything to justify this bizarre situation I had found myself in.

“Hello “I called out, still hiding under my doona as if that was protection enough against an intruder.

“Hello…Is anybody there” My voice echoed shakily down my hallway as I reluctantly awaited a reply.

Nothing. But. Silence.

Then almost out of nowhere I hear footsteps coming up my hall. Terrified I cuddle up to my doona in fear, my legs automatically assume fetial position. Preparing for the worst as the footsteps increase in pace and get closer and closer and closer.

I hear the intruder approach my bedroom doorway I hide my face and scream!!

“AHHHH!!!”

Just as I drew in another breath of air for another scream I felt an odd weight jump onto the bed making very excited panting noises, “GENEVIEVE! Oh you scared me!” I said as I realised she had gotten my fitness rope caught to her leg overnight making the human like footsteps as she ran down the hall towards my room obviously hearing that id finally woken up.

“Oh you’re a funny dog, C’mon Let’s get some breakfast!” I say looking down at her, cuddling her in my arms as we get out of bed together. As soon as I let go she runs back down the hall. I giggle to myself as I realise the downgrade of noise she made towards the kitchen since removing the fitness rope.

After having my morning coffee, shower & dressed for the day I walk over to my nightstand to quickly put on my watch before starting my day, although it was a Saturday and I wasn’t working I liked the routine of putting my watch on every morning; almost as if it held some sort of boosting power for me to get though my days easier. I click my watch into place on my wrist, my eyes peering at the notebook I had left open…

The writing reads:

Go to the City.

Find the water ferry.

Catch the ferry to the last stop.

Get off the ferry & find the lost property booth in front of the terminal.

Ask to collect item 362.

If you are asked to describe it, just say a little black handbag.

DO NOT look inside the bag. DO NOT open the bag.

Put the handbag into your bag and get back on the ferry.

DO NOT stop for anyone or anything! DO NOT talk to anyone.

GO STRAIGHT HOME.

~ Good Luck ~

That’s was it. Nothing else.

How strange I thought looking to Genevieve for some type of gage on how I should approach this.

So many thoughts crossed my mind at once… it was directions, instructions? But for whom? By who? Surely it would be absurd for me to follow the writing… or would it be mad not to?

I let the two thoughts bounce back and forth pondering the idea of this possible exciting new adventure when the local weather lady on the morning news interrupted me:

“After last night’s cold front, today will be a generally warm day throughout Victoria and surrounding areas, some places getting up into 17 degrees by the middle of the day.”

I look down at Genevieve, “Shall I go on an adventure today?” she barks back with excitement. I take it as a positive sign. Within a few minutes I had gathered all I needed into my handbag, including the little black notebook, closing the front door behind me as I walked briskly through the park and towards the bus stop heading into the city. Just as I get to the bus stop I can see the city bus arriving, I quickly flag it down and jump on smiling at the bus driver as I take my seat.

Within ten minutes the bus had gotten to the city, I jump off thanking the bus driver as I eagerly head towards the city ferry. I arrive to the ferry stop and read the timetable, the next ferry isn’t for 5 more minutes. ‘I best get out the instructions and re-read them one last time before I get onto the ferry.’

I finish scanning over the page of writing, taking mental note of the important parts as the ferry arrives. I quickly pop the notebook away and out of sight. I board the ferry with butterflies… I can’t tell if I’m nervous, excited or scared or all three at once. Nevertheless I have to control myself and my emotions and focus at the task at hand, as random as it may seem.

Finally the ferry pulled into the river terminal.

“LAST STOP’ I heard the driver call out.

That’s me! I quickly jumped up and headed towards the front of the ferry and hoped of onto the pier. Taking in my surroundings I can see a little blue kiosk office just to the left of the terminal.

‘FERRY OFFICE ‘the sign read.

Not wanting to waste any time I walked straight over and followed the instructions to the ‘T’.

The lady sweetly smiled as she handed me the Black Hand bag and said: “have a great day!”

“Thank you, you too! “ I said quickly rushing back to the terminal. The ferry heading in the opposite direction was simultaneously arriving. I jumped onto the ferry and took my seat down the back peacefully taking in the scenery as I took the journey back home…

Adrenaline rushing through my body, my hearts racing 100 miles an hour as I finally reach my street. I quickly unlock my door rushing inside making sure to close and lock it behind me. I followed all the instructions, I came straight home. I head quickly down the hallway towards my bedroom, Geneviève’s jumping up all over me and following me along the way. I reach the foot end of my bed and in excitement I unzip the handbag and turn it upside down, completely emptying its contents all over my bed…

My eyes widen bigger than they ever have before in awe as I see piles and piles rubber band bundles of green $100 notes fall all over my bed almost covering it completely!

“There must be at least $20,000.00 here, easily!” I said out loud; my face still shell-shocked with a huge grin.

Suddenly amongst all the bundles of money I see a small piece of paper the exact same size as the little black notebook pages. I reach down pick it up and read it out loud…

“I never stopped loving you.”