Little Black Book

Little Black Book

I am a retired single woman who travels moderately to visit my children. Before all departures I check the front compartment for the nicely tucked barf bag. Funny, but you never know when turbulence is going to hit, again and again! It was a Sunny afternoon, and I anticipated a calm flight. However, I did check in the front seat compartment for my trusty bag. I looked in and saw a small Moleskin Black notebook tucked tightly in the bottom. I reached in and pulled it out. I looked around at everyone putting their bags in the overhead compartments and settling in for the flight. I looked to see if I was in the correct seat, thinking I sat in the wrong one. As everyone was settling in, I took it upon myself to open it. Inside was a cashier check for $20,000! It was a blank one at that! My heart started racing, I looked up to see if anyone was watching me. I moved the check aside and found a list of people’s names and addresses. Next to each person’s name was a little information about them. One said James Doran of St. Paul. The next Rebecca Anderson also of St. Paul. The list had 8 names and different locations.

My mind was spinning with what all this meant. I tried looking up these people on the internet to see if I could find them and what they may have in common. Soon the flight was taking off and I had to turn my laptop off. I kept the notebook and did not share their information with anyone. After I got off the flight in St. Paul, I went to the airline and asked if they could locate the previous passenger that may have sat in that seat. The airline looked and replied that they had no records of any passenger in that seat? At this point I was baffled as to why it was left there and by whom. And how long had it been in there.

I got to my destination and cracked open my laptop! I was filled with intrigue and excitement. I found the first two people! They were both in their late 60’s. They were both care givers. I jotted down all the information I could find. I looked up the other 6 people and they were also care givers in other cities and about the same age. Now, what to do with this information and what does it mean, and why a blank check?

I went back to the Small black Moleskin notebook to see if I missed any other information. I turned each page, making sure I did not miss a thing. In the middle on the book, I found random doodling. Funny things like stick figure people, square boxes and just squiggles. Then a few more page turns and there it was! At the top of the page, it said Pay Day! And under that it said random acts of kindness! It had each person’s name and a dollar sign and an amount next to each person’s name, and more doodling. I was so excited, I continued to search the rest of the pages. Close to the end of the book, there was more doodling and this time it said, “This one’s for you grandpa”. My eyes were leaking, and I was filled with heartfelt joy.

It finally all made sense to me now. These 8 people were all the grandfather’s caregivers, and someone was sent to deliver a little inheritance to all of them. But If someone lost this kind of money and a blank check to boot… Wouldn’t they be frantically looking to find it? Or was it planted by a higher power to be delivered by me?

Well, the mystery will always stump me. After a few weeks past, I took the check to my bank and signed it over to me. I found all 8 caregivers and told them my story and the journey to each of them.

They shared loving memories of George. I split the money equally between them. My heart was full, I have fulfilled someone’s good deed. I have often wondered why no one every came forward to claim the book and the money. I guess the mystery of the grandchild will always be on my mind.

Moderate Flyer……