Money at the end of the Rainbow

It was such a cold and windy day. My car broke down on an empty road going around a turn. When my husband was alive, he told me that I would have to continue checking my oil in these old clunkers. We were never able to afford a new car. I knew it was leaking, but I continued to drive it and not check it out of laziness. Well, it caught up to me.

I drove the car till I ran completely out of oil. My car started making all kinds of noises and then it just died. It was 11:00 P.M and it was dark. As I was walking down the road it reminded me a lot like Sleepy Hollow. I can hear what sounded like footsteps behind me. I really wanted to turn around but turning around makes everything real. As I continued to walk, but in a slower motion, I closed my eyes, took a deep breathe and counted to three in my head before I turned around to find no one behind me. I was relieved and a bit confused as the noise I heard was clearly footsteps.

As I was walking down the road I can upon a vehicle that was pulled over, and was running. My mind had another, should I shouldn’t I moment. This one was whether or not I should look in the car to see if anyone was in there. I walked up till I was a few feet away and didn’t see anyone. They could be sleeping, or maybe hurt and is laying down across the seats. I would not be able to see from here. So I quietly and slowly walked up to the car and peeked in. Nothing. No one was in there. I looked around and didn’t see anyone. “Hello? Is anyone out there?” Still nothing.

I am one of those curious people, which sometimes have gotten me into a lot of trouble, but I just couldn’t help myself. Without a 2nd thought I opened up the car door. I wanted to see if there was some ID for the person who owned the car. I checked the glove box, I mean that’s where I leave my registration, and it would have a name on it. There was nothing but a little black book. I was curious and thought maybe it was an address book. I opened it up and in that little black book was a small drawn map. The map had names of roads. “Sammy’s Cove. Why does that sound familiar?” I pondered on that a moment and remembered that I had seen a sign right before my car broke down that said Sammy’s Cove 1 mile. I walked about a mile; this must be the location. Could be that the person whose car this is knew that too and maybe just forgot to shut the car off in excitement about finding Sammy’s Cove.

I decided to do a little adventuring. The little black book at the end of the route, on the map, which by the way looked much like a rainbow, had a dollar sign. My guess is that there’s money at the “end of the rainbow.” I always loved a good adventure. Even though it was dark, and scary, and the path was going through the forest, I needed to go. I was never able to turn down anything that would give me money at the end. I was all in. My phone had 52% on it, I think as long as I don’t get lost, I would have enough power to use my phone as a flashlight. “Okay, here I go.” I took a deep breath and with the little black book in hand, I headed into the forest.

There was a path that I saw and followed it. I figured as long as I stayed on track, I couldn’t get lost. But I wonder where the other person is? They must have gotten lost without the map. If I find him or her during my crazy adventure in the thick of night, we could split the money maybe. Or, maybe I won’t run into the owner of the vehicle running on the side of the road, I find the money and hightail it out of there! “OK, so now what?” The path had ended. I was never good with maps, but if money was involved, I was going to figure this out. I really needed a good car. I could have taken the running car, but I am not a car thief!

I stared at the map till something popped out at me. I saw a drawing of what looked like a house or shed of some sort at the end of the path. With it being dark, I couldn’t see it right away, but I flashed my light from my phone in front of me, to the side, spun around and as I flashed it behind me, I saw a building ahead through some bushes. That must be it! I thought. I started walking in that direction and I heard a noise. I spun around with the light still up in front of me and couldn’t see anything. My heart was racing, and I was sweating. I just kept thinking, carry on Casey, carry on. You got this.

I finally came to the building the map showed. I am so close to finding this money, or at least I think there is going to be money. The map did show dollar signs at the “end of the rainbow." I would love to get myself a red Honda. My husband, God rest his soul, loved Hondas. I wouldn’t have to worry about my oil leak anymore that would be a relief.

I approached the building and slowly opened up the door. “Hello? Anyone here?” I didn’t hear anything. I walked into the building and started looking around. I had the flashlight from my phone shining brightly throughout. Walking through what looked like a living room I tripped over something. I flashed my light on it, it was a handle of some sort. “This must be it!” I grabbed the handle and opened it. There were a set of stairs going down. Of course, I followed them. I reached the bottom and off to the right of me was a bag. I opened the bag and inside, money! “Oh my gosh! I found it!” I put my phone down with the light facing the bag and pulled bundles of money. I proceeded to count it. Each bundle had $1000 and there were 20 bundles. “Twenty-thousand dollars?! Yes! Yes! Oh my gosh. Ok, catch your breath Casey. Let’s just put the money back in the bag and get out of here.”

I now have 36% life left on my phone. I just need to get back to the road. Maybe someone will drive by on that road and I can hitch a ride. I backtracked and got back to the road. That running car, still there and still, no one in it. I felt bad, but I didn’t see anyone on my way to the building, so not much I can do. A few minutes of walking down the road and my phone now at 24%, I heard a car approaching me from behind. I waved them down and asked them if they can take me into town which was only a few more miles down the road. “Sure, the man said, come on in. you should not be walking on this dark, secluded road, it’s not safe.”

We made it into town. I got out of the car and thanked him for the ride. In a few hours, the bank will open up and I can deposit this cash. I sat in the 24-hour diner till 9:00 a.m. then walked across the street to the bank. They looked at me strangely, as if I robbed a store and wanted to deposit it in my bank account. “I sold my car,” I said. “The guy paid me in cash.” The lady had that “wow” look, and one eyebrow up and proceeded to deposit the cash. I called Uber, and I had him drive me to the Honda Dealership. I am finally able to get a new car, something my husband and I were never able to do. I could not be more excited! I looked up to heaven and shaking my head up and down ever so slightly, with a smile on my face and whispered; “I did it honey. Wish you were here.”