An Excerpt from “Embrace the Wonder” an inspirational Book/Music collaborative project in progress… 

I had never lost my wallet before, but it happened just the other night.  After chugging a couple of pitchers of tap beer and some tequila shots, I stumbled out the back door of my local dive bar. How I made it home, I had no clue.  I was flat out of my mind.  I was a walking time bomb!

See, Casey and her fancy lawyers had taken everything from me save for the clothes on my back and a pocket full of change. Climbing out of my twin sized bed each morning was turning into a big production.  My car was one speed bump away from total disintegration.  Eating out, meant Jack in the Box or Taco Bell because a happy meal from McDonald failed to send my spirits soaring on cloud nine.  I was a 47-year-old man still living at home in my mother’s basement; clinging to a dead end job that offered zero promise of a lifestyle upgrade.

So, I began to entertain some pretty crazy ideas.  It wasn’t like me to drink that much; but I was sitting on the edge, getting ready to leap into some illegal avenue of opportunity.   If I could get my hands on a pistol, I thought, the liquor store across the street from the pub would be easy pickings.  I could be in and out in thirty seconds with enough cash to set me straight for a while.   What the hell was I thinking?  It just wasn’t me.  It’s not my style…

But it would be easy.  I hoped it was just the liquor thinking!

I woke up the next morning with a mother of a Saturday hangover, and those thoughts still on my mind.  Saturday night would mean a big score at the liquor store, I kept telling myself.  After a quick shower and a couple of aspirin, I realized it was missing!

My wallet with two credit cards and two week’s pay were gone!!  My heart pounded, my pulse raced.  How could this happen to me at a time like this? I zoomed back to the pub like an Indy 400 Race Car. My stomach quivered with fear and nausea. Things were grim right now; what the heck would I do if I were to lose two week’s pay?

Inside the hazy, musty, smoke filled room, I headed straight to the area where I had camped out the night before. The daytime bartender claimed he knew nothing about a lost wallet. The only other Guy at the bar (one of the regular patrons) was hunched over and didn’t utter a word. On my way out I realized I only had one option. Tonight would have to be the night. There was no other way!

 Back at home, on top of my kitchenette counter, a message was flashing on my answering machine.  One of my friends from work wanted me to call him right away. He said it was urgent.

 “Did you lose your wallet last night?” Troy asked.

 “Yes.” I replied. “Why?”

Someone had apparently found my wallet in the parking lot and Troy’s phone number was the only available contact information.

“Carl would be waiting for you and expects a cash reward,” he warned.

Again, to the pub I went.  I hoped that I would at least get my driver’s license back.  To my surprise, there he was!  Still stooped over the bar as if he were permanently glued to it.  Now the bar fly had a name. I briefly scanned him mentally and quickly labeled Carl as one of those losers who spent their entire day at the tavern.  There is no way someone like that could hold down a job of any sort. I snubbed.  Where did he get the money to drink all day anyway? Maybe he finds lost wallets all the time. I sneered.  As I approached him, he snapped out of his zone and gawked at me with a smile.

 “Are you here for the wallet?” He asked. I told him my name and he handed me the worn brown leather.  “How about a twenty for my troubles?”

  “I’d love to. But where the hell am I supposed to get the cash from?”  I snapped, as I opened my wallet to show him my emptiness.  However, to my disbelief and relief, my cash and credit cards were still intact. My cheeks flushed.  My mini ego popped. I felt small as if I were standing beside the ocean. Not only had I judged a book by its cover, I had totally misjudged this man.  Carl may have looked a lot worse off than me but he had integrity.  I thanked him; pulled out a twenty-dollar bill from my wallet and handed it over.

 “Can I buy you a drink?” He inquired.  “No thanks.” I replied. “You’ve done more than enough.  I took a few steps toward the exit and stopped.  I turned to Carl, sitting there looking so hopeless with his ragged clothes and uncombed hair. “Why did you do it? I queried. “Why didn’t you just keep all the money”?  He cleared his throat, took a sip of his beer, and answered, “That’s just not my style kid.  It’s not who I am. I may be a little down right now, but I can’t let hard times change who I am.”

 Through the window, I gazed at the liquor store across the street and blurted,  “Neither can I Carl.” “Neither can I.”

Collaborators:Bennie Droese, John Droese & Tony Andrade

Robot  Villager

# 1 An Excerpt from “Embrace the Wonder” an inspirational Book/Music collaborative ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 06.03.2007 12:53

Hamattan  Villager

# 2 Simply fantastic, a food for thought. Posted by Hamattan| 06.03.2007 13:19

Idi-ogi  Villager

# 3 A hood does not make a monk. You cannot always tell what people are by their appearance. Posted by Idi-ogi| 06.03.2007 15:20

chuey  JJC

# 4 Definatelly a feel good story but what if :sad: his situation was slightly different, for instance lets say he had an adjustable rate mortgage that had kicked in three earlier, mum and dad still lived 9000 miles away, he had three kids who were going back to school after their summer vacation, car note was due then the phone rings at 4:37 am that morning (we all know when it rings at that time it could only be coming from one place ) then to top it off he hears crying in the back round this means he has to travel on short notice to a place he has not gone in over five years, lets not forget that before he hangs up the phone he has to promise to send something so they can start making arrangements!!!!!!!! We he change ? , what will he do ? . Bette yet wht should he do ? Posted by chuey| 06.03.2007 17:06

uniben82  Villager

# 5 @hamattan, Thanks for the kind words. @idi-ogi, Right on! @Chuey, I like your angle. I'll definitely keep that twist in mind as we continue to develop the characters. Did you say 4.37 am phone call? I can relate. Been there, done that. Those phone calls don't scare me anymore since my parents passed away. Now I find them annoying because you know that the caller on the other end most likely wants you to western union some mucho dinero $$$:wink: BD Posted by uniben82| 06.03.2007 17:28

Fjord  Villager

# 6 “That’s just not my style kid. It’s not who I am. I may be a little down right now, but I can’t let hard times change who I am.” Brilliant story; touching lesson. Chuey: some people still wouldn't take what isn't theirs, even at the pain of death. . Posted by Fjord| 07.03.2007 00:27

chuey  JJC

# 7 that sinerio is not based on any true life events, but the names of any characters have been witheld to protect the innocent:rolleyes: Posted by chuey| 07.03.2007 08:17