Post by mnn2300 on Mar 22, 2015 14:08:09 GMT -6
Been a while since I posted any stories. I've been having writers block even though I have 5 stories going I just can't seen to advance any of them. This one came to me however and I got it down quickly, I hope you enjoy it, its a short one, just one post long and it's complete.
The Affected - Bobs Story
It was over very quickly. Yes I was flying that day, got sick, thought I was going to toss cookies, but then, as quick as it hit, all of a sudden I was fine.
I’m not going to give you the details of flight numbers or even which airline. I’ve changed the name of the city I was flying to and to be honest Bob is not even my real name. You see, I got one of those minor powers, but it’s letting me live my dream life and I don’t want any government agency on my case or the press hounding me or even people down on their luck pressing me to use my power on their behalf.
Well, let me start at the beginning and you’ll see why I want to keep it quiet.
I was on a business flight, no, not the first class kind. I was coming home from a training seminar at the home office. 3 days in a city I didn’t want to be in, listening to hot shot trainers who have never done what I do for a living, tell me how to be better at my job. Yeah, I wasn't really liking my life at the time, but you need to eat, right? Anyway the seminar ends with a dinner and an open bar and the company flies everyone home the next day. I got bumped off the flight I was supposed to take in the morning as the hotel van got me to the airport late, so that how I was on the later flight, near the rear of the plane in the middle seat between a fat scowling guy with a worse attitude than mine and an old lady going to visit her granddaughter – yes I heard about that for the better part of an hour.
We land at, well, I’ll just leave it at “We land”, since I do not want to give any hints as to who I am. We get off the plane and I’m thirsty. I hate paying airport prices for anything but my mouth is dryer than a desert so I pop into one of the news shops they have at every airport: papers, magazines, books, candy, soda and water – all over priced but what are you going to do?
I grab a bottle of water and go up to the cashier.
“That’ll be $2.76 please” the cashier said. I usually keep a couple bucks in my front left pocket so I reach in and pull out what I have and count it out. Hmmm, my lucky day I think as I find I have exactly $2.76 in my pocket. And hand it to her, open the bottle and take a big swig.
I made my way to the baggage claim area and grab my bag. I had parked at one of those ‘park and fly’ places so I pull out my cell and call them and a few minutes later their van drives up. We pick up a few more people and head back to their lot. I usually give the driver a couple bucks, not that they always deserve it as some are maniac drivers bouncing people around, but they lift my baggage in and out and drop me off at my car and this one didn’t bounce me around too much so I figured he was worth $3.00. I reach in my pocket, forgetting that I had used the last of my money in my pocket on the bottle of water and pull out $3.00 and hand it to him. I get my suitcase in the backseat of my car and stop and think – No, I must have been mistaken.
I drive up to the checkout booth hand the attendant the ticket, they run it through the machine and the guy says $27.00. This time I felt it, kind of a stiffness in my pocket, I reach in and pull out $27, I look at it and they guy asks “Are you OK sir?”
“Ummm, yeah I think so.” I hand him the $27 and pull away when the gate lifts.
“WTF was that?” I said out loud. A few minutes later I pull over into a convenience store parking lot and feel in my pocket – nothing there. I feel all my pockets, no money except for what is in my wallet in the back pocket.
“Am I losing it?” I ask myself just as a women is getting out of the car next to me.
“Pardon me?” she asked.
“Sorry, just talking to myself.” I said.
I feel in my pocket one more time, definitely empty. I walk into the convenience store, determined to test this and pick up a 6 pack of beer and a bag of chips. “That’ll be $10.15 the cashier said.
I reach in my pocket and pull out exactly $10.15. I hand it to her and giggle – kind of a nervous laugh.
“Are you all right sir?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just…….” And trail off. She gives me one of those looks like ‘Why do I get all the nut jobs on my shift.’ And I leave.
“OK, what the heck is happening?” I say out loud after I started my car. I’m both amazed and a bit creeped out by this and at this point have no clue as to what is happening.
I know I need groceries so I stop on the way home and decide to see how far this gets me. I pick up a couple of items I normally wouldn’t; a couple of steaks, some fresh salmon, stuff like that. Got up to the cashier, total came to $87.43 and I reach into my pocket and pull out, yeah, you guessed it, exactly $87.43 and I’m starting to think I have magic pants or at least a magic pocket.
I get home and unload the car and put the groceries away and then take off my pants and look at them, inside and out – nothing has changed, it’s just cloth and thread. I’ve had these pants for a few months and nothing like this ever happened, I put them back on.
Does it have to be a cash sale I wondered? I boot up my computer and went to Amazon and ordered a book, hit the checkout button and it came to $14.99 including shipping. I reach in my pocket – nothing. I cancel the order. Well that rules that out.
What now, how far does this go I wondered again. Then I had a thought. My old washing machine was on its last legs, it made noises like it was going to fall apart. So I get into my car and drive up to the local big box store and start looking at washing machines. I didn’t need anything fancy, so I looked at the regular top loaders instead of those fancy front loaders that, knowing my luck, would probably pop open while it was running and throw water all over, anyway I had already picked out the one I wanted by the time a salesman could be bothered to come over and help me. I asked him when this one could be delivered and he said the next day between 10 AM and noon and since tomorrow was Saturday I said great. He rang it up “Total come’s up to $635.76 - that’s tax, delivery, set up and haul the old one away, which credit card would you like to put that on?” he asked. I reached into my pocket and pulled out – 31- twenties, a ten, a five, 3 quarters, and a penny -- excatly $635.76, he looked at me kind of strange. ”Hmm, never had anyone pay for one of these with cash before.” He said, looking like he was not quite sure what to do.
“I prefer cash.” I said as he handed me the receipt.
I decided to push my luck and stopped off and picked up a new laptop with all the bells and whistles. What the heck, if it didn’t work I could always say I forgot my credit card and have them void the sale.
“That’ll be $2436.45 with tax.” The cashier said. I suddenly feel a bulge in my pocket, a fairly big one, 121 – twenties, a ten, a five, a one, a quarter and two dimes – yup $2436.45 – “Hundreds would have been more convenient” I thought to myself.
Is it the pants or is it me? I wondered after I got home. I decide to try something. I changed pants and went out to a local steak house. With adult beverages the bill came to $46.23, I add 15% for a tip and come up to just over $53, $53.16 to be exact. I reach in the pocket of this other pair of pants and discover it’s me and not the pants, as there is $53.16 in this pocket. I put it on the table and leave.
This continues for the next few weeks and I test it and find out that I never get a bill bigger than a twenty and never more than 300 of them – meaning $6,000 which fills my pocket with quite a bulge. I’m just putting time in at work and resenting it more and more and it shows in my work. The boss calls me into his office and says he’s going to let me go. I actually smile at this.
I file for unemployment on the way home but have no interest in looking for a new job. I get this wild idea that afternoon and pack my bag and drive to the airport. Walk up to the counter of one of the major airlines and said “I’d like a first class ticket to Hawaii please on one of the next flights I could make it to”.
“Round trip?” The counter person asked.
“Please.” I said and told her I’d be returning in two weeks but wanted a refundable ticket as that might change. I knew buying it last minute was going to be expensive “That’ll be $4,859.95”. She said
I reach into my pocket and pull out exact change, she has to call over a supervisor who tried to get me to pay with a credit card.
“I prefer paying cash” I said, which I am sure got my luggage checked thoroughly. They finally accept cash, she prints my boarding pass, takes my luggage and I leave to go through security. I am carrying nothing but a book to read on the flight, my wallet, and keys, not even wearing a belt, so I get through security easily although I am sure had I been carrying anything else I would have been “Randomly selected” to go through extra screening for paying cash for a last minute flight.
Anyway a few hours later after enjoying the first class cabin I get off the plane and hail a taxi. I have the driver take me to a nice hotel on the beach paying him both the fare and the tip in cash. I ask the person at the counter of the hotel how much a week in a single room overlooking the ocean would cost, when she told me I asked if cash was OK. She said cash would be fine but they would need a credit card for incidentals and then added but if you charge anything to your room you can settle with cash at the end if you wish. I told her I may stay a second week, knowing if I tried paying for the full two weeks now I would be over my limit. She told me that was fine, just to try to let them know as soon as possible.
I pulled out exact change for the room for a week and relaxed by the ocean for a couple days. I buy some island clothes, paying cash of course.
‘Man I wish I could do this forever -- wait a minute, why can’t I?
I went to work -- Before my flight was scheduled to leave I had rented a furnished beach front house with a landlord who was willing to take cash. I could pay cash at the local office of the power company and the cable company also. I set up a housekeeper to come out twice a week, also for cash.
I flew back home, had a massive garage sale selling almost everything I owned, the personal items I wanted to keep fit into 3 suitcases, everything else I'd buy on the island. I listed my house with a local Realtor who said we could handle the signing via FedEx and gave him my cell phone number.
I flew back to Hawaii and have been living there ever since. I bought a car with the proceeds of the house sale and put the rest in the bank. I learned how to surf, I enjoy traveling and I enjoy hitting the hotel bars every so often and find many single ladies enjoy having someone that lives on the island to show them around.
I've heard of the Affected since then, figured out that is what happened to me, still not something I want to spread around, I don't need or want the hassles that come with being one of the known Affected.
It really is a wonderful life and I’m not willing to have anyone ruin it. I’m sure you understand. If the people I deal with think me a bit eccentric for paying cash for everything well that’s OK with me.
Aloha
The Affected - Bobs Story
It was over very quickly. Yes I was flying that day, got sick, thought I was going to toss cookies, but then, as quick as it hit, all of a sudden I was fine.
I’m not going to give you the details of flight numbers or even which airline. I’ve changed the name of the city I was flying to and to be honest Bob is not even my real name. You see, I got one of those minor powers, but it’s letting me live my dream life and I don’t want any government agency on my case or the press hounding me or even people down on their luck pressing me to use my power on their behalf.
Well, let me start at the beginning and you’ll see why I want to keep it quiet.
I was on a business flight, no, not the first class kind. I was coming home from a training seminar at the home office. 3 days in a city I didn’t want to be in, listening to hot shot trainers who have never done what I do for a living, tell me how to be better at my job. Yeah, I wasn't really liking my life at the time, but you need to eat, right? Anyway the seminar ends with a dinner and an open bar and the company flies everyone home the next day. I got bumped off the flight I was supposed to take in the morning as the hotel van got me to the airport late, so that how I was on the later flight, near the rear of the plane in the middle seat between a fat scowling guy with a worse attitude than mine and an old lady going to visit her granddaughter – yes I heard about that for the better part of an hour.
We land at, well, I’ll just leave it at “We land”, since I do not want to give any hints as to who I am. We get off the plane and I’m thirsty. I hate paying airport prices for anything but my mouth is dryer than a desert so I pop into one of the news shops they have at every airport: papers, magazines, books, candy, soda and water – all over priced but what are you going to do?
I grab a bottle of water and go up to the cashier.
“That’ll be $2.76 please” the cashier said. I usually keep a couple bucks in my front left pocket so I reach in and pull out what I have and count it out. Hmmm, my lucky day I think as I find I have exactly $2.76 in my pocket. And hand it to her, open the bottle and take a big swig.
I made my way to the baggage claim area and grab my bag. I had parked at one of those ‘park and fly’ places so I pull out my cell and call them and a few minutes later their van drives up. We pick up a few more people and head back to their lot. I usually give the driver a couple bucks, not that they always deserve it as some are maniac drivers bouncing people around, but they lift my baggage in and out and drop me off at my car and this one didn’t bounce me around too much so I figured he was worth $3.00. I reach in my pocket, forgetting that I had used the last of my money in my pocket on the bottle of water and pull out $3.00 and hand it to him. I get my suitcase in the backseat of my car and stop and think – No, I must have been mistaken.
I drive up to the checkout booth hand the attendant the ticket, they run it through the machine and the guy says $27.00. This time I felt it, kind of a stiffness in my pocket, I reach in and pull out $27, I look at it and they guy asks “Are you OK sir?”
“Ummm, yeah I think so.” I hand him the $27 and pull away when the gate lifts.
“WTF was that?” I said out loud. A few minutes later I pull over into a convenience store parking lot and feel in my pocket – nothing there. I feel all my pockets, no money except for what is in my wallet in the back pocket.
“Am I losing it?” I ask myself just as a women is getting out of the car next to me.
“Pardon me?” she asked.
“Sorry, just talking to myself.” I said.
I feel in my pocket one more time, definitely empty. I walk into the convenience store, determined to test this and pick up a 6 pack of beer and a bag of chips. “That’ll be $10.15 the cashier said.
I reach in my pocket and pull out exactly $10.15. I hand it to her and giggle – kind of a nervous laugh.
“Are you all right sir?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just…….” And trail off. She gives me one of those looks like ‘Why do I get all the nut jobs on my shift.’ And I leave.
“OK, what the heck is happening?” I say out loud after I started my car. I’m both amazed and a bit creeped out by this and at this point have no clue as to what is happening.
I know I need groceries so I stop on the way home and decide to see how far this gets me. I pick up a couple of items I normally wouldn’t; a couple of steaks, some fresh salmon, stuff like that. Got up to the cashier, total came to $87.43 and I reach into my pocket and pull out, yeah, you guessed it, exactly $87.43 and I’m starting to think I have magic pants or at least a magic pocket.
I get home and unload the car and put the groceries away and then take off my pants and look at them, inside and out – nothing has changed, it’s just cloth and thread. I’ve had these pants for a few months and nothing like this ever happened, I put them back on.
Does it have to be a cash sale I wondered? I boot up my computer and went to Amazon and ordered a book, hit the checkout button and it came to $14.99 including shipping. I reach in my pocket – nothing. I cancel the order. Well that rules that out.
What now, how far does this go I wondered again. Then I had a thought. My old washing machine was on its last legs, it made noises like it was going to fall apart. So I get into my car and drive up to the local big box store and start looking at washing machines. I didn’t need anything fancy, so I looked at the regular top loaders instead of those fancy front loaders that, knowing my luck, would probably pop open while it was running and throw water all over, anyway I had already picked out the one I wanted by the time a salesman could be bothered to come over and help me. I asked him when this one could be delivered and he said the next day between 10 AM and noon and since tomorrow was Saturday I said great. He rang it up “Total come’s up to $635.76 - that’s tax, delivery, set up and haul the old one away, which credit card would you like to put that on?” he asked. I reached into my pocket and pulled out – 31- twenties, a ten, a five, 3 quarters, and a penny -- excatly $635.76, he looked at me kind of strange. ”Hmm, never had anyone pay for one of these with cash before.” He said, looking like he was not quite sure what to do.
“I prefer cash.” I said as he handed me the receipt.
I decided to push my luck and stopped off and picked up a new laptop with all the bells and whistles. What the heck, if it didn’t work I could always say I forgot my credit card and have them void the sale.
“That’ll be $2436.45 with tax.” The cashier said. I suddenly feel a bulge in my pocket, a fairly big one, 121 – twenties, a ten, a five, a one, a quarter and two dimes – yup $2436.45 – “Hundreds would have been more convenient” I thought to myself.
Is it the pants or is it me? I wondered after I got home. I decide to try something. I changed pants and went out to a local steak house. With adult beverages the bill came to $46.23, I add 15% for a tip and come up to just over $53, $53.16 to be exact. I reach in the pocket of this other pair of pants and discover it’s me and not the pants, as there is $53.16 in this pocket. I put it on the table and leave.
This continues for the next few weeks and I test it and find out that I never get a bill bigger than a twenty and never more than 300 of them – meaning $6,000 which fills my pocket with quite a bulge. I’m just putting time in at work and resenting it more and more and it shows in my work. The boss calls me into his office and says he’s going to let me go. I actually smile at this.
I file for unemployment on the way home but have no interest in looking for a new job. I get this wild idea that afternoon and pack my bag and drive to the airport. Walk up to the counter of one of the major airlines and said “I’d like a first class ticket to Hawaii please on one of the next flights I could make it to”.
“Round trip?” The counter person asked.
“Please.” I said and told her I’d be returning in two weeks but wanted a refundable ticket as that might change. I knew buying it last minute was going to be expensive “That’ll be $4,859.95”. She said
I reach into my pocket and pull out exact change, she has to call over a supervisor who tried to get me to pay with a credit card.
“I prefer paying cash” I said, which I am sure got my luggage checked thoroughly. They finally accept cash, she prints my boarding pass, takes my luggage and I leave to go through security. I am carrying nothing but a book to read on the flight, my wallet, and keys, not even wearing a belt, so I get through security easily although I am sure had I been carrying anything else I would have been “Randomly selected” to go through extra screening for paying cash for a last minute flight.
Anyway a few hours later after enjoying the first class cabin I get off the plane and hail a taxi. I have the driver take me to a nice hotel on the beach paying him both the fare and the tip in cash. I ask the person at the counter of the hotel how much a week in a single room overlooking the ocean would cost, when she told me I asked if cash was OK. She said cash would be fine but they would need a credit card for incidentals and then added but if you charge anything to your room you can settle with cash at the end if you wish. I told her I may stay a second week, knowing if I tried paying for the full two weeks now I would be over my limit. She told me that was fine, just to try to let them know as soon as possible.
I pulled out exact change for the room for a week and relaxed by the ocean for a couple days. I buy some island clothes, paying cash of course.
‘Man I wish I could do this forever -- wait a minute, why can’t I?
I went to work -- Before my flight was scheduled to leave I had rented a furnished beach front house with a landlord who was willing to take cash. I could pay cash at the local office of the power company and the cable company also. I set up a housekeeper to come out twice a week, also for cash.
I flew back home, had a massive garage sale selling almost everything I owned, the personal items I wanted to keep fit into 3 suitcases, everything else I'd buy on the island. I listed my house with a local Realtor who said we could handle the signing via FedEx and gave him my cell phone number.
I flew back to Hawaii and have been living there ever since. I bought a car with the proceeds of the house sale and put the rest in the bank. I learned how to surf, I enjoy traveling and I enjoy hitting the hotel bars every so often and find many single ladies enjoy having someone that lives on the island to show them around.
I've heard of the Affected since then, figured out that is what happened to me, still not something I want to spread around, I don't need or want the hassles that come with being one of the known Affected.
It really is a wonderful life and I’m not willing to have anyone ruin it. I’m sure you understand. If the people I deal with think me a bit eccentric for paying cash for everything well that’s OK with me.
Aloha
