Heaven Sent

LUCKY

 

In spite of my tossing, turning, fluffing my eider pillow twice, I manage to wake at six a.m. On the way to the bathroom, I open the drapes and am almost blinded by the glaring sun. A quick glance at my Gucci watch yells at me, 'It's 9:30, Idiot.' I hurry into the spare room, sign in to Yahoo and clearly see it is 9:31 and 3 seconds. Cripes! The electric clock over my desk disagrees with Yahoo. The only sane explanation is there was a powerful power outage while I was dead to the world.

 

I take a whore's bath, spray on deodorant, brush the gooky taste out of my mouth and put on yesterday's suit that I had carelessly not hung up last night. It takes about ten seconds to reach my secretary, Natalie, tell her I'll be at my desk in fifteen minutes. 'Give old Mr. Baskin any excuse that sounds logical for my lateness.'

 

Mr. Johnson, my neighbor who often parks so close to my car has gone to work and I can back up with no struggle. As I do an Open Sesame with my magic car keys, just a few inches from my door, I spot a shiny penny. It is face up, dated 1977. It is old but looks newly minted. I wrap it in a handy piece of Kleenex and put it deep in the bottom corner of my purse. This is going to be a good day, a lucky day. My Dad died in 1977 and he sent me this penny to be sure I never forget him.

 

Opening my car door just enough not to be hit by oncoming traffic, brakes squeal and stop on a dime. A limo driver gives me the finger. I can tell he is cussing me out and return his crude gesture. He disappears in traffic. I start the car's motor, cock my head, hear a tiny squeal that doesn't sound right coming from my purse. Crappo, I must have left my I- pod on and it needs charging. There is no ipod in my purse. I forgot, it's still on the kitchen cabinet charging for two days.

 

I'm late already but what the heck, I'll be a little later. Everything that is in my purse goes on the passenger's seat. The only thing that is different is my found penny's Kleenex is not around it. The coin clings to the top of my red wallet. The faint sound comes from it. My eyes pop. Old Abe's face is not in profile as it should be. His unsmiling face is turned to me. I do a double take, feel the penny, am sure it is real but believe this is a trick. It's so ridiculous I put everything back in my purse except the penny. That has made a home for itself, leaning on the edge of my small emergency flash light. It is on and wasn't on when I took it out of my purse. I don't want to use out the battery and try to switch it off. Stuck. Abe is again in profile. His beard seems a bit longer.

 

Natalie calls me. She sounds almost hysterical. 'Mr. Baskin had his son with him and wanted him to meet you. My lord, he is a handsome guy, unmarried, and a practicing psychiatrist. I'll handle the office. You go to the hospital, apologize to Baskin Sr. And turn on your mis-placed charm.'

 

The hospital is just a few blocks from where I am. I make several passes around the busy parking lot and am about to give up when a SUV pulls out and I get in before the man coming from the other direction aims for it. Grabbing my purse, I step out of my car, use the handy lock button and and see right there where I am about to put my right foot, two shiny pennies and a Roosevelt dime. I leave them there, open my purse and take my shiny penny with me when I  go to see how lucky the day may be when I meet Mr. Baskin Jr.

 

My Daddy will be with me and I believe everything is going to be fantastico.