It was a grey crisp morning as Satchel headed out to his pickup truck. He opened the red door and pulled himself across the vinyl. He placed the key in the ignition and just as he turned the engine over, he saw the envelope.
It was white and thick and resting in front of his speedometer with a scrawled letter S on the front. Satchel picked it up and hefted the envelope in his hand. It was heavy. He tore one corner open and slid his thumb down the seam. He peeked inside and saw a thick wad of one hundred dollar bills and a single sheet of folded white paper.
Satchel pulled out the white sheet of paper and placed the money in his lap.
“Dear Satch,
You know better than I do that I’m no good for the construction trade. I’m moving to Florida in a few weeks and I’ll be taking the company name with me, but not the trade. Don’t look me up until after things settle down. You’re in charge now. Here’s some money for you to start your own corporation, get some equipment you may need and to try to pay you for some of the help you’ve given me over the years.
Thank you,
Chuck”
Satchel put the letter back into the envelope, placed the envelope on the passenger seat and put the truck in gear. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed south. He knew where his first stop would be. He didn’t think much as he drove, just hummed a small tune under his breath, like he always did. He pulled into a large apartment complex. There was an ambulance and two police cars in front of one of the apartment entrances.
Satchel parked his truck and grabbed the envelope and headed into the apartment. He could hear screaming and tussling as the police brought someone unwillingly down the hallway toward the ambulance. Satchel avoided the scene and made for the stairs. He climbed up seven flights and opened the door to the hallway. He went to apartment 707 and knocked hard on the door.
A few moments later the lock moved lazily in the frame and the door opened. Down low a little head peered out between the space allowed by the chain.
“Daddy!”
“Hi honey, can you go get mommy?”
“Okay.”
Satchel opened the envelope, peeled one hundred dollar bill off the stack and stuffed it with the letter into his pocket. He looked up to see his wife’s face, tired but smiling, between the door and the door jamb. Sarah closed the door and opened it all the way for him to come in.
Satchel held the envelope out in front of him.
“I know this doesn’t change anything yet, but this is for you and the kids. Spend it the best you can. Thanks for everything you are doing.”
Sarah took the money and wrapped Satchel in a big hug.
“Gratitude is more important than money,” she said. “Thank you. Call me tonight.”
“Alright. Bye now.”
“Good bye.”
Satchel took the elevator down to the lobby and returned to his truck. He started the engine and then sat there for a moment, staring through the windshield. He called Chris and Charlie and told them he wouldn’t be in. He looked in his rear view mirror at a tree just starting to bud in the spring air. He put the truck in gear and drove north again.
Satchel pulled into the diner, shut off the engine and hopped out of the truck. The bell rang as he opened the door to the diner. He grabbed a seat at the counter and the waitress brought coffee over with a menu.
“Decaf, please,” said Satchel as he looked over the menu. “And can I please have three eggs over easy and a side of sausage?”
“No problem, darling” said the waitress. Satchel handed her the menu.
“Thank you,” said the waitress.
“Thank you,” said Satchel.
