Thanks for all the congrats (and one Yowza!) from everyone. I have a very nice letter on my fridge that says the judges thought my story "was very nice and spooky, like a good Night Gallery episode." Curiously enough, one of the aspects of the story they complimented me on was one that Chrissy came up with when she read the first draft, as an offhand suggestions. I'm a lucky man. All this and creativity, too.

I found a 20$ bill today while I was walking home from school. It was kind of weird. I noticed it, and I probably would have kept walking, but I stopped to point it out to the friend I was walking with.

She convinced me that I had found it through serendipity and I should take advantage of such a thing. But I felt weird. Like I should have reported it. I wonder if it was part of some kind of science experiment in altruism, or foot traffic, or something like that, because it had the number 38 written on it in blue pen.

Now, after having eaten the root beer float I bought with my serendipitous gains, I am worried that perhaps I had some good karma coming my way, and by picking up the 20$, I might have used it up. Like I had almost built up enough for a really good job at a community college, and now it's gone.

I'm sorry, 20$!!!

(PS--Considering how good that root beer float was, I'm not that sorry.)