Be Careful What you Wish For!

In a small town,where not much happens due to the fact people like it that way. The only revenue generated to keep the town on the map is the one smart idea, they had was to put a toll booth on the highway between Greenville and Clemson. when during football season, thousands of dollars are drop in the towns treasury. Yet, the local paper is only 3 pages thick. Its that quiet. In this nowhere town lives two men in their early 20s,The tall blonde Blue eyed,fellow is Ted, his friend from high school, Tall brown haired and green eyed is Fred, both going nowhere sharing an old single wide mobile home. You had guessed where, in the middle of nowhere. It had come time for the rent.

They were shy of 40 dollars to pay it. They were siting on the porch as the sun was seting. The leaves lay in orange, yellow , red tapestry of fall carpeting all around them. The chill of the autume wind blew gently upon them. Ted stired first,to say something, while they were staring at the ground. "Fred,I wish a whole lotta money just droped at our feet and we'll be set for life,for sure,"said Ted. Ted stood up from the porch,turned to look Ted in the eyes,"Ma, Momma, once said be careful what you wished for,becouse you just might get it. Freds'face had that far away look when he is recalling;She would say thats how she married pa. Always with a tear." Said Fred.

Ted stood up also swating at the dust on his overalls, "Lets walk to the pawn shop in town. I think my high school ring might be worth the $40s' till payday at the gas station,"said Ted. So, off they went to the towns pawnshop before its closes. They were rounding down around on a hill. As sudden as a hic up, an armored car speeds past them with the doors at the back open,a sachel of money falls out and slides to a stop at the feet of Ted and Fred, another unexpected hic up happening, and a police car in hot persuit with lights bright blue and spinging goes by trailing dust and dirt. Slowly, both young men, look down at the money sachel looking like an oversized ladies hand bag with the towns bank logo on it.

"Ted..",Said Fred. Shut up,Said Ted. "Your wish came true. You didn't ask that it would be our money that comes to us." Said Fred. Ted looks to the sky with annoyed rage,"I bet your mamma would have us return the money back to the bank?" Said Ted. Fred, still looking at the beg with regret, "Yep,she would." Said Fred. They both took turns hauling that bag back to town the whole mile walk into town. They entered Maple street a block from the bank. A police car whooshed in front of them and come to a stop with blue lights flashing on the roof. Both cops run to intercept them with guns drawn. Ted droped the bag, as both of them reached for the sky, like in the old westerns on tv. One of the officers ordered them with an angry tone to put their hands behind their heads. Fred with trembling lips ,asked what did we do?"

The senior of the two cops grabed Fred, and had him lay face down on the hood of the patrol car, "Shut up, you robbed that bank and stole the armored car." Said the Senior cop, while cuffing and hauling Fred into the backset of the patrol car. A second later, through the other side, Ted is pushed in similarly, frightened and confused They are rushed to the police station. The cops feeling like heros were thinking, we caught the bank robbers. Ted and Fred were finger printed, and ordered to put on orange jumpsuits. Fred, told the officer that was escorting them to the jail cell, "Thanks for the clean clothes, our washer broke down a couple of days ago, and we're having a hard time washing clothes by hand."Said Fred.

Ted had moaned regret,while he carefully pulled of the gause band aid on his arm and stuffed it in the hole opposite the cell door lock. Freds' pointless ramblings was enogh of a distraction that the officer did not catch the trick. He locked the door behind the men. Were going to leave town,now!" Whispered, Ted. He pushed gently on the cell door as it swung open. He looked out up and down the hall. They had a clear shot to the back door. Fred, he was not stupid,well, his mamma made an honest person out of him and sees' things literally differently. "Ted!It is illegal to leave jail without a trial?",said Fred. Stuned, Ted turned his head,to stare at fred, for a minuted,he sighed deeply and softly spoke through clenched teeth,and body trembling, "Fred, had anyone told you, you have splinters in the windmills of your mind?",said Ted. Fred, like a puppy,smiled and said "Nope". "Lets go."Said Ted. "Okie."Said Fred.

Next to the back door hung two rain coats, they swiped them as they went out the door and nonchalontly walked down the street. The sun had set and the skin numbing cold wind was gusting down the street. "HELP!" screamed a woman across the street from the police station. The two young men,hunkering down in the coats against the wind, they turned to see what was happening. A middle aged woman was thrashing about Trying to get a racoon off her back. Ole, Fred like a boy scout ran to her aid. Ted,not happy, followed behind across the street thankfully empty asside from them and the old lady. Fred wash pulling on the racoons midsection to get it off her, to no avail. Its paw nails were deep in the her back. Ted,got a news paper out of the turned over trash can near them. He rolled it,and took out his cigarette lighter and lit the end on fire.

Quickly, Ted pulled on the animals'tail, the racoon in a rage turned bit Ted only to face flames waved at its face. It jumped and ran up the street to escape. Fred lifted the scared woman from the pavement.She stood up trembling in pain in her back and with tears, Thanked Fred and ted. Ted was ready to leave and let the woman get help from the cops across the street. Then Fred happend. "May we drive you to the hospital?"Asked, benignly,Said Fred. Ted was pale,thinking," maybe this is a good thing. I want to throw up."Thought Ted. The Old lady,said,"Yes,please my car is over their." she said. To the local hospital they went. They both helped the Lady walk to the emergency room. The nurses that were available rushed to her, and took her to a treatment room. The old lady was wheel chaired pass them as they were just at the exit. She called to them. Both turned and walked back. "Thank you for helping me."She said, while pulling out a hundred dollars out of her purse in three 20s'and 20 one dollar bills. She shoved it in Teds hand,She smiled and said "Thank you,"then off she went rapid transit with the Nurses.

In strolled a couple of cops. Fred,whispered to Ted,"Lets get some coffee and an evening paper and wait till they leave." Ted, shocked,whispered back," Thats the first good idea you had today." They got coffee,and pulled a paper from its stand, and sat down to look like they are calm and reading. The younger officer, leaning at the nurses station, noticed the two trench coated young men wearing bright orange pants. Ted and Fred,out the corner of their eyes noticed him noticing and were a nurvous as a ballon in a pin factory. Papers were trembling, and long sips of coffee is heard.

The officer elbows the middle aged officer with eagles on his shirt collar,He turns and gets of the phone. The Captain,nods no, to the younger officer. He walks over to the two younger men in trench coats siting cross legged with bright orange pants. The police captain, sits down opposite them. He stares. Slowly, at the same time, the news papers come down to rest in each lap. Coffees'come slowly at the sametime in the arm rest cup holder. Ted and Fred, looked the Middle aged Cop in the eyes. Fred happens again. He said, "are you a colonel in the army?" Ted, closed his eyes and prayed silently to God. The nurses and the younger officer brook out laughing. The Captain with steel grey eyes,just smiled a little; taking his cap of and placing it on his knee. He said," No,son, this eagle in on my collar is the rank of captain of the police force." He looks over at Ted,who is still closed eyed and praying. So he continues to talk to Fred. The captain said, " I am Captain Smith, are you the ones who helped a woman get to the hospital?" Fred said,"Yep, a racoon got her, not bites none so no rabies shots I think." The old officer signed in agreement.

Ted opened his eyes. Captain Smith reached back with his left hand, and Teds eyes grew wide with fear. The officer pulled out a wallet. He said to the two young men, " Here is $900 that woman is my wife. Thank you for helping her. He got up from the seat and put the money in and envelope he had in another pocket. He handed it to Fred. Fred, being Fred, smiled wide and said," Thank you." Ted relieved stoped hyperventilating. Captain Smith, turned back to them before walking away. He said,"If were you when you get home,loose those orange pants, I know your clemson football fans, but just to be safe get ride of them. Someone might take you two for escaped prisoners. We had a bank robbery in town and couple of fellows got taken for the thieves by a couple of over zealous new men." Captain Smith cleared his throat on that point. If you happen see those two, tell them they are free and to go home." Ted said," Yes sir, we will. Were going to take the bus to the clothing store and buy some clothes right now. Fred kicked in again, as they were leaving. He, said, "Bye ya'll,"he said with a smile. On the bus through town. Ted feeling good. He said to Fred,"Its not so much the wish thats the problem is never knowing how its going to come about, that scares some." Fred grining,He said,"Thats true, like my Momma." The Living End...?

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