One Person's Treasure...

I wrote this story using a contest prompt from Writing.com: 

square, thread, star.

 

One Person’s Treasure…

I counted the money. 

“We square?” he asked.

“I guess.” I just wanted it over.

“Well, are we? Don’t want anyone thinkin’ I’m cheatin’ ‘em!” 

My temper was hanging by a thread. I’d just lost my job and my cat, Misty, died earlier in the week. I counted to ten.

“It’s not that,” I said. “I need the money, but I hate to part with my--life.”

“Oh, well. That’s how it goes,” he said, “So if we’re square, I’ll get this junk transferred.”

“Junk?”

“To me it is, lady.”

I handed his two hundred dollars back. 

“Sorry, no deal!” 

I tore out of the parking lot. 

Sobbing, I drove through the fading daylight. A Walmart sign flashed up ahead. I pulled into the lot and turned off the ignition.

I had prayed. I’d wished on my wishing star. I’d done everything I could think of. It was no use!

I cried myself to sleep.

I woke to someone tapping on my window. It was dark.

“You okay?” he asked.

I opened the window just a crack.
 

“No, I’m not!”

 

The stranger listened as it poured out of me.

 

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. I might be able to help you, ma’am."

“How?”

“Looks like you have some fine treasures. It just so happens, I’m in the market for some fine treasures. How much you want?”

I needed a lot more than my things were worth.

“How about I give you six hundred for the lot? Cash.”

I got out of the car.

“It’s not worth that much, sir.”

“It is to me,” he said.

He handed me the money.

Before I could thank him, he got back into his car and drove off without the treasures.

I looked up into the starry sky.

“Thank you! Thank you!”