I know I was told never to play in that enormous pile of dirt at the end of our street, but that’s where I found this filthy old quarter. So what shall I do with it?

I know my Dad would be thrilled to have his very own Chicago Daily Newspaper today -- June 11, 1952. There goes five cents. Mom deserves a whole roll of those assorted flavors of life savers. Another five cents. Little brother Bobby will jump for joy if I give him a shiny new rubber ball. But that will cost a dime. I can’t forget Grandma. I know she loves the little root beer barrels at the Penny Candy Store. I think I’ll get her four of those. That will leave me with one penny, and I know what I’ll do with that.

Dad promised that on the 4th of July, he will take us all to see the Buckingham Fountain in downtown Chicago. He said if you toss a coin into the fountain, you get to make a wish. Please don’t tell anyone. My wish will be to find another quarter.

I find a quarter

damn that's cool!

Why this quarter glued

To the bottom of a pool?!

I jump in

no cap!

Oh shit

My Tiny hat!

If I found an idiomatic quarter, I’d pick it up, I wouldn’t flinch.

With such newfound wealth, twelve people could hear my opinion on a subject.

And I’d still have something left over to pinch.

I could choose to offer this remaining cent in exchange for your thoughts though.

Another alternative would be to just save it, consider it earned.

Or maybe I’ll travel to that copper coin’s namesake Lane to find a barber showing photographs of every head he’s had the pleasure to know.

There’s the possibility I expand my options by getting change at one of the nearby figure of speech banks.

That would give me freedom to haggle with any vendor, convincing him to lower the price of his wares.

Then politely complete my victorious, discounted purchase with a heartfelt “Thanks.”

Even with that transaction completed, I’d still be able to turn on the leftover silver piece without brakes.

Although, I should take a self-serving approach by deflecting responsibility.

And use it to buy a dozen excuses to justify my mistakes.

I’ll probably just hold on to my imaginary quarter in hopes I happen upon one more.

Because there’s always the possibility to double my monetary find.

Then I would have the same name as that rapper the Gen Z kids use to adore.

I found a quarter in the hole of my pocket,not large enough to keep it from falling down my pant leg.

I wonder how long that hole has been there?

And how many smaller coins i have lost?

I wonder if people are picking these coins up?

Or are they like cigarette butt's and bottle caps?

People just kick them aside,and go on their merry way?

I'm sure their noticed.Many people tend to be looking down at their phones these days.

Bit coins seem to be popular.

I'm sure those less fortunate believe that when it comes to currency every little Bit helps.

But it's mostly plastic these days.

Excuse me can you spare some change?

Sorry,I only have debit.

What they're saying is I'm too busy to buy you coffee or some food.

Meanwhile they'll walk down the road a little and stare at their phone for about a half hour.

I don't know if I'm being paranoid,but it seems people follow me?

Is it because money is falling out of my pocket?

Some guy stopped me the other day,and asked me to do some jumping Jacks.

He told me exercise pays off well.

Now I know what he meant.

Couldn't he just asked me for some change?

I remember one time I gave five dollars to a guy.

He jumped for joy.

I felt like I forced him into an exercise routine for money.

I know a fin is not alot these days,it can't even keep you afloat.

Ask those sharks that are pulled from the water to a garnished plate.

People seem to be buying into the idea of buying things they don't need.

Is that where shop til you drop came from?

What,drop the items you don't need?

I wonder if people are picking up after those people.

I've often seen items left in the store where they don't belong.

Especially in groceries stores.

I must say I am guilty some times,ive often put those items in my cart.

Do I really need them?

I have to spend extra money.

Meanwhile there's coins I can pick up,which won't cost me a cent.

And those extra coins,could go towards those misplaced items.

But I tend to walk pass money on the ground,I figure someone could use it more than me.

Maybe it's my money?I guess i'm being charitable.

In the meantime,im gonna keep wearing those pants.

And if I decide to donate them to good will,are they gonna discard them because of the hole.

If they only knew how much pants with pocket holes,have helped the less fortunate.

She threw in her whole world when she asked for a miracle... 25 wishes to be exact.

She took a "penny for your thoughts" and ran with it. As in she threw it down here.

I look up many times a day and usually only see hands from where I live down here. Living in a wishing well has not always been the plan... I definitely remember wishing to be set free and somehow, someway found my soul bound to this damn place.

I see her face peaking down at me. No one usually sees me... her eyes widen and her face goes away.

"Well, goddamn" I thought, " Did she just see me?"

I see her again, coiled black ringlets on pale skin and pink lips.

All of sudden, I taste it... I haven't tasted anything in 100 years, but I cannot mistake the metallic clang on my touch. Yes, a quarter but with it is the inexplicable taste of a human emotion I haven't tasted since I made an unwanted home down here,

hope.

The woman, or girl I cannot tell from all the way down here begins to yell, "Hello there, are you okay? Do you need help?"

"Oh honey," I thought. "If only you knew."

She waits a beat and then yells down again, "Hello can you hear me?"

No human has seen me, so it feels a bit incredible to me that I get to actual use my voice after all this time. My voice is a scratchy baritone as it floats upward.

"Well hello darlin;, can you actually see me? Did you throw in the quarter just now?"

Her eyes widen even more, I imagine she looks like a frightened doll at this point with her eyes bugging out from shock.

"Um, well yes, but I mean I don't think that is something to worry about right now, do you? You are obviously stuck, are you hurt?"

I had never had anyone ask after my wellbeing in quite sometime. I take a breath. I guess this is round 2 for trying to get the hell out of this wishing well prison.

"Oh little one... you have no idea..."

I shoot upwards finally free and stand before her. I know how I must look in short brown hair under a cap and a 3 piece suit.

Her gasp lets me know she is as confused as she has ever been, "But you, you," she looks from me to the well, eyes a steady green searching my own for answers.

I can definitely provide that and then some. "Well darlin', you asked for a miracle and by golly I think you got one."

Her second intake of breath has her gasping for air as she takes a step back, her black hair seeming to shine even in the moonlight.

"This is going to be fun," I think to myself with a smirk. "Now, let's begin shall we?"

_______________________________________________

To be continued...