<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;">Hi group1,<div><br></div><div>This is to remind you that tomorrow your submissions are due. Plus my piece is below.</div><div>--------</div><div><br></div><div><p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mr.
Morgenstern Meets Lady Luck<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mr.
Morgenstern walked home from a day at Moe’s Textiles. He was contemplating the
poor state of affairs of his life. A stone suddenly punctured the
tissue-thin layer of leather that was left on his right shoe. Oh,
no, more bad luck. Now I’ll have to buy a new pair of shoes or probably get
tetanus from a nail in my foot. Maybe I should just get a tetanus shot, then I
won’t have to get new shoes. So, I’ll catch something else besides tetanus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mr. Morgenstern
was so intent on feeling sorry for himself that he didn’t notice a child’s
skate on the sidewalk he was walking on. When he did, he was already
on his way to a harsh landing on his rump. Just my luck, I’ll probably break my
tail bone when I hit the hard pavement. However, all he suffered
from was a badly bruised left cheek. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Just my
luck,” he though, as he slowly picked himself off the sidewalk and stumbled out
into the street, where an automobile knocked him down on the other side of his
rear end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“I’ve had
it,” he shouted at the driver, who was picking him up. “Why don’t you watch
where you’re driving? I can’t stand it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The driver
said, “What is this ‘it’? Don’t you know that it shows poor communication
skills to use the word ‘it’, when there are always so many other words you
could use?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">That got
Mr. Morgenstern’s attention. He stopped and looked at the driver as she was
getting him to his feet. He was stunned to see how well she was dressed, and
all the jewelry that adorned her curvaceous figure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Who are
you?” he demanded. The question started as a demand but ended with a sense of
awe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Lady
Luck,” she said with little inflection in her voice. “You’re lucky I was
driving. You only got bruised. You should have been killed.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“You’re kidding,
right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">She just
continued to look at him, holding his gaze with a hypnotic glare.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Oh, my
God,” he uttered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Not God.
Just little old Lady Luck. You look like you could use some of what I have to
offer.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mr.
Morgenstern was awestruck, but he still managed to muster some cynicism,
“What’s it going to cost me?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Absolutely
nothing. This one is on me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Are you
sure there are no strings attached?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Would I
lie to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Okay, how
do I get some of this luck?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Just ask for
something to happen, and it will.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“All right.
What can I lose? I want to win the lottery.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Not very
original, but it’s yours,” she said, without batting an eye. Then she got back
in her car and drove away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mr.
Morgenstern watched her drive through another vehicle. He flinched as he
expected to see carnage, but there wasn’t anything. Lady Luck’s car
just drove through the other vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">On his way
home, he stopped at the corner store and bought a lottery ticket. When the
ticket was drawn later in the week, it was the exact number that he had
purchased. Also, several weeks had gone by without a winner. It was
worth several million dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The next
day, he was beset upon by all manner of relatives, panhandlers, sales agents
and other vermin, too many to name. At work, he was fired.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“What are
you firing me for?” he asked, astonished.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“You’re a
millionaire now. It’s ridiculous for you to be operating a sewing machine. I
need my workers to be desperate. That way they do what I want them to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“But Mr.
Brooks, I need my job.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Morgenstern
thought about it, and couldn’t think of anything, so he walked away from his
station without anywhere to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">He walked
around town and curiously watched a car drive around the block he was walking.
He walked several blocks, and the car seemed to be going around the same blocks
he was traversing. Finally, the car stopped, and a big man got out
of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Hello. Do
I know you?” Mr. Morgenstern asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Aren’t you
the man who won the lottery?” the man said, in a voice which seemed all used up
telling people what to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“I thought
so.” Then he put a beefy arm around his shoulders and said, “I’m going to make
you an offer. You’ll need protection. I’m in the business. Give me
all the money you are carrying with you as a down payment for my services.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Are you
crazy? I’m not giving you a cent. Why should I?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Because if
you don’t, I’ll break your leg. Every time you miss a payment, I’ll break
something else. Any questions?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Go to hell,”
Morgenstern said in an offensive manner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“That’s the
first installment you’ve missed,” the man said. “By the way, you can call me
Mr. Gambino. All my friends call me that.” Then he took his beefy arm from
around Morgenstern’s shoulder and delivered an excellently aimed hammer strike
to his knee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">As Mr.
Gambino left Morgenstern writhing in pain on the pavement, he said, “I’ll see
you next month. The first of the month.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“But that’s
next week,” Morgenstern gasped in pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“You’re
right. See you then.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">When
Morgenstern left the hospital on crutches a day later, he called a taxi and was
delivered at his home. There he found a message from his wife on a piece of
paper taped to the refrigerator. “The children and me are moving out of town.
Address unknown. I don’t want anyone following me. The phone has been ringing
all day with people I never heard from before asking for money. I think I’ll
leave the state. Or maybe the country. Money is no longer an object. Oh yes,
the children said to tell you they love you and wish you a good life.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Morgenstern
collapsed into a beat-up old easy chair and began to cry. He thought of all he
was losing. His family. His devoted, he thought, wife. His loving, he thought,
children. His solid, he thought, job. His losses went on an on in
his mind. It was like counting his blessings when he no longer had them. He had
a good life. He had never appreciated it. But he did now. Now that it was too
late.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mr. Morgenstern
went for a walk to further consider his present life, which was no pleasure at
all. He made a pitiful sight, hobbling along on crutches. He was so preoccupied
he didn’t notice the automobile that knocked him down. He started to laugh
hilariously. Why couldn’t the car have delivered a fatal blow?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Lady Luck
got out of the offending automobile and started to pull him up again. “You look
the worst for wear. What have you been up to?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Lady
Luck,” he said in astonishment. Then, “I don’t want to talk to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“You don’t
want to talk to me. Very well, I’ll leave you here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“No, no,
no. I do want to talk to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Oh, what
do you want to talk about?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Please,
please, please grant me one more wish.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Haven’t I
already given you enough? You are now a millionaire. Oh, well. I guess I can at
least find out What wish would you like me to bestow upon you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“I wish my
life would go back to that last time I left my job to go home. “<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
“That would mean we never met. You wouldn’t get to be a millionaire. Don’t you
want to be something other than a sad sack?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“No, I
don’t. I won’t feel that way. I never appreciated what I had. I will now. I
will.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“I suppose
you also want to remember what you are giving up. Millions of dollars are
nothing to sneeze at.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“I
especially want to remember what having millions of dollars meant.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“I see.
You’ll remember everything. Here goes.” Then she caught him up in her hypnotic
stare. When he came out of his altered state, she was no longer there. His body
was whole, and he was walking home from his job, whistling a happy tune. His
family was waiting for him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv4838468221msonormal" style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br></div></div>