The Card

Response to a Challenge from B. A. Cumberlidge.

Dan entered his passcode into the ATM as he’d done hundreds of times before. When the screen prompt came up, he punched in the amount. As usual, it was $100. He retrieved his card, took the money and glanced at the receipt expecting to see his balance down by $100. Instead, it was up by $100. “Huh,” he said out loud to himself. “That’s odd. Must be some mistake.” He would have gone in and reported it, but the bank was closed.

Dan put the matter behind him and went about his day. He used his debit card several times to make purchases. When he got home, he got on the computer and logged into his bank account. To his astonishment, each purchase had added to his account rather than subtracted from it. “What’s going on?” Dan asked as he stared at the computer screen. “Has the bank’s computer gone haywire?”

Dan logged off, grabbed his cap and headed out the door. He went straight to the bank. Inside he found the loan officer he’d worked with on a loan some months ago.

“Hello, Mr. Henderson,” the loan officer said. “How can I help you?”

“There’s something funny going on with my account,” Dan replied. “Every time I make a withdrawal or buy something with my debit card, your computer is adding that amount to my account rather than deducting it.”

“That’s not possible,” said the loan officer.

Dan showed him his receipts and the withdrawal slip. The officer pulled up Dan’s account information. Sure enough, it showed additions.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Mr. Henderson, but there is no way our computer could make a mistake like that. Our records show that you made a series of deposits.”

“So, what do I do?” Dan asked.

“Well, so far as we are concerned, there’s no problem.” The loan officer said.

“Well, if you don’t think there is a problem…” Dan’s voice trailed off. A plan had started to form in his mind. “Then I guess there’s no problem. I won’t be held responsible for this if they find they’ve made a mistake later on, will I?”

“No, if it is our mistake, you won’t be held responsible,” the Loan Officer assured him.

Dan left the bank and headed for a grocery store that he’d been to before. It was in a poorer part of town. A lot of people of color lived nearby and shopped there.

Dan went in and asked for the store manager. When she came out, Dan said, “I know you have a lot of people shopping here who could use a helping hand. I’d like to buy groceries for all of them today.”

The manager looked at him. “And how do you propose to pay?” she asked.

“With my debit card.”

The manager looked skeptical. “May I see the card?”

Dan showed her the card.

She took it and looked at the name on the card. “You are Dan Henderson?” she asked.

“Yes, I am.” Dan assured her. He pulled out his wallet and showed her his ID.

“And,” Dan said, “I’d like you to have one of your people greet shoppers at the door and tell them to buy whatever they need, that it’s going to be paid for by an anonymous well-wisher.”

“Look, Mister,” the manager said, “we get all kinds of crackpots in here. I don’t know what kind of scam you are running, but you’re not running it here.” She started to turn and go back into her office.

“Oh, it’s no scam.” Dan said. “I’ll prove it to you.”

The manager turned and looked intently at him. After an uncomfortable length of time she said, “Prove? How?”

Several people were in line to check out at one of the registers. “Come and watch,” he said and went over to the clerk.

Dan spoke to the clerk, “I’d like to pay for the groceries these people are buying.”

The clerk looked at him blankly. Then, seeing the manager nod her head. She said, “Sure, no problem.”

The first person in line was an elderly black lady. She only had a few things in her cart. The clerk rang them up and Dan handed the clerk his card.

“This nice man is buying your groceries for you today, maam,” the clerk said as she reached over and inserted Dan’s card in the keypad slot. Dan walked around and entered his pass code. The elderly woman stood with her mouth open.

“Really? You are actually paying for my groceries?” She asked dumbfounded.

“Yes, maam,” Dan said. “And if you need anything else. Just go back and get it and I’ll pay for that, too. I’m going to be here all day, so no hurry.”

The card was accepted.

“Bless you, young man.” The lady said with tears in her eyes. “I’m on a very tight budget. This sure will help.”

Dan smiled

The manager couldn’t help but smile, too. She was feeling better about this stranger. Maybe he was legit.

Dan continued greeting the customers and paying for their groceries. Soon people were coming through with cart’s full of groceries. The manager opened up another checkout lane and then another to keep up with the crowds. Dan darted from one lane to the next inserting his card for the orders rung up. By late afternoon word had gotten out and people were lining up outside to get the next available cart.

Everyone who came through the line was happy and smiling. They greeted Dan, shaking his hand or gave him a big hug. Dan smiled back.

He stayed until the store closed.

Dan went home tired but happy.

At home that night he logged onto his account at the bank. Sure enough every debit showed up as a credit. His account had ten times more in it than his entire net worth had been that morning.

Dan smiled, clapped his hands and muttered “Holy Smokes!” This sure proves that old adage that it’s better to give than receive.

Dan couldn’t sleep that night. He kept seeing the smiling faces and hearing the jokes and laughter of people whose day he’d made.

The next day, Dan went back to the bank. Just to make sure, he withdrew another $100. This time the receipt showed the amount had been deducted from his swollen account.

Dan thought for a minute, then headed back to the grocery store.

“Back again?” The manager asked.

“Yeah, I had so much fun yesterday, I thought I’d try it again. You game?”

“Are you kidding, we had one of our best days ever, yesterday. And the smiles on those faces were priceless. As you can see, we’ve got people lined up at the door to get in.”

“Well, let’s get to it,” Dan said. A big smile on his face.

Once again Dan paid for all the groceries of everyone in the store. However, at noon he told the manager he would have to stop.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but I’ve run out of money. My card just got declined. I paid for the last customer with cash out of my pocket.”

Dan went home. He felt good, but a little sad. He knew what to expect when he logged onto his account. Sure enough, the balance was zero.

Dan sat back with a smile on his face. “Easy come, easy go!” He said to himself. But I sure made a lot of people happy. That’s reward enough.

© 2020 All Rights Reserved. R. R. Jasper

This was written in response to a prompt from B. A. Cumberlidge. He asks what you would do if you had a superpower for a day. It was passed on by Timothy Key. I’m not sure that holding a magic debit card qualifies as a “superpower,” but it was the story that came to me as I pondered what power I’d like to have.

Holly Jahangiri: no guilt but if you’re game to play… And, Rasheed Hooda, are you up for a little fun? Amy Marley are you game to try your hand at some flash fiction or just a story about what you’d do with a superpower for a day?

Alex Kilcannon, Chowa Sekai, Kevin Buddaeus, Ann K Frailey, Natalie Frank, Ph.D., Joanna Smith, Matthew Donnellon, Juneta Key, Erica Verrillo, Dr Pat Aitcheson, Electric Literature, Elle Fredine, Christina M. Ward, Stevie Adler, Daryl Bruce, Stella J. McKenna, alto, Cat Rambo, megpokrass, James Knight, Miles White, Josh Hrala, Anna Rozwadowska, Dale E. Lehman, Daphelba, Michelle Richmond, Shannon Willoby, Kate Holly-Clark, Danielle Nolan, @Val Klump, Lowen Puckey, you all have a connection with Flash Fiction. Some of you don’t know me and I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, but I thought you might like to take a look at this and the challenge/prompt. Care to give it a go or give me some pointers on how to do it better? I’m always open to critique and suggestions for improvement.

Please feel free to invite other Flash Fiction Aficionados to join in.

I hope you had as much fun reading Dan Henderson’s little one-day adventure as I did writing it.

With Father’s Day coming up next Sunday, you might also like:

And for another Flash Fiction having to do with money (do you sense a pattern here?):

Happy Reading, Writing and Connecting!