New Lights

New Lights martin steele

The lights around Battery Park City slowly dimmed as dawn crept up this June morning. Traffic slept and policemen going off duty ran their sirens one more time as they made for home and bed. The sun reflected from nearby tall glass buildings into Charlie Casper’s eyes, not into his eyes but onto the closed eyelids. A few crows languishing on a power line cawed as he slowly made his way to the barber shop, Italian- Eileens further down Broad Street. The hair appointment was scheduled for 7 am and Eileens catered for “early beards.”
“So this is your last day at work’ Eileen said.
“Yes, after 20 years I’ll be on the dole but I’m looking forward to the rest and will be able to enjoy my grand-children. And better still no more wearing suits and ties.”
Charlie lifted himself into the chair and Eileen sharpened the razor on the leather strap. “ Don’t cut my throat today. Perhaps next time but not today. Some clients did not agree with what was happening to me. One client from Spain specially flew in to wind up his positions, pay the accounts and mainly to say goodbye.”
Eileen’s husband shouted from the alcove where he cleaned the razors and brushes, ironed the aprons that adorned his customers’ neck “You’ll be alright. Smart man. So what you got when you leave?”
”After 20 years, 3 months salary and a kick up the ass. Even my Spanish client, Hugo Valentinos wealthy as he is just came in and gave me a foreign looking lotto ticket for luck. I can’t even read it, only the numbers JKK 38654298. I intended to throw it in the trash then somehow changed my mind.”
Franco hobbled over.” Let me see this foreign ticket. Ah! This is el Porco the biggest lotto in the world. Every ticket has fifty pieces but one piece can be worth one billion dollars. This ticket is two pieces.”
“Here Eileen you take the ticket to show my appreciation for cutting my hair all these years and for luck.”
“No! I can’t take your luck from you” said Eileen.
“…then alright if you win just give me taxi money or something like that.”
They all laughed.
“So when we win the prize where do I find you?”
“At home. Here’s my card.”
”Write down the numbers. The draw is in two days time.”

Charlie’s wife cried for days. She was not used to seeing Charlie brooding and sleeping all day.
Sunday morning the phone rang. Rachel answered the phone.
“Can I speak to Charlie” said the voice.
“He’s sleeping.”
“Okay when he wakes up just tell him – have you a pencil handy?—just tell him JKK 38654298 and even though it’s Sunday we’re sending a taxi for him. Tell him to wear a tie. He’ll be on television Espana.”

Story ID:	5636
Written by:	Martin Steele (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Story
Location:	Delray Beach FL USA
Year:	2010