Chapter 1

Tom Palance sat on the park bench trying not to feel sorry for himself. Christ, they said that bad luck always traveled in threes, but now he was starting to believe it. First, he’d walked out on his wife. He loved her, but he just couldn’t take her anymore. Good God, after nearly dying to have her say so? What the heck! To have her say that she didn’t love him, in no way at all? That she didn’t need him? Why not leave?

Thank God the kids were all grown. Here she had told him that he was going to end up old and alone, and here it looked like it was going to be her. Then, while staying with his brother a few days, he had dented the front hood of his sister-in-law’s car, which he had been using good thing his brother was a mechanic to go back and forth to work. He had been trying to help out doing dishes, cleaning. he didn’t like to be a burden Hell, he had even fixed his brother’s lawnmower and cut his front yard.

Then a few days later, he got scammed at work for $60, and the company Kruger not actual name had just terminated him. They didn’t allow him to pay it back; he guessed they just wanted to get rid of him. Sighing, he hung his head. He had never felt so alone in his life. His mother offered him a room at her place. His sister offered to help him get a vehicle, as did his brother. What the heck did God or the universe want of him?

So now that the bad 3’s were over, he had to decide what to do. Alright, Tom, he thought, time to get your ass up and get a move on. Standing, he started walking out of the park. About to walk out the gate, he saw something shining in the grass. Huh, he thought, maybe this will start his good luck up again. Bending to pick it up, a frisbee whizzed where his head had been. Shocked for a second, Tom picked up what appeared to be a small gold horn. Huh, he thought, just what I need, worthless jewelry. Sighing, he was about to throw it away when there in front of him was a hundred dollars! Damn! he thought, just what I need.

Walking back to his little room in the hotel, he paid the hundred for another week.

Now I just need food, he thought, walking out again to see if his neighbors had any. He was shocked to find the woman in the room next door about to knock on his.

“Hello Anna, you need help?” he said, looking hungrily at the food she was carrying.

“Yes, actually I do,” she said to Tom, her sweet voice flowing over him, sending waves of pleasure that seemed to go straight to his soul. “I was making dinner for me and John and realized that I had way too much. John said that you were such a good friend that I should see if you wanted it. It would just go bad if I put it in the fridge.”

Tom’s mouth hung open. What the heck was going on? Again? Smiling to himself, he thought, damn sure would be nice if I had a woman like you.

Turning to go, Anna stopped. Turning back, she looked at him sweetly. “By the way, my twin sister is coming down next week. You think, uh...” she hesitated, “you could maybe show her around and show her the sights? I know you’re still looking for work, and after what your wife did to you, you’re gun-shy around women, but please?”

Sighing, he shook his head. Damn it! He was always a sucker for a pretty face.