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Pennies From Heaven
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Pennies From Heaven |
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Clang Member
since 2005-12-15
Posts 222 |
As Katie filled her tank full of gas at the convenience store she worried about how she would save herself from bankruptcy and keep her house. When she heard the click indicating that the tank was full she replaced the hose and nozzle to its base. Grabbing her wallet she walked toward the door keeping her eyes to the ground. A surge of excitement pulsated through her veins as she saw it. A penny rested on the ground, heads up. She bent over, picked it up and smiled at the heavens. Pennies had a special meaning and came from heaven. They were signs that all would be well, that somehow she would be able to save her house. Once inside the store, as she stood in line, she felt the distinct feeling that there was another penny beconning for her somewhere in the store. Katie turned to look down the visible aisles, her eyes quickly darting across the floor. There were no pennies in sight, so she slowly backed up, and trying not to be noticeable, walked down each aisle looking for pennies. When none were found she began to grow apprehensive. When she looked up she saw that the clerk was watching her, so she smiled. She paid for her gas and then left the store, her eyes fixated on the ground. No pennies. The next day, as Katie rode beside her friend, in her friend's pick-up truck they came to a stop light. Just outside the door of the truck were several pennies in the street. Katie looked at her friend and said, "Don't drive off," and jumped out of the truck scrambling to pick up the pennies without being hit by the on-coming traffic. After she had picked them all up, she jumped back into the truck and shut the door. Her friend loked at her and said, "What were you doing? You could have been killed." Katie just smiled. Things would be okay. Later that week, Katie parked her car in the parking lot at her favorite bookstore. When she opened the door of her car she saw a gleaming copper pennie on the ground. She picked it up and knew with certainty that by finding the penny in front of the bookstore it meant she should write a book about her life. It was an inspiration. For months she had struggled with the idea of how to make enough money to save her house from foreclosure. Writing, publishing and selling a book had been the dream she had held close to her heart as the solution to her problem. For months she would continue in her quest to reach into the powers that be to find comfort and insirations through the discovery of pennies. One day when she retuned to the convenience store and walked around perusing for pennies she found a diamond ring. For most the discovery would have brought elation, but Katie felt a sense of doom. No pennies, no hope. No one ever returned to claim the ring so after a month the store clerk gave it to her. But the sting remained that no pennies were found on that day. Pennies were a comfort she learned to mourne, for once she received her diagnosis of psychosis and went on medication, the pennies and their meanings disappeared. Who knew that the pennies were not sent from heaven, but simply a symptom of illness. Quirks make us interesting! |
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the_girl_next_door Senior Member
since 2006-02-26
Posts 591USA |
Wow!! I think I actually understood the meaning of this.. great job.. It's like.. it was all in her head.. it was wonderful.. I've only read one other of yours and it was good too.. keep em coming..  ~Heather Desire nothing except desirelessness. Hope for nothing except to rise above all hopes. |
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Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
I think I liked her better when she had psychosis and the innocence that went with it. I liked the way you wrote the story but there were a few places where I had questions that weren't answered. That's not to say all questions should be answered but... I wanted to know the significance of pennies for her. I mean why pennies and not wishing sixpences? I also tripped over a few sentences and noticed a few, very few, spelling errors. All in all though it's a good story with the potential to be stronger if you work on it. Cheers Kethry Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown |
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fractal007 Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958 |
Clang: I had a feeling that she had some mental illness, but I reserved my judgement as some have diagnosed me (by means of pop psychology, of course) with everything from obsessive compulsive disorder to schizophrenia. Anyway, it's wonderful how one's life situation can make total changes on the way one looks at life. I was glad that you ended the story on a negative note. I was worried that this was going to be one of those sentimental stories about how it's important to be optimistic and not to place undue emphasis on obtaining material wealth (the diamond in contrast with the pennies). At the same time, I trust that there were other signs that Katie was psychotic? Just being obsessed with pennies doesn't make one psychotic. Also, omens like the pennies are popular among persons of all walks of life. It's stories like this one, anyway, that add a tinge of the ironic to life. We step back and label Katie psychotic and even go so far as to mourne the loss of her coping mechanism. But how many coping mechanisms are hidden in the closets of our own psyches? Any idiot can see that the result is true. |
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the_girl_next_door Senior Member
since 2006-02-26
Posts 591USA |
fractal.. you have a very good point. i like how you think. I love to hear how other poeple relate to things and how it effects them. I sometimes feel I can grow wiser by just reading and listening to others and their thoughts. ~heather Desire nothing except desirelessness. Hope for nothing except to rise above all hopes. |
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