However, I found I could not stay in bed. I am, by nature, a workaholic. As I lay in bed, I looked around my room.
There were a few more clothes in the laundry basket, so I woke up properly, had some of the ginger tea which helps to relieve the flu symptoms and took the clothes to the launderette, which was 50 metres from my room.
No-one was there. As it was about 10am on a Friday, most of the usual customers were at work. But when I entered, I noticed a suitcase in the middle of the floor.
I loaded my clothes into the machine and turned it on. I had an hour to spend while my clothes were washing and drying, so I started to read the magazines I had brought along. But I found I could not concentrate on reading because of the suitcase in front of me.
No-one was there. All the machines were off except the one I was using. There were too many questions bubbling up in my mind about the suitcase. In the end, I decided to open the suitcase and see what was in it - but still I was scared. What was inside? Who had brought it there? Why had they placed it in the middle of the floor? If someone had forgotten it, it should have been near one of the seats or on top of one of the machines, but it was in the middle of the floor.
So it had been someone's deliberate plan to place it there in full view of anyone who entered the launderette. It might contain explosives.
There are lots of movies showing such incidents. An anonymous box is in a place where people gather. Someone tries to open it. The box explodes and the people are killed.
But, despite my fears, my mind kept insisting that I should open the suitcase and there would be money inside. Because it was my dream to adopt children who have lost their parents through the horrors war or other circumstances, those who are poor, are craving for food or are seeking to study.
I was thinking seriously about the suitcase and whether to open it or not. If it contained money, my dream would come true. If it contained explosives, my life would end with a big bang and it would hit the headlines the next day in all the newspapers in the country, perhaps even the world. I had spent 30 minutes in the launderette.
Still no-one came. I looked in the street. There was no-one there too. My mind, eaten up with curiosity, was pushing me forward to look inside the suitcase.
Christians have a saying, "Knock at the door and it will open for you. Do not think that it is locked. Sometimes it is just closed." So I prayed to God and took a coin and tossed it. Heads and I would call the police. Tails and I would open the suitcase.
Just as I thought, it was tails! So I took the suitcase and put it on the chair and opened it. It was full of $100 notes! I stared, wide-eyed at the money. I was stunned! My heart was raced. What to do next? I dithered, undecided.
I was very happy to see the money and also very scared as well, because this was illegal money and it could make trouble for me later, when I started to use the money to realise my dream.
I would have to declare to the government where this amount of money came from. I would not be able to say that I had I got the money from a launderette. I prayed to God again. “It is in my mind, that you gave me this money to make my dream become reality. That is why you gave me the flu and sent me here while it was empty. I have never been here before on a weekday. So everything is guided by you. I am going to take this money with me to spend on my dream. So please keep guiding me along the true path." And I took the money to my room.
I do not have much faith. but I have read some holy books from different religions. When I saw the money, I had to pray to God because I could not share that secret with anyone or everyone. But I had to tell some-one. That is why our forefathers made God, who cannot pass on personal matters to others, and whom no-one can see. Otherwise, how could I make the decision while I was alone there?
As soon as I reached my room, I called Father John, a priest in the church, who works for a charity. I was given an appointment, met him, explained everything to him and handed over the suitcase.
Father John told me he had a contact in cabinet. He would be able to sort out the problem. He asked me to keep it a secret until the problem was solved and he encouraged me by saying that I had done the right thing.
About 10 days later, Father John invited me to lunch at his house. On my arrival, I found a small group of people gathered, one of whom was the Finance Minister. Father John introduced me to the Minister, who shook my hand and asked me to sit next to him.
" Nathan, you did a good thing and you had a good dream.
You also did a bad thing,
because wherever you are, if you see an anonymous parcel or suitcase, you must call the police.
Your first responsibility is to keep yourself safe, according to the law.
There was money inside,
just as you thought there would be.
Had it been a bomb,
though....what would have happened?
However,
you did call Father John, so the matter came directly to me.
I will make sure that this money is spent on your nominated charities, through the charity organisations.” Nathan, are you happy with that?”
" I am very sorry sir," I said.
" No problem.
I'll sort it out.
But,
if you see another anonymous parcel, next time,
you must call the police.
Do not open it yourself.
OK....?"
" Yes sir.
Thank you,"
I said as I walked away, my mind full of thanks.
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