It's Sophie's Day

Usually, after returning from work to a dull one-room apartment, taking a commonplace shower, then sitting down at trivial table and eating an insignificant meal that usually consisted of leftovers or microwaveable television dinner. Then, after completing these daily tasks, I would retrieve a $2.95 bottle of wine out of the fridge, a Styrofoam cup, and my diary. Then, I would take a seat on my less expensive sofa to jot down some thoughts of present life, and how one day with continuing with hard work, sacrificing some luxuries, and continuing to scrimp and save. However, all of that was yesterday because today is Sophie's Day. Today is a new entry and a brand-new day.

Dear Diary:

Today seems to be very different. The atmosphere at work is very incompatible with yesterday. The atmosphere seems to be luminescent, and this brightness seems to overflow in the customers. You see, yesterday, the customers knew how try a person's patience; but we were trained to believe that the customer is always right. However, today, the day was filled with both joy and laughter, both by the staff and customers. It was as though I felt a newness and that something good was about to happen. I just couldn't put my finger on it. It was like a feeling of DeJa'Vu. Like I was reliving something which already took place.

I clocked out of work as I usually do every day. I decided to stop by the ATM to withdraw...for what I thought...would be a meager amount of money for gas and groceries. Today was payday, but I signed up for direct deposit, but unlike other paydays, I was the first and only person in line to the machine. After I embarked upon the machine, I inserted my ATM card and when prompted, I tapped the keys to put in my ID ####. I checked my balance yesterday and I knew it said the amount was $1500. Even though I had an exceptional day at work, I had no idea this would be a carryover feeling to the machine. I had few expectations other than to debit my account a few dollars, retrieve my cash, card, and receipt, and finally that machine to say, thank you for using Westside Federal.

Diary, this is where it gets really good. When I looked at the receipt, I could hardly believe my eyes. I sat seemingly frozen in place, but I could feel my eyes hurriedly blink over and over again. It like my mind and eyes were out of sync of all reality, but I felt my mouth open wide. After a moment. I was able to silently stammer out to myself as I read the balance on the receipt $15,000. I knew it read right but there had to a mistake made by the bank because diary nothing like this happens to people like me. I've never won anything in my life, and everything I have in this life came from hard work and persistence.

Dear Diary: what am I to do? Do I go to the bank after work tomorrow and report this? What if I tell them about it and it's found to be an error on their part? Then I will be back in the same shape I was in yesterday. My mind, for a brief moment, was going into all directions until I remembered the type of day I had today. I told myself today was a new day. To celebrate, I didn't purchase a TV dinner or eat leftovers. I treated myself to fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and corn dinner, Also, I didn't buy that cheap bottle of wine; rather I spent $30 on a bottle of wine. Diary, I don't know what will take place on tomorrow but today and tonight belongs to Sophie.

The next day.

Dear Diary: Today, I went by the bank to see about my newly found fortune from yesterday. Periodically, throughout the day, I could hear a teller's voice saying, "This was a technical error on our part, and we correct it today," plunging me back into my financial abyss of the previous day. I arrived at the bank and spoke to a teller by the name of Angie. After explaining my situation at the ATM machine, she smiled at me and said in a soft voice, "Let me check." I gave her my ID and she began to type on her computer. With every key stroke I was filled with anticipation and grief at the same time. It seemed like an eternity for her to complete her examination. However, she looked up at me with what seemed an even more incandescent smile than before and said, "I have looked everywhere for an error, but there is none. It looks like the money belongs to you."

Dear Diary: I have been given a double blessing by God. Somehow, some way a miracle has been performed for me. I have learned some valuable lessons today. First, I that all I have is because of God, and he has blessed me, so I'm going back to church and become involved. Further, I'm not going to identify myself any longer as secondary, and that I don't have to settle. I'm going to take some classes to continue to better myself. It seems like I was trapped in a rut of just making it from paycheck to paycheck, but God in his unique way was demonstrating his love towards me. Although I brought up in church, I allowed myself to become trapped in a cataclysmic tirade of seemingly non-existence. I can't tell you when the last time was, I have seen a movie and enjoyed a night out. Today I go to the ATM machine with greater confidence. I will keep my same mindset of saving my money, but now I really begin to enjoy life without excessive frugality. I went to the ATM with my own expectations, but God had another plan. He has said in his Holy word that his ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts.