I admit that I wasn't bad off, but my life was dull, my job was everyday the same and even though I did the little things that a decent human should do, I never even heard a thank you. My peers at work ridiculed me because I didn't drink or swear, and while they had their fun, I had their work on the next day when they called in sick. I always had the feeling that there should be more waiting for you but it never came.
One day I gave something to a beggar, but even though it was plenty the beggar got up and yelled at me for a few minutes. He wouldn't let me leave either till I ripped my arm free. I missed my bus and got home late. The only thing waiting for me was a grumpy cat and a frozen "pizza" with fake cheese topping. The show on the almost-working TV was disgustingly stupid, I couldn't stand it.
That's it, I thought, everybody is doing well not because they are good but because they are bad. So why not? A quick search for ritual, sell my soul to the devil and have all the fun on earth? Turns out the rotten things in my fridge and a dead rat on the stairs were everything I needed - makes sense, the devil won't want his customers to stay away.
I arranged the things around a chair, decorated the dead mouse on top of it and recited the sentence in plain English: The mouse started to glow fiery red, reshape itself and a sharp dressed businessman sat there. If it wasn't for the flies one would not suspect him to be from that place.
But there was another glow: Bright light filled the room and a voice boomed: "You try to sell that which is not yours!". The whole room felt like I was in a giant speaker, it was the loudest thing I ever heard but at the same time the most gentle voice. I didn't need to look, I immediately knew who he was. Still I did only to be blinded by the light: "Who … I know you …" I said. "… but why do you come here?"
It was Gabriel: "Steve, I need to show you a few things." The glorious figure stepped out of the light. The room became dark again and the figure changed too, into the beggar that had yelled at me. "You?" I couldn't believe it. "Yes, that's me." The voice had changed into what alcohol, too many cigarettes and living on the street would do. "You thought I was ungrateful, but look what a dollar does."
He grabbed an invisible door handle and opened it, the other side of the door was fine acacia wood. It opened into a treasure chamber filled with unspoken riches. He took out the dollar and tossed it - in the air it changed into a sack of gold and pearls, for when it landed it tumbled down and opened. "This is your treasure in heaven".
"Wow … I never expected …" Then my curiosity got me: "Why … when …" - "I know your question. Lets take a look." His voice was again angelic, but this time without the boom. He reached out for my hand and I took it. We went back in time, back to my home village. Me and the neighbor's kids were playing Cowboys and Indians, fighting each other, making peace, it got late and we were sitting in the tree house in my neighbor's garden. Time slowed down and each of us in turn swore to from now on only do good. Now it was my turn and I heady myself say: "Hereby I declare, I shall always fight for the good. I dedicate my soul to the spirit in heaven that palefaces call Jesus. He and his angels shall always watch over my steps". The scene faded out while my peers ridiculed me.
I had one more question. I didn't dare to ask it but the angel said "come". Again he reached out, again I took his hand. We went down the stairs and when we reached the rat, we changed directions. We remained in the same place but walked back in time till the cat arrived with it in the mouth. Again we changed direction and watched the cat stroll away, but we followed it walking down the street. One of our neighbors was there, his dog never liked that cat and with a sudden jerk the dog was free to chase the cat. We walked behind them as they rushed along and across the street, all of us at the same pace. We saw the car evading, swerving back and that driver turned around while passing a bus. We saw the man that would have just left the bus, crossing the street behind it as usual. The vision stopped and I knew.
As I let go of Gabriel's hand we were back in my room. It was the exact moment when we left. The imp impatiently twisted his thumbs: "Gabriel, Gabriel, Gabriel, why do you always have to interfere with my clients? Can't a honest businessman do whatever the heart desires? He called me so why don't you …" But Gabriel would have none of it - a wink with his hand and the accountant exploded in the chair. My entire room was filled with rat debris, unpleasantly mixed with the rotten food that was shoved away by the blast. Nothing else was affected and Gabriel was gone, too.
Thank God I didn't have much furniture so I found most of the debris. I might have missed some because for the next two or three days I did smell something. I din't see Gabriel or the other guy again, nor did I see any rats or bugs in the building. My life wouldn't be easier but now I know I'm not alone. I'll never be alone.