Mystery Of The Little Black Book

Telephone call

Michael: Why are you calling me this late, it's 2:28 am!

Mom: Michael, it finally happened, your father died, just wanted to let you know, sorry to wake you. I'll try to set up the funeral arrangements, just be careful and please wear a mask.

Dead silence, there are special types of silence, one's of peace and one's of torture. Michael stayed up the rest of the night, he didn't know how to feel about the death of his father. A part of him was glad the old drunk finally crocked, but there was a heaviness in his heart. After the funeral, Michael received a letter from the estates' attorney.

Michael: Wow, unbelievable, this will is the last slap in the face. The only thing that old drunk left me was a little black book………TO HELL WITH HIM!

Michael, like many others, thought 2020 would be his year, little did he, nor the world, know of the upcoming pandemic. Since then, he was laid off work, though he tried to keep a job, it showed more difficult during the pandemic. What little savings he had is draining faster than a sinking ship. The only thing that keeps him going is seeing his daughter, harmony, on the weekends. Michael makes sure he tests for COVID-19 weekly, just so his ex will allow him to see his daughter.

Ding...Dong…

mail man left a package.

In the package was the little black book. Michael starred at it, how small, rigid and leathery it felt. He thought to himself "why would the old man leave me this?" after contemplating reading the book, he reached down to open it. To his shock, the pages were completely blank.

Furious Michael's response "even in death you mock me, WHY DID YOU HATE ME SO!"

With disgust, Michael tossed the little black book in the recycling bin. Due to his father's alcoholic rage towards him and his mother, Michael would spend years in therapy processing what he went through. Even after his father went to rehab and was able to maintain long periods of sobriety, Michael couldn't find it in his heart to forgive the old man, even in death.

Saturday: Ding dong….ding dong ding dong ding DONG!!!!!

Harmony: DADDYYYYYYY it's me!

Michael’s eyes flung open with excitement, he quickly hopped out of bed, hitting his knee in the process, with a grimacing smile, he opened the door.

Michael: how's my little girl! bracing her with a bear hug while hopping on one leg.

Harmony: DAAAAAADAH I'm eleven, I'm not LITTLE ANYMORE!!!!

Michael: you're growing up so fast!

Harmony: waving goodbye to mom “see you on Monday!”

"Dad! can we listen and sing to JOJO PLEASSSSSSAH! "

As he rubs his knee, Michael Try’s to wittingly find a way to delay this. With a smirk on his face, he’s got a plan.

Michael: how about we write our own song first? All great artists must first put their thoughts to paper, plus it will give my aching knee a chance to recover.

Harmony: crossing her arms and tapping her foot, her stare piercing Michael’s soul. “FINE, we can do that first.”

Michael breathes a sigh of relief while brushing some sweat of his forehead. While looking for paper, harmony notices this odd little black book in the recycling bin. Curious, she picks it up and opens it.

Harmony: Hey dad, can I use this?

Michael: sure there's nothing in there anyway.

As harmony begins to write in the book, she notices, markings on the pages, even though there is no ink.

A few moments later…….

Harmony: DAD, DAD, DAD, look!

Michael tenses up as he slowly looks over his shoulder “oh you wrote a song that quickly………”

Harmony: no dad, look closely at the pages!

As Michael investigates the pages, harmony shuffles in her backpack.

Michael: it looks like the old man tried to write but forgot there was no ink left.

Harmony: look again, dad

As she pulls out her spy pen and flashes black light on the page. To Michael's surprise, the little black book’s pages were full of words.

Harmony: see! it isn't empty, you just need to shine some light on it.

Michael: it looks like journal entries.

Harmony: Yeahhhhhhh, aren't you glad you have me?

Michael: my dear, I would be completely lost without you.

As he goes into give her a big old bear hug, harmony whispers in his ear.

Harmony: you know what time it is?

Michael's eyes open wide in horror.

Harmony: it's JOJO TIME!!!!!!!!!!!

Sobbing in defeat "okay honey.”

Within the next three weeks, Michael bought his own black light and read every journal entry. He learned more about his father in this little black book than living with him his entire childhood. The little black book explained all of his father's behaviors and why he began drinking so heavily. Michael called his mom, asking about the little black book, she has never seen it before. The last entry caught Michael by surprise, it was a map with a note saying:

" Hi son, if you are reading this, I'm dead, I know I've done some horrible thing to you and your mother. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive your old man. Believe it or not, alcohol is the only thing that kept me going all these years. For those few moments, I forget all of my traumatic memories. Let's face it, if hell exists, I'm on the VIP list for sure. Here's something that may help you." At the end of the little black book was a map to the old man's log cabin.

Father: "follow the map, it I will reveal my last real will I left you. Take care my son, maybe we will cross paths again in the afterlife."

Michael did not know how to process this note from his father. He shook his head and focused on the map. Curious about what his father could have left him, Michael travels to this log cabin. This cabin is where his father spent the last few years of his life, trying to drink the demons away. As he approaches the cabin, Michael stares at the front door. As the cool autumn air blows the wind chimes, Michael takes his first step. When he opens the door, he immediately gets hit with a strong smell of liquor.

Michael: Jeeeez if the old man was in a drinking competition with a pirate, he would certainly win……

Turning on the lights in the cabin, Michael is amazed at all the family photos on the walls. Photos he's never seen before. Filled with emotions, Michael stuffed them down and quickly takes out the little black book. The directions lead him to the basement. To no surprise, the basement is filled with barrels of alcohol. The map tells him to go to the barrel in the far left corner.

Michael: Did he leave me a basement full of alcohol, I don't even drink because of him……..

Michael makes his way down the creaking stairs, brushing away the cobwebs. When he went to pick up the barrel, Michael almost fell backwards overestimating its weight. Dumbfounded, Michael shakes the barrel, it was nearly hollow, but he could hear something rattling inside. He got the hammer and tool to cling away the first ring on the barrel.

Bang…Bang…. BAng…...BANg…...BANG…clink

As the ring swivels on the concrete floor, Michael catches his breath to open the lid. In the barrel, he finds a briefcase. After a moment of pause, wondering what could be in the case, Michael slowly opens and finds a case full of money and a baby picture of him and his dad. The back of the photo had a final message " To Michael, I am truly thankful to have you for a son. I tried to raise you as my father did, it only ended with me becoming a monster. I hope this money will help during these hard times, love your dad Michael jones sr." years' worth of pent-up emotions and man tears poured down Michael's face. There was a sum of 20,000 dollars, enough money to help pay more than half of his rent until he can find a new job. A month later, he spent some of the money on a karaoke machine so he and harmony can dance and sing the weekend nights away. As for the little black book, Michael decided to share it with his mom, so she can read about the man she once knew and loved.

As mom wipes tears from her face “you see Michael, the best things come in small packages, in this case, a little black book.”