A Financial Ménage à Trois
Let me first start off by saying I already know what I’m going to do with the money. Many people may not agree with my decision, some may judge me, others may call me names and I just want to say, I don’t care. I don’t feel a bit of remorse, an ounce of guilt or an infinitesimal amount of shame. The check has my name on it and I am she.
Here’s what happened, the long version. I have a 9 to 5 just like your average American who works for a living. I also do web designing from my home when I have the time. Well today I left work early to meet with potential clients at the local library to discuss doing a site for their non-profit organization.
After the meeting was over, I drove around the corner to the post office to pick up my mail that has been sitting in my PO Box for months. I only have the PO Box because I got yelled at for advertising my home address to clients, so when I do go to the post office, I’m always looking for some kind of residual income. Well today, the check was in the mail.
When I got home, I went through the stack of mail, most of which was either junk mail or mail that did not belong to me. There was, however, one white envelope hand written out and addressed to me. I looked at the return address and I did not recognize the name of the sender. Immediately, I thought chain letter. However, just to make sure there was no money in there, I opened it.
As I unfolded the contents of the envelope, I found a check addressed to Valerie Morrison. In my excitement, I suffered temporary blindness and searched all four corners of the check looking for the dollar amount. I found it, right where it’s supposed to be and it read $20.00. Twenty dollars? That’s kind of low, what did I do for $20, I thought.
Upon further examination of the contents, I saw the face of my internet rival, Valerie Morrison [dot] com and then I put the pieces together. Valerie Morrison [dot] com is a psychic, a guidance counselor, a medium. Supposedly she can speak with the dead and foretell future events. I, on the other hand, ValerieMorrison.net, do not wish to speak with the dead and I can only tell you what’s happening right now. Valerie Morrison dot com is white and Valerie Morrison dot net is kissed by the sun brown. Maybe the sender did not look at the photos on my website or maybe she looked at my photos on my website and decided to send me the money anyway.
View the contents: vm1, vm2, vm3, vm4, check
So, according to the form the sender filled out, whose name, by the way, is also Valerie, the $20 dollars is for Valerie Morrison [dot] com to show her the way to emotional, personal and financial success. The funny thing is, I believe I can actually help her with her request and I wouldn’t have to wake the dead or consult demons to do it.
Below are some reasons on why I can keep the check:
- It’s made out to Valerie Morrison. I am Valerie Morrison.
- She was on MY website and sent it to MY PO BOX.
- I could actually help her.
- I could get away with it.
I had a good laugh about it and for a minute, okay two minutes, I saw myself making a deposit and saying oh well, you’re beat. I looked around the room and two of the most gorgeous almond shaped eyes attached to my daughter’s face looked at me in my merriment and quickly I used the opportunity to teach. Even if she wasn’t looking, I know the 20$ was not intended for this Valerie Morrison and I would not feel right about keeping it, but can’t a girl dream. I’m returning her letter and money tomorrow.
Strangely enough, I feel like sending her money just because I know she’s having financial trouble, but she would probably turn around and send it to that dot com woman. I did write a note to the sender and told her that she will not see financial stability by giving her money away to psychics. I recommended a book for her to read about managing her money and said that if she needed any help, she could write me back and I will help her for free. I wonder if she is going to curse me out.
What would you have done?
I will share something really creepy about the situation. It’s from a girl named Valerie, it was addressed to a Valerie, it was intended for another Valerie and in the girl’s letter she references another Valerie whose birthday is 10 days before hers (Valerie the sender). Well guess what, my birthday is 10 days after hers (Valerie the sender). I’m getting this letter out of my house before I start having bad dreams. This has been on my mind way too long.
PS – To the people who say it’s only twenty dollars, if you really feel that way, please donate $20 to the Valerie Fund, that would be MY checking account as soon as possible, by clicking the donate button on my personal website, after all it’s only twenty dollars.
on October 25, 2007 at 8:13 am
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Oh my goodness.. Talk about coincidences!! This is off the chain/hook!! – I would have done the same thing you did – send it back.. stuff comes in 3′s… valerie valerie valerie…. ! Funny as all get out!! – eat drink and be merry!!
on October 25, 2007 at 8:13 am
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” A Financial Ménage à Trois ” LOL
on October 27, 2007 at 12:03 pm
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You did the right thing. You are truly a good person.