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“Who’s Marvin?” Bolt whispers as the elevator doors close.
“Yesterday, these two were acting like they had huge problems because of all the money that is being forced upon them, so I told them to go talk to a middle-aged black gentleman who was sitting on a bench outside the bank,” Anthony explains. “I thought if they gave him a little cash and saw his face light up, it might do them some good. They were supposed to meet him there at noon today, because he needs to get a safe deposit box.”
“Gotcha,” Bolt quips, nodding his head. “If you ever feel like you have too much money, I would be willing help you out too.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Trey replies as if he’s giving it serious consideration. “It’s good to know I have options.”
“At least the bank is only a few blocks from here,” Anthony says, pulling from our parking spot and forcing his way into traffic. “Fucking traffic.”
“Don’t you love how he drives?” Bolt asks, looking back at us. “I’m amazed that he never gets into any wrecks.”
“People know enough not to fuck with me,” Anthony says with a laugh. “They just get the hell outta my way.”
“You just give off that vibe, don’t you,” I say in agreement. “Whether you’re driving or sniping. I know I would definitely get out of your way.” I look back and forth between the two men, still amazed that we have these guys as our personal security detail. I think Dad is going to get along pretty well with Anthony. They can go beat around in the old GMC truck.
Trey
Turning the corner by the bank, we both notice that the bench is vacant. Mandy looks at me with sadness filling her eyes. “Dammit, we missed him. I really feel terrible for forgetting about him.”
“I’ll go in and see if I can still set up something for him,” I assure her. “I’m sure they know who he is since it seems to be his regular hangout.” As soon as we come to a stop, I open the door and hop out.
“You might want this,” Mandy says, following behind me. I look back to see the envelope containing the cash in her hand.
“That might come in handy,” I laugh, my mind still overflowing with conflicting thoughts. I think it’s going to take a while for my brain to get back to normal even after things settle down.
“I had almost given up on you guys.” We hear a man say upon entering the lobby of the bank. “I wanted to believe, but I was starting to wonder.” We turn to see Marvin dressed in a black suit, white shirt and gray tie.
“Wow! You look incredible, Marvin,” Mandy declares in a burst of excitement. “Look at those shoes! You look great.” Marvin simply stands there with a huge smile plastered on his face. The look on his face alone is worth the five hundred dollars.
“What a transformation,” I add, holding out my hand to shake his. “You look like a million bucks, not to mention at least ten years younger.” His gray beard was gone and his hair was cut short.
“After finding some clothes and shoes at Goodwill, nothing looked right without a haircut and shave,” he says, still beaming. “Nobody gave me a second look when I came in here today. It’s nice to sit in air conditioning for a change.”
“Let’s get you a safe deposit box,” I suggest after adjusting to his new look.
“I’ve been thinking about it and I think I might already have everything I need,” he replies, holding out his hands and looking down at his attire.
“I’m sure you are right about that,” Mandy says immediately. “But let us follow through on our promise and leave you with a little safety net.”
“If you find you don’t need it, you can always share it with your friends. Right?” I add, coaxing him toward the teller window. I notice a hint of fear in his eyes and immediately recognize that he is stepping far beyond his comfort zone. “Have you ever had a bank account?”
“Honestly, this is my first time inside of here,” he says, with a sullen expression. “I’ve always favored the bench out front.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but you look way to sharp for that bench today.” I give him a genuine smile and motion once again for him to join me. “Let’s get you started with a safe deposit box. As soon as you are comfortable, we’ll get you a savings account too. That way you can use a debit card to pay for things.”
He simply stands there staring at me for a few seconds before saying, “Why are you being so kind to me?”
