What People Do For Money

Otis Fireheart was one of the nicest people on the planet Earth. He lived paycheck to paycheck on the top floor of one of New York City’s worst low-income apartment buildings. Every day, he walked down 15 flights of stairs. Nobody trusted the elevator. He would walk 10 blocks to Right Fit Drug Store, where he would work 9 to 5 only to get paid minimum wage. He never had more than $500 in the bank at one time. Even though he didn’t have a dime to his name, he always made sure that he would do something nice for those less fortunate than he was. It wasn’t ever that much, but he did what he could. And it was very much appreciated.

On August 21st, Otis walked into the store just like any other day. His boss asked everyone to meet him in the office. Very bluntly, and with no compassion, he announced that the store would close down on August 31st. He suggested that everybody start looking for a new job. “Now, get back to work”, he said. That’s actually all he said. He didn’t say why. He didn’t give any options. In 10 days, Otis, and everybody else were unemployed.

Otis had a small amount of money saved up, but it wasn’t enough to pay for food and rent. So, when his merger funds ran dry, he was kicked out on the street. You would never see him standing in front of a store or on a corner begging people for money as they walked by. He always found some way to make a few bucks to get him some food and sometimes a place to spend the night. More often than not, he would spend the night in a shelter.

On the night that the announcement was made, he was standing next to a trash can that was set on fire. His friends were with him. The shelters were full, and it was going to be a cold night. He only heard part of the message, but he thought that he would check it out anyway. What he heard was this:

“Head to the Old Freemoore Plant while there is still space and time. The doors will close for the night at 10 PM.”

He assumed that the old, abandoned building was reopened as a shelter. So, he got Mike and John, and they headed over there for the night. Otis had once purchased a hotdog combo from the corner restaurant. It consisted of 2 loaded hotdogs, a large fry, and a 32 oz drink. He sucked down half the drink and then saw Mike and John standing on the corner with a sign. Although he had not eaten in over 24 hours, he gave his food to them. That was the last bit of money he had. They have been friends ever since.

What they did NOT hear was this:

“Rumor has it that Trillionaire Morris von Morris is at it again. This time, an undisclosed amount of money has been hidden in one of his old, abandoned warehouses. Whoever can stay the entire night has a chance at the money. However, there will be dangers. Knowing Von Morris, it’s the Freemoore Plant. But it won’t be open for long. So, head to the Old Freemoore Plant while there is still space and time. The doors will close for the night at 10 PM.”

When Otis and his friends arrived, there was a line a mile long trying to get inside. It was John that knew about the back entrance. “I’ve slept here before. I know several ways in. Follow me. Oh! I hope you all can swim.”

The Freemoore Plant was not ideal. It wasn’t really a safe way in. The steel beams were rusted to the point that the building could collapse at any moment. The full moon brought a rise in the tide. Therefore, the back of the building was completely in the Hudson River. Going through the basement wasn’t going to happen unless they were willing to swim through darkness. It was impossible to walk there. It required wall climbing skills. Jumping from ledge to ledge until they found a window they could get through. Once inside, a cozy warm place was found on the 5th floor where they could spend the night. They found 4 bags stuffed with paper. They used them as pillows to rest their head while they got a little sleep. They did not know, nor did they care, what was happening four floors below them.

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Maxwell and Mandy Evens were married 3 years ago. He was 42 and she was 24. They had nothing in common with each other. She pretended to like him because he had $25 million in the bank. She was nothing more than a trophy to him. More like a piece of art. Something to look at and nothing else. But now that they were married, she threatened to leave him and take half his money on a daily basis. The last time Morris von Morris played one of these games, he had placed $250 Million inside an expensive looking vase and hid it somewhere in the Red Hook Grain Terminal. If that much money was added to their account, he would have gladly given her half to get rid of her. She wanted the money so badly that she agreed to join him in the search.

When they saw the line of people trying to get inside, they found a window they could crawl into. Ignored the “Danger, Do Not Enter” signs and entered the building. After taking just 5 steps, the rotten wood planks of the floor broke, and they fell into the basement. Waist-deep in stagnant water, they had to use the light of a single handheld mini flashlight to try to find the stairs.

Jonathan and Ronda Wade were inside the building and saw Maxwell and Mandy fall through the floor. Their first thought was “Good. The less competition the better.” They showed no concern for their well-being. Their second thought was to make their way to the basement. The treasure could possibly be down there. They started to search for the stairs. Going through the floor like that was not going to work. When they found them, there was a sign that read “Danger. Stairs unsafe.” Just like the Evens, this brother and sister team ignore danger signs and head down. They were able to feel that the stairs were shaking under their feet. They had the opportunity to turn around and head back up. But that would have been the smart thing to do. These were not smart people.

They continued walking down the stairs. As soon as they stepped into the water that filled the basement, the staircase collapsed. That made four people stuck in the basement. The bad part is that Ronda could not swim. She started to panic and didn’t think about standing up. While splashing around she must have swallowed a cup of water. It was unknown what microbes were living in it. The 4 of them would have to work together to either search the dark basement for the treasure or find a way out of it.

Tommy and Taylor McDonnell decided to make their way up instead of down. They were the ones that found the first luggage bag. It, also, was stuffed with paper. A wooden plaque with the inscription “Stay the entire night to get the money.” This was great news to them. It meant that they did not have to search. All they had to do was not leave. That would be easy.

As they walked around the second floor, they found what must have been a break room for the worker when the building was still in use. They pulled some chairs off of a table so that they could sit down and wait. There was also an old vending machine that still had chips and candy inside. Breaking the glass, they grabbed what bags of chips and candy they could. They were all at least 10 years past the expiration day. But since the items were still sealed inside bags, they figured that they were still safe to eat. The bad taste was a bit off putting but that was not the big issue.

Shortly after they started to eat the candy bars, at least 100 rats emerged from a hole that the vending machine was covering. While Tommy tried to comfort his wife, she could not deal with it. She ran off and outside. The thought of a possible quarter of a million caused Tommy not to follow his wife. He knew that he had to remain inside if he was to get the money. He stayed. He would have to deal with Taylor when he got home. She was not happy

Betty Forman came with her daughter, Laura Scott. Both of them were runner ups for being contestants on Survivor. They believed that they could survive anything. When they learned that all they had to do was spend the night, they were happy. They found themselves in the same break room as Tommy. Being confronted by an army of rats didn’t phase them at all.

“Didn’t I see you with a young lady”, Laura said to Tommy.

“The rats scared her away. She went home.”

“Don’t you think you need to be with her?”

“She’ll be fine. Especially when I come home with the money.”

“You sure you’re going to get it?”

“Yep! I’m not leaving.”

The attempt to make him feel guilty about not leaving with his wife failed. But they did not give up. The conversation continued.

Meanwhile, in the basement, the Wades and the Evens continued to search for a way out. They were convinced that the money was not down there. They came across a ladder on a wall. It was a good thing that they did. Ronda was starting to feel sick. The others were not in the best of health themselves.

They reached the top of the ladder and found themselves in a room at the back of the 1st floor. There were 2 problems. Debris from the collapsed floor above blocked the door. So, they were trapped. The second problem was the fact that the room was full of snakes.

“If red touches black”, said Maxwell, “You’re dead Jack. If red touches yellow, you’re a good fellow.”

It was the opposite way around. A coral snake has alternating bands of red and black separated by narrow yellow bands. They are highly venomous. A king snake, on the other hand, harmless, has a red, yellow, black, yellow pattern. Red doesn’t touch black. Maxwell was in full panic mode. He was bitten. And he didn’t get a good look at the snake that bit him. His leg was starting to swell. Was it just an allergic reaction? He did not know. There were now 2 people that needed medical attention.

Jonathan and Mandy worked hard to clear the debris. Ronda was starting to fade in and out of consciousness. Maxwell was in such pain that he couldn’t stop screaming. The sooner they get medical help, the better. Four more people were leaving the building.

350 people successfully made their way into the building. Most of them were couples. Little by little, they all left. The Bradfords left after an I-beam fell on Mr. Bradford’s leg. The Jacksons had to help lift it off of him. They also helped carry him to the front. They left when he did. Mr. Mason came across the same snakes that may or may not have been coral snakes. Mrs. Thompsons scratched her leg on something while walking through the water in the basement. Mr. Thompsons was bitten by something in that same water.

Tommy, Betty, and Laura were still talking in the breakroom on the 2nd floor. They had no clue what was going on. Betty got up to stretch her legs. Unfortunately, she stepped on a rusty nail. It went right through her shoe, through the bottom of her foot, and out the top. Laura had to get her mother to the hospital.

Tommy was happy. Not that Betty was injured. But it seemed as if he was the last one there. Then he was bitten by a snake. This time it was verified that it was a coral snake. When red touches yellow, then you’re a dead fellow. Unless you get immediate medical treatment.

With the large number of ambulances in front of the building, 3 men sleeping on the 5th floor were awakened. They made their way downstairs, realizing the danger of the building. It appeared that they would have to find another place to sleep for the night.

Mike walked out first. He was amazed. He wanted to know what happened. But he figured it might be safer if he didn’t know. They can’t ask questions if he doesn’t know. John came out right behind him.

“Do I even want to know?”

Otis lingered just a little. When he did, a man named Morris von Morris walked up to him and game him a large briefcase.

“I was going to throw this away”, he said. “But I think you could us it.” He walked away, and he was never seen again.

Otis walked out of the building with a case containing $25 Billion. Assuming that it was play money, he dumped it into a garbage can. He only needed something to carry his belongings. He then took a match and burned the money to keep himself warm. Mike and John stood next to him. They were happy, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the company of friends. It would be another 8 hours before the shelter opens, and it was going to be a cold night.