“Hello, Mr. Lanier! I’m here for your assistance.”

I turned quickly and saw that it was one of the clones that Grimly demonstrated to me earlier. “Forgive me for asking, but which clone are you?”

“I am Max. If you recall, we once spoke to one another.”

“Yes! Yes! How could I forget our interesting conversation! I really would like to talk some more with you.”

“We do have an eternity, you know. So call on me whenever I am needed.”

“I’d like to talk with you now, Max. Is there anything that I should know that I haven’t already been told?”

“No. Not really.”

“O.K. So tell me this. When the computer told me that Marie is my assigned soul, does that mean she is deserving of this fate?”

“No. It means that of all the numbers between 1 and 100 million, you just happened to pick her. That’s all.”

“It was just chance! What type of absurd universe do we live in! Do you think Marie is sinful?”

“As sinful as your average human.”

“And what about me, Max? Am I sinful?”

“Very much so.”

“Why? Why am I sinful and Marie isn’t? We both bought clones!”

“Marie bought a clone, and that is wrong. However, the reasons why you and Marie bought the clones make your sins entirely different.”

“Tell me, Max. How?”

“If you only listened to me the first time we spoke, none of this would have ever happened.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You told me that you couldn’t explain how it was to be a whole man since you always were one and always would be, yet by buying that clone, you freely gave up part of your being. You no longer were a whole man after you bought that clone, just as I am not a whole man.”

“But then, isn’t Marie at fault, too, just as I am?”

“No, for she bought the clone to free herself of your neglect and become a whole person, capable of sharing love and affection with others, unlike you. I remember when she came here. She loved you dearly but couldn’t go on being ignored. She told me that she tried countless times to gain your attention, but you never had the time to listen. She had no choice but to leave you if she wanted to live a full life. I was amazed at how faithful she had been for all these years to you and how she could not consider leaving you no matter what the cost. When she found out about clone automation, she still was weary. But we convinced her. She finally was led to reason that she never would be missed since you never took any notice. Only when she was sure that you wouldn’t be hurt by her getting a clone did she proceed. That, to me, is not a great sin.”

   Tears filled my eyes. How could I have neglected my sweet Marie? I was a victim of my own obsession with personal achievement, that I overlooked the one thing that meant most to me.

   “Do you now see your sin, Mr. Lanier? Although you bought your clone with good intentions, it was already too late. Plus, by giving up your work life, you were killing a big part of yourself. Marie never gave up that part of herself. Work is a part of life, Mr. Lanier, and so is your wife. You failed to strike that balance, and thus tragedy struck.”

   “And now, now, why do I have to punish Marie more? Why did I have to pick that stupid number? I don’t want to get her soul! She’s innocent! I should be punished! Tell me, Max. Who controls the clone part of you?”

   “Well, whoever is in charge of the computers. At this point and time, it is you.”

   “Well, how do I give up control? I want you to be a whole

man, Max, and live in the real world.”

   “That’s a great gesture, but I can’t allow you to do that. By letting me walk outside this shop as a free man will cost you your soul.”

   “I am aware of that. Grimly already told me. Just tell me, Max, how do I free you from being an automated clone?”

   “I can’t let you do it, sir. You don’t realize how bad eternal damnation is! I can’t let you lose your soul!”

   “But Max, I can’t bring myself to get Marie’s soul.”

   “Sooner or later, you will have to. There is no escape.”

   “Oh yes, there is! If I walk out that door, I will have violated one of the rules Grimly warned me of. I will lose my soul, yes, but I will save Marie’s! Isn’t that correct, Max? Will the next person be assigned her soul, or will they choose a number as I did?”

   “I don’t know. No one has ever violated that rule before.”

   “Well, I will! And I’ll take my chances! Whether Marie can be saved or not is out of my control, but surely I deserve to suffer. I just pray that Marie will be saved.”

   I ran towards the exit and stopped in front of the door.

   “Don’t go, Mr. Lanier! You know not what you are doing!”

   “You’re right, Max. Come. Come here to me. I don’t have the strength to walk away from the door. Pull me away before I lose my soul.”

   Max came quickly and grabbed my arm.

   “It’s O.K. let’s slowly walk away. We’ll sit down and relax. I’ll get you a warm glass of milk.”

   I jarred my arm loose of Max’s grip and grabbed him with all my might. I opened the door of the shop and, with one swift kick, knocked Max outside. As Max fell to the ground, I heard him cry out.

   “No! You’ll lose your soul!”

   I now looked outside the door and saw Max getting up from his fall and running towards the door. Before I got a chance to close the door, Max slammed against an invisible force that kept him outside.

   “I can’t get back in. Mr. Lanier, you have made a grave mistake! You are going to lose your soul!”

   “I’m sorry for tricking you, Max, but I had to free you. I already knew that I had to suffer. At least this way, both you and Marie will benefit. Go! Live as only a whole being can. You deserve it. Live a good life for me and find Marie and tell her that I love her.”

   Suddenly the invisible force that was keeping Max out had turned into a red wall, and red lights began flashing in the shop. I heard Max calling to me, but his voice was muffled by the increasing sound of swirling wind. The wind literally picked me up and pinned me against a wall. This was it. I knew the end was near. Suddenly the wind stopped, and I fell from the wall. I was now in front of the computer terminal, which was now illuminated with a glowing white light. Words suddenly appeared on the terminal…

   “GREETINGS HENRY LANIER. DO NOT BE AFRAID. I AM HERE WITH YOU.

NOW AND ALWAYS. YOU WERE A MAN OF SIN, YET YOU REPENTED LIKE NO OTHER. YOU SACRIFICED YOURSELF FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS AND ACTED IN THE IMAGE OF YOUR CREATOR. YOU ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR FINE ACTIONS. I WILL GRANT YOU ABSTINENCE OF ALL YOUR SINS AND ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE LIVING YOUR LIFE ON EARTH. FOR YOUR TIME HAS NOT YET COME. I HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM BOTH YOU AND THE CROSSROAD EMPORIUM. I WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF MANKIND AND CONSIDERED PUTTING AN END TO HUMANITY, BUT YOU HAVE PASSED THE TEST FOR MANKIND AND PROVED THAT THE EARTH STILL HAS GOODNESS. I AM NOW GOING TO PLACE YOU BACK ON EARTH ON THE DAY BEFORE YOU LEFT IT. THE CROSSROAD EMPORIUM HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE AND WILL SOON CEASE TO EXIST. ENJOY YOUR TIME LEFT ON EARTH NEVER FORGETTING THE LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED AND SPREAD THEM TO ALL HUMANITY. I HAVE LEFT YOU A LITTLE REWARD FOR WHEN YOU RETURN TO EARTH. JUST REMEMBER TO ACT AS YOU REALLY FEEL AND YOU SHALL FIND ALL THAT YOU SEEK. AND IF YOU ARE WONDERING ABOUT YOUR ACQUAINTANCE, ROBERT GRIMLY, HE IS DOING FINE. HE CURRENTLY IS IN PURGATORY REPENTING FOR HIS SINS, BUT SOON WILL JOIN ME. EVERYONE UP HERE IS ANXIOUS TO MEET THE MAN WHO FELL FOR MY APRIL FOOL’S JOKE. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU, DON’T PLAY GOD JUST FOLLOW HIM.”

   A jolt suddenly shook me. I opened my eyes and noticed that I was on the train I took every morning to work. I looked at my watch. It was 7:35 A.M., The time I usually take the train in the morning.

   I turned to the man sitting next to me and said, “Excuse me, sir, do you know today’s date? I’ve seemed to have forgotten.”

   “Sure. It’s September 14th.”

   “Thank you! Thank you very much.”

   I can’t believe it. It’s September 14th! The day before I died! I got off at the next stop and decided that I was going to visit the Crossroad Emporium, if it still was there. As I was waiting for the train, I called my office and told one of the workers that I was taking a personal day and would not be coming in. Shortly thereafter, the train arrived, and I hopped on. During the ride, I opened my briefcase and noticed my newspaper. I took it out to read. After reading an article or two, I noticed that the paper I was reading had a different front cover than that of the other people on the train. I looked at the paper more closely and noticed that it was the same paper, only the wrong day. I was reading tomorrow’s paper. I quickly closed it and stuffed it in my briefcase. I guess the Big Guy forgot to replace the paper I had in my briefcase with the current paper. I couldn’t complain, though. Now that I was starting to take notice, I had to conclude that I was part of one great miracle. I was wearing the same clothes, even sitting next to the same people as I did on the day before I died. When my stop came, I sprang to my feet and rushed hurriedly out the doors and towards the Crossroad Emporium. I was walking fast with anticipation to see what lay in store for me when suddenly I reached the address, and a great shock hit me. Deli Delights! The address was the same, 3198 45th Street, yet in place of the Crossroad Emporium, there stood Deli Delights! There were a few people just walking out with lottery tickets in their hands, talking about how they would spend the money if they won. I walked into the store, and there was a small line of people

waiting for lottery tickets. One of the workers at the store noticed me gazing around and said, “Excuse me, sir, can I help you?”

   “No, thank you. I’m just looking around.”

   “Why not play the lotto, sir! There is a two billion dollar jackpot at stake tonight! Remember what they say in the commercial, ‘You’ve gotta be in it to win it!’”

   Suddenly it hit me! This was the drawing where no one claimed the prize! The one I read about on the way to the Crossroad Emporium that night that I died! I ran outside of the shop and opened my briefcase. I took out my newspaper and started flipping through the pages. Bingo! On page six were the winning numbers 3, 1, 9, 8, 4, and 5! I had them! I guess the Big Guy didn’t make a mistake after all! I re-entered the store and filled out a card. I paid my dollar and gave the card to the worker.

   “So you decided to play after all. Good for you!”

   I took my card and walked out of the store. As I walked away, I took one last look at the building where the Crossroad Emporium once stood and its address: 3198 45th Street. Wholly Moses! Those were the very same numbers I just played! The numbers that make up the address of the Deli are the same as the winning numbers! The Big Guy must really have His act together! I walked to the train station and decided I should go home to my Marie. On the way to the station, I stopped to buy a bottle of champagne, roses, and a box of chocolate candies. I figured I should give it one more chance. While on the train, I noticed a copy of today’s paper. I picked it up and started reading it. As I flipped through the pages, I noticed an article that amazed me. It was an article on how the American dollar had passed the United Kingdom Pound sterling as well as all other foreign currencies. One quote hit me the hardest, “IT IS THE GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT DESANTIS’S RADICAL CHANGES IN THE WHITE HOUSE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT AMERICA’S ECONOMY IS WHERE IT STANDS NOW: THE APEX OF AMERICAN HISTORY.”

   By the time I finished reading the article, my stop had come. I got off and took my normal bus home. Within a half hour, I was home. I opened my door with great anticipation. After all the good things that had been happening, all doubts that Marie could be a clone left my mind. I now had too much faith. I entered the house and called out to Marie.

   “Marie! Marie! I’m home!”

   I received no answer. I searched the whole house and did not find her. I walked into the kitchen and sat down. I then realized how foolish I was. Why should Marie be home when it isn’t even noon? She must be in school teaching! I left the house and bought some decorations. I was determined to make this a special day. When I returned, I put up all the decorations and awaited her arrival. After a few hours, I heard the door open and saw Marie walk in.

   “Surprise!”

   “What are you doing home, Henry?”

   “I left for work but came home for you. I felt guilty. I have been ignoring you, and I just want you to know all that’s going to change.”

   I proceeded by telling her all the things that I wanted to

tell her that night when I died, but told the clone instead. I turned on the speakers and put “Perfect” on. I gave her the roses, chocolates, and champagne. I then proposed to her in the same exact manner that I did ten years ago (and just days ago to her clone). There were tears in our eyes. I took her hand to dance, and we began, but “Perfect” had already finished.

   She stopped me and walked to the phone and replayed “Perfect” and simply said, “Now everything’s perfect.”

   And we danced into the night.

   The following morning I returned to work. The first person I saw was Stillmore, my big boss.

   “How did you enjoy your day off, Henry? You missed a lot of work, but I’m sure you’ll stay late tonight to catch up.”

   “Well, Mr. Stillmore, I’d like to leave at five today. I’ve got a lot of things to do back home.”

   “I can’t believe my ears! You! Leave on time! What’s gotten into you?”

   “I just readjusted my priorities, that’s all.”

   “And work is no longer number one, I suppose?”

   “It’s up there, but there’s more to life than my job, that’s all.”

   “O.K. That’s a healthy attitude. Oh! I forgot to tell you. We’ve got a new worker here at J.D. Owens. Today’s his first day here; he’s our new, new Vice President. Let me introduce you. Oh, Cliff! Come here a minute. Cliff Harris, this is Henry Lanier.”

   “Glad to meet you, Cliff.”

   “Same here.”

   Another employer interrupted our conversation, “Excuse me, the President would like to see both Charles Stillmore and Henry Lanier in his office immediately.”

   Stillmore and I both looked at one another. The President of J.D. Owens wants to talk to us? He never spoke unless he had some earth-shattering news. Most people at J.D. Owens have come to fear old President Harold J. Rhinewald, both Stillmore and I included. When we arrived in front of those familiar big doors, his secretary spoke out.

   “The President is awaiting you; please enter.”

   We walked in and saw Rhinewald sitting in his chair with his back turned to us. All that could be seen was the back of his large chair and the smoke of his cigar. He began speaking without even bothering to face us.

   “Stillmore, I gave you orders to promote Mr. Lanier to Vice President, yet according to my reports you freely went against my orders and gave the promotion to newly employed Cliff Harris! Is this true?”

   “Well, ah, ah.”

   “Let me remind you that I will consult Mr. Lanier to confirm your answer.” 

“Yes, sir. It is true.”

   “Well. Very well, then. At least you will leave us on an honest note. Stillmore! You’re fired!”

   “But! But I’ve been here for 22 years!”

   He picked up his phone and called security. Within seconds

two large guards came in and took Stillmore away.

   “Now for you, Mr. Lanier. You were cheated out of a well-deserved promotion. You impress me. And I want you to join me as a partner in the business. You will be my left-hand man. Are you up to it?”

   “Well, yes! Sure thing, Mr. Rhinewald!”

   “Mr. Rhinewald? Who the hell is Mr. Rhinewald!”

   He turned his chair and faced me. It was Max.

   I looked at Max, and he looked at me. There were tears falling from his eyes. He embraced me and simply said, “Thank you, Mr. Lanier.”

   “You! You’re President of J. D. Owens?”

   “Sure am. And I owe it all to you. That’s why I want you as my partner. And don’t worry about the added responsibility. We’ll work hard at J.D. Owens, but we’ll always keep our priorities straight. There’s more to life than work, you know. So expect a raise in salary which will triple your current income and enjoy the next two weeks as a gift from me to you. I’m giving you a paid two-week vacation to Paris as a gift for all you’ve done. Enjoy! I know you and Marie will have a great time.”

   “I don’t know what to say. This is terrific!”

   “Well, let me fill you in on some changes that you caused to occur…”

   Me and Max had a great time working together, and by the day’s end, he had told me everything about anything. When it was five, I left work with all the other ordinary workers and hurried home. I was pushed and shoved about in the congested city streets, and when my train came, there were no empty seats. There was a man standing next to me reading the newspaper. It was turned to page six. He was reading an article on the two billion dollar unclaimed prize.

   When he finished reading the article, he noticed me looking over his shoulder and said, “Can you believe it! The winning lotto ticket was sold at Deli Delight on the 45th. Street and the winning numbers were the address of the store! What a strange coincidence, man. I wonder what the odds of something like that happening are?”

   I put my hand in my pocket and patted my lotto ticket while simply replying, “Less than you can imagine. Less than you can imagine.”