angels

on the way to book club on tuesday i left my wallet at jewel. i bought a bottle of wine with it, then i left it. the next day, i got a phone call from a branch of chase in a tiny polish neighborhood even further west than our school. someone had turned it in i will have to come and get it.

i'll need to see some id.

you have them all in there, i say, gesturing to my bright yellow wallet. i start thinking about how much i hate that wallet. partly because of its color, but mostly due to its sheer size. it's the kind you can slide unfolded bills into. if only i'd stuck to my old wallet from the thrift store i wouldn't be sitting here, because it would have fit in the pocket of my jacket and i never would have left it at jewel.

oh she says as she unsnaps it and peers inside with the stealth of a poker player holding his cards. she sees that the picture looks like me and smiles like mona lisa.

she references my account and asks a few very detailed questions before giving me my wallet.

did he leave his information? the man who turned it in? i ask.

no. he smelled so bad. he looked like he was from the street, like a bandit. she goes on to mention once more that he smelled. but i guess there are angels among us.

i make a mental note to take down anyone's information if i'm in her situation. no matter how bad he or she smells.