A Mundane Adventure of an Everyday Hero

The following is based on a true story. This actually happened to me.



         The day started off like any other, I woke up to the annoying beep beep beep of the alarm clock. God, I hate that sound. I roll over and check out the time. 9:04 A.M. I didn’t oversleep today; it’s hit or miss on that one. I pull myself up and look for my smokes. I found them resting on the night stand, I pull one out and light it, taking in a long drag, and breathe out the hot blue smoke. This is the last one I smoke, I think to myself, but I think that often. I have quit before and it didn’t work out quite like I had hoped. I drag myself out of the bed and sit on the edge, trying to convince myself it’s time to get out of the nice, big comfortable bed I lay my head down in at night.

         I finally get out of my bed and trip over my work boots in my groggy haste to get in the shower. I decide to shave in the shower to save time but after I finish washing I just stand under the hot water and let it run down my body. Once I finally make myself get out I finish getting myself ready for work, brushing my teeth and combing my hair. I dress and try my boots and walk out the door of my apartment.

         It rained last night, rare for this part of Texas, and on top of that it was cold out that morning. I look at the stairs at lead to my second floor apartment and take notice of the ice. It’s not that bad, I think to myself not realizing the mistake. I put one foot on the Stairs and immediately slipped. I suddenly turned into a snowboard as I slid down the stairs; I can see the concrete sidewalk that I’m sliding violently towards. When I finally reached the sidewalk, I just so happened to hit the one patch of sidewalk that wasn’t frozen, the momentum of the slide down the stairs and sudden stop from hitting the unfrozen patch launched me forward like I was a bungee. I smack my face, hard, into my Dodge pickup.

         I set on the ground a moment, my face and rear end painfully throbbing from the experience. As I pick myself up I look around to make sure no one saw that. I don’t see anyone around but I am not convinced that didn’t go unnoticed. There’s no way, a big apartment complex like this someone had to have seen that. I shake it off and hop in the pickup and start it up. It starts the first time which is unusual for this kind of weather.

         “Today’s going to be a good day.” I tell myself as my truck is warming up. When I’m satisfied the heater is going to blow, at the very least, warm air, I kick it on and put the truck in reverse and back out of my parking spot, I shift down to drive and head out of the parking lot.

         The drive to work isn’t a long one, I usually walk but it’s too cold for that today. It takes about ten minutes to walk it but only about three to drive it. In that three minute drive I’ve seen some pretty weird stuff before, once when I was going to pick up my paycheck I saw a dude riding down the rode on a unicycle while he was juggling. I couldn’t make out what he was juggling, it might have been bowling pins but I wasn’t sure. I tried to pull out my cell phone and get a video of it but I couldn’t get my phone out of my pocket and the video recorder picked up on time.

         I pass the Methodist church that rings bells every hour on the hour, I can hear them on some quiet mornings and hit make the left turn leading to the pizza place where I work. It’s not a glorious job but it’s a job. The restaurant itself is old and the building is breaking down. It’s not a place I’d eat at if I were going to be paying but I get free meals so sometimes I can overlook the fact the building is crawling with rodents. One morning when I was opening I uncovered the cook table and there was three roaches sitting in the pizza sauce, like it’s some sort of roach spa. I told the manager about it and all he told was well there will be extra protein in the pizza today.

         I pull into the parking lot; my truck is the only vehicle in the lot. My manager is late again, I really shouldn’t be surprised, he’s late just about every day. I check the time, 9:57. I make a mental note of this so I can write my time in. I see Leo, the prep cook, sitting outside the door. When I stop my truck he walks over, I unlock the door so he can climb in.

         “What’s up?” I asked.

         “Not much, Will, its cold out today.” He replied. he pulled a pack of smokes out of his pocket and motions to me in a way asking if it’s okay to smoke. I nodded and he puts on to his lips. I pull my own cigarettes out and light up.

         “I’m guessing its Bryon’s day to work?” I say making conversation. The managers work one day on and one day off and split days on the weekend.

         “Yeah, I guess so, but he was here yesterday.” He informed me. I was off yesterday but it’s not like Brad to be late.

         “Hmm, maybe they switched or something.” I took one last drag off of my cigarette and toss it out the window. I consider driving to the Burger King and getting some breakfast but I’m broke. I had mailed out a money order for my electricity bill just last week, and I had forgotten to pay the bill the month before so the total was a little over two hundred and twenty five dollars. I push back the thoughts of breakfast and ignore the hunger pains rumbling in my gullet. I’ll make something when I get inside.

         I was surprised to see Brad’s car when it pulled up. He was pretty timely but I guess everyone oversleeps. Leo and I wait in the truck until Brad gets over to the door before we get out of the truck. We get talk with Brad while we get out day started, poking fun at each other and joking around. When opening time comes things go without a hitch.

         The day starts fine, its Steph’s day running the register and Mike is the busboy/dishwasher. The lunch rush comes and goes and the boring part of the starts. Or so I thought.

         About 1:30 in the afternoon my phone rings, I pull out my phone and see my buddy Tommy is calling.

         “Hey man.” I answered.

         “Hey, what’s going on?”

         “Working.”

         “Yeah. I was calling to see if you were working or not. I think I left my laptop over at your place. It’s got a paper on it I need for school.”

         Tommy had come over straight after class the day before and hung out until well after midnight. He had been going to school for about six years and changed his major every year. I quit keeping up with it after about the third or fourth year.

         “Well if you want to come by here I’ll give you my key so you can come by and get it.” I told him.

         “Alright, I’ll be there in a little bit.”

         Less than twenty minutes later I see Tommy’s white truck pull into the parking lot. It was a 1985 GMC we had nicknamed The Great White. Tommy gets out of his truck and swaggers to the door. I had already taken the key off of the ring and I slide it across the counter to him.

         “Bring it back to when you’re done. The spare key I have doesn’t work and the complex manager hadn’t given me a new one yet.” The complex manager was slightly crazy, when I first moved into the apartment she had said to me, “This use to be a rough place but I evicted all the black people so it’s getting better.” I couldn’t believe it when she told me that but I never said anything about it.

         Tommy nods and heads back to his truck. I go back to my cleaning duties and setting up for the evening shift. It was a boring process I went through every day but I’ve gotten used to it. I didn’t even realize almost thirty minutes had passed when Tommy came back into the restaurant.

         “Dude, you don’t have any electricity in your place.” He stated.

         “What?” I asked making sure I heard it right.

         “Yeah dude, nothing worked. I knocked on your neighbor’s door but they said theirs was working.” He confirmed what I thought he had said.

         “Alright thanks man. I’ll call TXU.” I said confused and Tommy hands me the key back to my apartment.

         I pull out my cell phone and call TXU and after dealing with the automated system I finally get a human, after answering the initial questions it’s finally time for me to find out what’s going one.

         “Yeah, my electricity was off today and I was trying to figure out why.”

         “Let me see here sir.” The Indian man, whose name is Bill, like I’m going to fall for that, on the other line says. “Well sir, I’m showing that you haven’t made your payment in two months.”

         “There’s no way that’s right. I sent off my payment at the beginning of last week.” I rebutted.

         “How did you make your payment sir?” He asked like it mattered.

         “Money order. I still have the receipt.” I say.

         “Well sir, we don’t show any records of payment.”

         “So what do I need to do to get it turned back on?”

         “You’ll have to pay your bill sir.”

         “Well how am I supposed to do that? I bought a money order, I don’t have the money.”

         “I’m sorry sir but there’s nothing we can do until we get the money.”

         After a few more minutes of heated conversation, mostly on my end, I find out that I must pay the bill in full, plus a twenty dollar disconnect fee and, of course, an eighty dollar reconnection fee by five to have it turned back on today.

         I slam my cell phone shut and pace back and worth for a minute. It’s the first time in my life that I couldn’t pay my bills because I spent all my money on my bills. I rack my brain trying to figure out how I’m going to pay this outrageous fee. I consider call a local organization that helps low income homes, knowing that they would give me the money if they had it but I also know that they have limited funds.

         I decided it’s worth a shot so I look the number up in the phone book. I pull my cell phone out and dial the number. I hit send and wait for the call to connect. After a minute I hear the line ring and I feel the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Anger and nerves tighten the knot in my chest.

         “Thank you for calling helping hands, our office is currently closed. Our regular office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. If you are calling to make a donation please leave a message and we will get back to you during regular office hours.” The answering machine informs me.

         I slam the phone shut and head out of the back door of the restaurant. I sit on top of the gas pipes extending from the back of the building and light a cigarette. I inhale deeply and try to calm my nerves. I can feel the nicotine pushing through my body, calming my worked up nerves. After I finish the smoke I flick my cigarette in the alley. I take a few more deep breaths before I go back inside.

         As I’m heading through the prep area of the restaurant and past the dish room I get an idea. I stop at the ice machine and think hard for second. I know where I can get the money, but am I really willing to swallow my pride. It’s either that or I don’t have electricity for a week.

         Here goes nothing, I think to myself as I pull out my cell phone. I scroll through the contact list until I find the name that I want. I hit send and wait for the call to connect. After a second the phone rings. On the second ring the call is answered.

         “Hey, Grandma.” I say.

         “Hey Will, I ain’t seen you in a coon’s age.” I hear my Grandmother reply. “How are you?”

         “Not too great to be honest. I have a favor to ask. TXU cut off my power saying that I haven’t paid, which I have. Now I have to pay $326.24 to have it turned back on. But I can’t afford it because I already paid them. So, can I barrow $326.24?”

         “Uhh, well. I guess.” She says; I can hear the hesitation in her voice. “But I don’t have cash but I can let you use my credit card.”

         Amazing, I thought, even though I was basically begging my Grandmother for money.

         “Thank you so much Grandma. Are you at work? I can come by if I need to.” I say.

         “Yeah, I’m at work.”

         “Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.”

         We say our goodbyes and I hand up my phone and then run up to Brad. Brad was sitting up front by the register counting the safe.

         “Can I ask for a favor?” I asked when Brad finishes counting.

         “What’s up?”

         “TXU cut off my power and I need to go to my Grandma’s so she can let me barrow some money.”

         “Yeah, I’m fine with just prep me up some pizzas and fill the table.”

         “Awesome.” I say as I rush back towards the cook table. I quickly fill all the ingredients and start stretching out the pizza dough. After about twenty minutes of prepping the pizzas I ask Brad if that was enough. He gives me the okay and I run out to my truck.

         I check the time as I start my truck, 3:07. I didn’t realize how much time I had wasted on the phone. I put my truck in drive and pull out of the parking lot. I turn Right onto Loop 250 and head east towards Midkiff Road. I turn right again on Midkiff and head south.

         Traffic is going slow today, slower than normal. What’s going on, I think to myself. I head to get all the way across town. I’m not looking to speed but I would at like to go the speed limit. The further I go the slower traffic gets until I’m going just barely over ten miles an hour.

         “You’ve got to be kidding me?” I yell out to myself. Then traffic finally starts to pick up and I see why it had come to such a stand still. There was an accident on the road. Two trucks and a little sedan had crashed into each other. I rubber neck for a minute but traffic finally gets up to the speed limit so I let my curiosity go and continue my journey toward the home healthcare facility where my Grandma works.

         I turn left on Florida Street and see the building my Grandma works in. I pull into the parking lot and throw my truck in park. I pull the key out and rush into the building without even locking the door. I walk down the hallway and into her office.

         Grandma was on the phone when I walked in, she nodded and handed me her credit card. I pull out the cell phone again and redial TXU. After what felt like an hour of an automated voice telling me all the options I didn’t need to hear I finally get a person. I give the person my social and wait for her to pull my information up.

         “Okay Mr. Wagner, how can I help you?”

         “Yeah, my power was cut off today and I was wanting to make the payment to get it turned back on?” I said franticly.

         “And how are you paying?” She asked.

         “Credit card.” I said, happy to be taking care of this mess.

         “I’m sorry sure but I’m showing your account to be cash or money order only.”

         “What?” I exclaim, louder than I meant to.

         “Yes sir, cash or money order only.” She repeated.

         “You’re killing me.” I tell the lady and hung up the phone.

         I turn to my Grandmother; she could see the concern on face. I look up at her, feeling defeated.

         “What’s wrong?” She asked.

         “They won’t take a credit card, just cash or money order.” I told her, feeling like a little kid complaining about a neighborhood bully.

         “I’ll call the bank and tell them I am sending you to get a money order or me. I’ve done that before with your mom.”

         I feel my spirits lift a little bit. My Grandmother and I banked at the same Credit Union and they know me fairly well down there. I nod and head back out the door to my truck. The Credit Union is close so I should be able to make it there in no time at all.

         “Thanks!” I yell as I walk out the door. I hop in the pickup and start it up. The road is clear so I don’t even stop as I head out of the parking lot.

         3:44, I still have some time but I start to feel the crunch. I head toward the bank and much to my chagrin; I feel traffic is once again backing up due to construction on the road.

         “Great.” I say shrugging. I rub my face for second and try and regain my composure. I breathe deep and decide I need another cigarette; I light up and take a hard drag on the smoke. Blue smoke fills my truck and I realize I haven’t rolled a window down.

         Traffic is stop and go as I puff on the cigarette. I contemplate turning on the radio but my nerves are too shot to enjoy any music. The Credit Union is less than a mile away but it takes nearly twenty minutes before I am able to get up to the speed limit.

         I try to relax myself and in doing so I passed the Credit Union. I yell out in frustration and drive around the block, I fight the traffic onto the road and I’m able to pull in the parking lot this time. I jump out of my truck and run into the Credit Union. I’m excited to see there is no line so I walk up to the first teller I see.

         “Hi, my name is Will Wagner; I’m going to get a cash advance for my Grandmother. Delores Robinette. She was supposed to call and let you guys know what is going on.” I tell her. Get it teller, tell her. Shut up, no time for bad jokes.

         “I haven’t heard anything about that. Let me ask around real quick.”

         I tell her its fine but I really just want her to do the advance. After a few minutes she comes back and informs me that no one was heard about it.

         “I’ll call the other branch and see if maybe she called them.”

         I nod as the woman picks up the phone and dials a number. I wait in silence while she stares down at the computer.

         “Hey, this is Caitlin from the Wall Street branch. The reason why I’m calling is I have a customer here who says his grandmother was going to call and okay a cash advance from her credit card to him…..Oh she did call you……Okay so it’s good. Alright thanks…..So are y’all busy today…..Yeah it’s been really slow here too…..Yeah since they started the construction on Wall it’s pretty much always slow around here.”

         “You’ve got to me kidding me.” I say just under my breath. After a few minutes of conversation she finally hangs up the phone.

         “She called the other branch.” She said and laughed.

         “Did she?” The reply come out snippy even I didn’t intend for it.

         “Hey, Joan, can you show me how to do a cash advance?” She asked the other teller that was behind the counter.

         I can feel my eyes wanted to roll as Joan walks over but I don’t want to be a jerk so I fight the urge.

         “You’re going to run the card here.” She pointed to the credit card machine you find in stores everywhere. “And hit cash advance on the computer.”

         “So I run the card and then hit cash advance on the computer?”

         “Yes, run the card and then hit cash advance on the computer.”

         “Seriously.” I whisper so no one can hear me.

         The woman runs the credit card and selects cash advance on the computer and then asks. “How much?”

         “Uh, Three hundred thirty.”

         “You can get as much as four hundred.” She informs me.

         “No thanks, three thirty will do fine.”

         She punches numbers on her keyboard and then tells me she can’t give me cash, she has to put it in my account and then withdraw it. I give her my account information and she hands me the money.

         “Thank you, have a great day.” I can barely get it all out before I hit the door. I run out in my truck and pull out and head toward the closest utility pay station I know of.

         And then it hits. I don’t have my TXU account information. I have no idea what my account number is with them. I turn the truck toward my apartment and make my way. I check the time. 4:21. Great. Less than forty minutes. I punch the gas and make my way toward my residence.

         Luckily, I managed to find a way to my place without running into any sort of traffic problems. I pull into the parking lot of my complex and run up the stairs. I unlock the door and I rummage through a stack of old bill statements until I find one from TXU and run back down the stairs. I turn back towards Midkiff and head south, making my way toward the closest pay station I know about. I turn in the parking lot after a few minutes of driving and hop out of the truck. I check the time, 4:49.

         I got this, I think to myself until I look at the pay station and see a line out of the door to the pay station that was sitting behind one of those bargain grocery store, the kind where everything inside is a knockoff brand and they make you pay for the sacks.

         “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I say as I stand in the back of the line. There are at least ten people in front of me and the line doesn’t seem to be moving at all. I consider just call it quits. Just saying forget it and spend the night at my parent’s house and paying the bill tomorrow. Then I look up and notice something across the street.

         Hope. That’s what I see across the street. I run over towards my truck and hope in, start it up and drive towards the small Pronto Check Cashing with the huge sign in the window that says UTILITY PAYMENTS.

         This just might be the break I need. There is no traffic coming either way as I reach the road and I wonder if this is what Moses felt like when the Red Sea parted. I pull into the parking lot and get out of the truck. I walk into the small building, relieved to see that no one is inside other than the woman behind the counter.

         “How are you?” She asks as I walk to the counter.

         “Fantastic now.” I say and hand her my old bill with the account info and put the money on the counter. “I need to pay on a disconnect, the total is $326.24, and I also need to fax the conformation number to TXU.”

         “No problem.” She says, “It’s before five so it will post today.”

         “Awesome.” She processes the payment and faxes the conformation for me. When she is finished she gives me receipt and I thank her for helping me out.

         I walk out the building and sit in my truck for a minute; I pull my cell phone and dial TXU and talk to a person who confirmed they had received my payment and that someone would be sent out and my power would be back on within the hour. Relieved I finally decided to listen to the radio, I turn it one and the first song I hear is Eye of the Tiger.

         Relieved and feeling like Indiana Jones I drive over to Tommy’s house to tell him about the experience. We laugh about it and after a while I drive back to my apartment. I walk in happy to see that my power had been restored.

         I paid my Grandma back with the next paycheck that I got. She told me that I could make two payments on it if I wanted but I just as soon pay the whole thing and get it over with.

         My next bill from TXU showed that, not only had they processed the payment from that horrible day, but that they also processed the original payment that I had sent in. I called them on it and was told that the disconnect and reconnect fees, as well as the extra payments I made would be credited to my account. I actually ended up not having an electricity bill for three months.

         By the time the whole ordeal was over I was kind of glad it had happened to me. I might not have been saving the world, but it was definitely better than the day in day out, go to work and go home life that I had earlier in that day. For a moment, I was a man on a mission, I had a deadline I had to time, a race against time. For that moment I was the hero that I had idolized as a kid. I was Indiana Jones, I was Dirk Pitt. I was an everyday hero having a mundane adventure.