Jon walked quickly down the street mixing with the crowds of shoppers he had his treasure for today. A mind was at work thinking of how rich he was going to be and those parents who told him he was worth nothing, how they would eat their words.
"I'm going to be rolled in gold after tonight!" Jon kept saying aloud as he walked back to the Clubhouse Bar.
At last he arrived and bounced into his favorite booth. The waitress Janine walked over and asked what he was doing there so early in the day? Normally Jon never got to the bar before evening when he's scored and had a pocket full of money.
"I got the big one this time!" bragged Jon.
"Got what there babe?" asked Janine.
Jon unveiled the green glass mason jar and opening it showed her the bright orange salve.
"Honey you got screwed, that's car wax!" said Janine turning up her nose.
Jon's temper quickly flared and then calmed as he pulled a small bottle of dark liquid from his jacket pocket.
"Here sweetheart this perfume is for you!" Jon offered with a smile.
Janine knowing Jon to less than a giving person took the bottle slowly from his hand. "Perfume?" she asked.
"Ya special stuff for the bathtub, pour it in and feel the warming scent make your body something any male would desire, lasts a long time too, I'm told." bosted Jon.
The gift got him a free lunch and coffee with a friendly smile from Janine.
Jon found that waiting for midnight took a long time but as his Timex watch was soon to hit 12 he was situated on a park bench where a person might sit naked. Odd Jon felt as he peeled his clothes off and opened the jar of salve.
"If this don't work I'm gona' kill that old man!" grumbled Jon.
Reaching into the jar with three fingers he scooped out a glob of orange salve. Starting with his jewels he smeared the fresh smelling salve down legs and feet, up his stomac, over the back and around the shoulders. As he was smearing the stuff over his face and into the oily hairs on his head, the sounds of voices coming closer made him stop.
Peering from behind a Honeysuckle bush he saw two gumshoes walking the ring walk around the Park's pond. Jon knew they would see his clothes on the bench. He had to do something soon or be caught for running naked in the Park. He would not be able to show his dumb face after getting caught like a queer nerd.
As the policemen watched an accident happen on the nearby street Jon stepped into the pond for a swim. This he thought would at least give a better excuse if caught than streaking in the Park.
The water was seemly very warm for an early Fall night. Jon swam out several yards and waited for the policemen to walk closer. However the accident on the street was worse than first thought as the police radio directed the men to go help out.
Jon cussed at himself for going swimming which probably washed off the salve. He began to swim for shore as he kept a close watch on the police whereabouts. As he reached the tidal wall he could not grasp the top of the stone to lift himself out.
His fingers seemed too weak and his arms did not offer any lift to get up on shore. After several atempts he swam back out into the pond and looked about for the sign of a sandy beach. He remembered by the Kiddie Park there was a beach and he started his long swim to the opposite side of the pond.
The night was black as no moon filled the sky tonight. Only security lights guided his swim. Jon thought that the wind had kicked up waves as he ducked his head and face under the water often as he swam.
At last the beach presented itself and he made his way to the sandy exit from his long swim. The sudden terror of leg cramps made his walk up the beach painfully impossible. Now feeling very cold and afraid of getting sick he saw two lovers walking the beach and tried to call for help.
"Oh Bob is that a body over there?" asked the girl as she saw a dark form at the water's edge.
Jon watched with great relief as the two lovers approached.
"Oh God he's huge," said the young man to his lover.
"What is it?" asked the girl
Jon was getting angry wondering why they don't help him out of the water as he heard the worst.
"It's one of those monster Goldfish they have in the ponds Look see his mouth move, just like he wants something!" said the young man with a laugh.
The man walked down to the pond and with his foot pushed the six foot long very large Goldfish into deeper water and Jon's new life.