text: (I'm writing a science fiction book, and was thinking of making this the first chapter. Let me know what you think. Thanks) A man sat in an empty storefront. There were large windows along the front of the store which allowed a clear view inside. The store appeared to be vacant except for the man, who was sitting in the middle of the hardwood floor. Once in a while someone would walk in asking for directions. The man, of course, knew that there are no accidents. He would persuade anyone who entered to either stay and speak with him or promise to return. A young man walked beside the pathway in front of the store. He reappeared moments later, walking the other direction. Again, a few moments later he passed by. This time he noticed the man sitting inside the storefront. The young man pulled on the door and leaned his head inside. “Excuse me, can you give me directions to Mesay Insurance?” “Yes, yes, of course. It’s around the corner. Just walk around and keep going. It’s at the end.” “Thanks. I’ve been looking for like twenty minutes now.” The young man started to leave, but turned back to ask, “What is this place?” “What do you think it is?” The young man opened the door further, and took a step inside. “Well, there’s nothing here. Are you still getting things setup?” “Yes.” “What type of business is this going to be?” “What do you think?” “Well, again, I don’t know. There aint nothing in here,” the young man said as he pushed on the door, taking a step back. “What would you put here if you had the chance?” The young man took a step forward. “Hmm, I always wanted to run a restaurant. I think I would do that. I would be an involved owner. I’d treat the staff with dignity, you know. I wouldn’t give them absurd and unnecessary quotas to fill. But I wouldn’t let them push me around either. It would be a place where people would want to work.” “What kind of food?” “See, I’ve thought about this before, you know, a guy can dream. I’d ask the customers about their favorite foods and their, their favorite restaurants. Then, I’d take note of all that information and customize the menu. I’d make it a place that people would actually enjoy. I’d make an effort to have customers feel like I wanted them to be there not just because I wanted there money, but because I wanted them to have a pleasant experience.” “And how would you get people interested in going to your restaurant in the first place?” ‘I’m not sure. I mean, this is a fantasy, and I don’t know that it would work... If I had the money to start a restaurant, I’d have money for other things too, right?” “I suppose.” “Ah man, now you’ve got me talking. Don’t tell anyone this idea. Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter. So, I’d pay twenty or thirty people to sit at the restaurant for a week or a month. I’m not sure, I guess until the locals start coming in. See, I'm thinking, when you drive by and see it packed all the time, you’re going to think there’s some kick ass food inside, right?” “It’s possible.” “Hey, you know, you look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?” The man on the floor did not moving a muscle. The young man waited for a moment, and then said, “So that would be my plan, in a dream world at least. Like, if I won the lottery, I’d do this or that, whatever. Everyone has those fantasies, right?” A smile appeared on the man’s face. He didn’t say anything. He just smiled and stared. He was making eye contact with the lost young man, but it appeared that he was spacing out. “Well, goodbye. Thanks for the directions.” The young man whispered to himself as he opened the door. “That guy’s gotta be crazy. Who does that?” “But you did.” The man on the floor said. The young man turned around, a little confused. “I did what?” “In a sense, you did win the lottery.” “Yeah, how’s that?” “For one, you were lost, but now you know where you’re going. Is that not worth something?” “It is,” the young man said as he pushed the door open further. “And two, well, I think you’ll like two. I have, in the room to the side, over five hundred thousand dollars.” The young man let go of the door and turn back towards the man on the floor. Then he looked to where the man pointed. There was a closed door. “You’ve got over half a mil sitting in that room?” “It is there.” “It sounds like... why did you say that I would like that? It’s not my money.” “But it is, if...” The young man took a step towards the man on the floor. “If? Okay, go on.” “If you listen to my story.” The young man said, “Is that right?” as he walked closer to the man on the floor. “There are conditions.” “Okay, let's hear them.” “One, you shall not leave until the story is complete. Two, you must not look inside the room until the story is complete. Three, you must follow along... until the story is complete. And try not to interrupt. That is not a rule, just common decency. Agreed?” The young man stood there dumbfounded. “I’d clean the floors with my tongue for half a mil. So, yeah, yeah I’ll hear you’re story. My name is Thomas.” “Good. And good to meet you. I am Mallone.