Twenty Steps

Terrance Grace
Aug 9, 2017 · 3 min read

This evening around 8pm, a young man knocked on our door. He was not frightened away by the aggressive reaction from The Three Kings and remained there, on the other side of the glass, until I reluctantly stepped outside to see what was on his mind.

He was soliciting a new program from the local high school — An extra-curricular venture that offered the neighborhood an alternative to online news. I’m not sure, but I believe it was a community newspaper, published by the school — An actual printed circular that he himself (Anthony) would deliver for free, on a weekly basis, for the next three months.

I was circumspect. He noted this and remarked about the number of steps to our front door. And then, me… Standing at the front door.

The Three Kings

“You look like God up here,” he said. I nodded and replied, “Must be the white beard.” He paused. “Have you ever heard of a paper route?” “Of course,” I said. I had a paper route when I was a kid.”

He shook his head. The coincidence was certainly, an act of God. “When?” he asked. “Long before you were born, “ I replied. He was curious. “More than 18 years?” I nodded. “Do you want to know what decade?” I asked. He wasn’t sure. Being God, I didn’t care if he survived my reply. “In the 60’s and 70's,” I said.

Anthony stood there blinking. I’m not sure if he actually understood what that meant. Here, God was talking to him from this height, in Lincoln Heights, and yet, God had at one time delivered newspapers.

Not God

I said, “That was long before the internet.” He said, “But the internet was coming.” [Oh yes, Anthony. And it’s here.] “What news do you read online?” He asked. “The Wall Street Journal?” I sighed. I wanted to get back to my glass of wine and we were nowhere near the point of this whole conversation. “No, the New York Times.”

“Do you subscribe?” Anthony was getting on my nerves. “No. But I did, when I lived in New York.” “You know, you can get the paper here,” he said. I nodded. “It’s not the same. It’s an abbreviated version.”

Anthony cut to the chase. “I don’t get paid to deliver this, I just get credit.” Looking back down the twenty plus steps to the street, Anthony continued… “And I’ll have to climb up those steps to deliver it to you. I’m required to deliver it to your door.

I interjected. “You’re young.”

He stopped me short. “It’s a free service, for the first three months.”

The Twenty Steps

I filled out the paperwork. And yes, I even wrote down my actual cell phone number. This, I regret. But I was remembering back when I worked very hard converting my collect customers to pre-paid.

He wanted a credit card number. God scoffed. “Are you kidding me? I’m not giving you my credit card number.” “It’ll make it easier to confirm you want the paper after the first three months,” he said. I stopped him in his tracks. “You call me at the end of three months. If it’s good, I’ll pay for it, then.”

He extended his hand. Cheeky little bastard. I shook it.

Alright Anthony, ball’s in your court. Deliver the shit out of that paper for the next three months. I hope you get real good credit. But know this: You’re going to have to work your ass off converting me to pre-paid.

Anthony skipped on down the twenty steps. I thought for a moment about letting The Three Kings out to chase his ass down the street. Nah. He’s got plenty of time to find his own twenty steps.

Terrance Grace

Written by

Writer and Visual Artist — Creator of The Locksmith Graphic Novel https://thelocksmith.me and Khyber Knights Graphic Novel https://khyberknights.com

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