Money to the devil is death

Money to the devil is death.

I first heard those words from my dearly departed friend.

Now Manny was one of those people who would give you his last penny. His motto was; spend it now, you can't take it with you. One day, I was walking down the street with Manny.

"Manny, I said. How come you are always happy?

"Happiness is a state of mind, you don't need any money to be happy," he replied.

"But Manny, how about the bills. You need money to pay it."

"Why worry? Life is for living," he laughed.

I disagreed with Manny. I had always wanted money and when I didn't have it, I worry. In fact, I would do anything. Well, almost anything to have financial security. As if reading my thoughts, Manny turned to me and said;

"Addie, don't let money rule you."

The beginning of my downfall started innocently enough. I was in the betting shop having a flutter on Grand National day. I looked at the race card and my finger went down the list of the names of the horses.

For some reason, I fancied a horse called;

"The devil you know."

His price was twenty-five to one. Now, I had my last five pounds on me and I decided to bet it all, two pounds fifty pence each-way.

This is easy money I thought as I collected my winnings.

"Why work when you can bet for a living," said the voice in my head.

My slippery slope to oblivion started with the voice in my head. I would listen to it, as to which, what and the best time to have a bet. Pretty soon, I was winning regular money and I Gave up my day job in the process.

One day, I was in the betting shop watching a horse race, when a crazy thought came into my head.

"You can win at every horse race,said the voice. All you have to do is sign a contract."

"Go away," I said to the voice in my head.

The punters in the betting shop turned their heads in my direction and I gave a little wave as I smiled with embarrassment.

"Wouldn't it be great if you knew the results of a race ten minutes before it started?" continued the voice.

Now at that time, I felt flushed with success and I wanted more.

A year has now passed since the day I signed the contract. I now know the results of any horse race, ten minutes before it starts.

My life is one big round of betting and collecting my winnings. I am richer than in my wildest dreams.

I was in my car going to collect my winnings from the betting shop, when the voice started in my head.

"Addie, your time is up," said the voice.

"What?" I replied as I swerved on the road.

"Addie, your time is up," continued the voice.

"Go away, I am not going anywhere."

"Addie, whether you like it or not, you must honor the contract."

"I am only forty years old and my life is just beginning with the riches that I have acquired, I am not going anywhere."

"A contract is a contract is a contract," replied the voice.

I drove round the corner and coming towards me was an articulated lorry. The last thought on my mind before it hit me, was that I didn't have enough time to enjoy my winnings.

I looked around me at the murky scene and saw a shape next to me.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am the devil," replied the shape.

"So where are your horns and pitchfork?"

"I am more subtle and sophisticated these days," said the devil.

"Where is this place?" I enquired.

"You can call it whatever name that you want to. People before you have given it the name of hell."

"I can see why they have given it that name," I said as I looked passed the devil and the colourless scene.

"I can ensnare any human," said the devil.

"How?"

"In your previous world, money is the mantra, possession is the goal and power is the god."

I thought of all the financial decisions that I have made in my life.

"But," I started.

"Money gives you the power, but it is false, interrupted the devil. Unfortunately or should I say fortunately for me, the real power comes from within you, but most humans are not aware of that."

"But," I started.

"Why do you think I exist?, asked the devil.

"I don't know? Something about the darkness of the human soul," I replied.

"You have got it wrong, said the devil. Humans give me their time and time is energy. The more energy I have, the longer I exist."

"Time is money and I didn't have enough time to enjoy my money," I said sadly.

"Exactly, said the devil, the classic trade-off. I give you money, you give me your time."

"Why didn't you tell me before I signed the contract? I screamed.

"It was in the fine print."

"What was in the fine print?" I questioned.

"That you would forfeit half of your life if I gave you the results of horse races ten minutes before the race started," replied the devil.

"oh."

"You see, said the devil as he started to laugh. Humans are so predictable, they think that they can get something for nothing and that something is always money."

"Manny was right," I said as I started to sob.

"Yes, said the devil. I must get even with that man."

"Why? I asked as I lifted my head to stare at the devil.

"Manny is the only one in eternity to get away from my grasp," screamed the devil as his face contorted with rage.

So here I am, trapped in this netherworld of darkness.

And I must walk, forever walk in this land of limbo.

I am forever dammed for the rest of my un-natural life.

My vocal cords are locked and I cannot speak.

And everyone who I meet on this road of purgatory, my vocal cords open and I shout out these words to them.

Those words are; Money to the devil is death.

deja vu