(A/N Hey Yall it�s Katie and back into action this is chapter four and probably the best chapter so far� The song is The economy of Mercy by Switchfoot. It�s a good song and I think it fits with the chapter too� many surprises this chapter and some other good funn too� well I better be off and give me an e-mail please --Katie--)

There�s just two ways to lose yourself in this life

And neither way is safe

In my dreams I see visions of the future

But today we have today

And where will I find you

In the economy of mercy

I am a poor and begging man

In the currency of grace

Is where my song begins

In the colors of your goodness

In the scars that mark Your skin

In the currency of grace

Is where my song begins

These carbon shells

These fragile dusty fames

House canvases of souls

We are bruised and broken masterpieces

But we did not paint ourselves

And where will I find you?

Where was I when the world was made?

Where was I?

I am lost without You here

Yes, I am lost without you near me

I am lost without you here

You knew my name when the world was made.

The day had ended and he put his trumpet back in his case. He collected his money and walked to his apartment. He waved to the elderly lady with the white poodle, to the man getting a soda, to the little girl and boy playing tag, and finally to the acrobat , who lived three doors down.

He had grown a beard over the years. Well an attempted beard anyways. It was really a couple of hairs that were so mangy you could hardly see them. His hair was longer about to his ears.

He unlocked his door, the fourteen locks, each one from one time someone had broken in,. He set his ring of keys on the dinner table and looked in the fridge to see if anything was somewhat not gross.

Beer. Old Pasta. Stale Bread. A huge chocolate kiss. Carrots. Gross. Some things needed to be thrown away.

He quickly found a lean Cuisine and popped it into the microwave. He watched the container revolve around in the microwave and as soon as it was done he had already ate the entire container from top to bottom.

He yawned, � what time is it?,� He looked at his watch �11:11 make a wish�

I wish that all my childhood friends find love and happiness.

Now what I love to do, sleep.

He took his shirt off and threw it into the hamper. He slipped on a pair of boxers with a smiley licking its lips. I need someone to hold, he thought, as his smile turned into a pout.

He pulled the covers over his head and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

***

It was morning before he knew it and surprisingly his day off. He wasn�t the type of person to hit the snooze button a billion times in a row ,so when his alarm went off he got up quickly. He fixed himself a bowl of Apple jacks and looked at the newspaper that was shoved into his mailbox downstairs.

He finally looked through the change container and pulled out the bills. He found a receipt from Macy�s tied around a roll of cash, among many other things that sprung his mind.

�No way!� he left the receipt and looked around to see if anyone was looking. He undid the roll of cash and counted his earnings for the day! 534 dollars 94 cents. , �No way in hell I made that much� he screamed as he danced around like a freak and did his happy dance which looked like a diseased flamingo.

(A/N if anything confuses you now let me clear it up. I know that I am using pronouns and that is for a reason. later on you will find out who it is in a odd (?) way. The guy looked through the newspaper downstairs in his mailbox� The money jar was in his mailbox. Hope that clears something up)

He put all of his money from the day before and all the other days preceding it in a Nike shoe box to take to the bank. He grabbed a water bottle on the way out and locked the fourteen locks. He walked down the street with the box in hand. The bank was only a few blocks.

�Hi� He said to the woman making a cud chewing sound with her lips at the desk.

� May I help you?� She replied.

� Uh yeah I guess you can give me all this money up to four hundred dollars and the rest of the money can go into my account.� he explained handed her the piece of paper from the last with drawl and the shoe box.

� Okay� She accommodated him as she put the money in the counting machine, � $ 3453.84 sir and added to your bank that makes $80,564. 97.� She said handing him the four hundred dollars he asked for in twenties.

� Thank you.� He walked out of the door with a lot on his mind. One thing being , his trumpet repair bill he could now pay.

The money in the account was emergency money and he only took four hundred dollars out as needed.

On his way into his humble home it felt different. He sat down at his kitchen table and turned on his nine inch television form when he had the job at radio shack. Real Word, News, NASCAR, Basketball, Golf, Infomercials. Wait BASKETABLL! Old Past time he thought .

He got so involved in the game that when the phone rang he didn�t hear it until the third ring. � Oh Sh*t.� He whispered as he sprinted to the phone, out of breath he answered. �Hello�

� Hey dude! Haven�t talked to you in forever. Just called to say hi!� the voice said.

�Uh that�s great dude! Who are you?� He questioned.

� Funny dude, funny� The voice laughed.

� uh okay man I am not kidding!� He exclaimed.

�It�s Jess!� The voice identified.

�Jester!! Hey , What�s going on? I haven�t heard from you in awhile!� He exclaimed.

� Yeah I know! Sorry about it. I have been so busy with movies and all� Plus it took me forever to get your address and phone number. You changed your name?� Jesse spoke.

� Well not technically, but that�s too much to explain over the phone. Why don�t we get together for lunch tomorrow?� He asked.

� Sorry if I could I would but I can�t. I haven�t been back home to White Plains in three years.� Jesse said.

� O well than hope you have a great life.� he snarled disappointed.

� Dude, I am so sorry. I really am .I am just so busy. I was calling because I remembered it�s your parents anniversary today, and I couldn�t find them. I finally found your number.�

� oh yeah there was a lot of stuff going on.� he bluffed

� Gosh Dude I am so sorry! I just do everything wrong! Ya know, I just don�t see the point anymore. I am trying to please everyone else but myself.� He screamed.

� calm down. It�s okay, You need to come to New York for a month after the movie. Rewind and calm yourself. Take a deep breath. Jesse, I am here for you every step of the way, You need to remember so people are going to love you and some are not.� He explained.

� okay thanx so much man. I will make reservations tomorrow. You know You have always been there for me whenever needed you. I don�t think I have ever told you , how much I appreciate you always being there when I needed help. I really have grown to love and I want you to be in my wedding. Please, I know we haven�t talked in awhile but I really miss you.� Jesse spilled.

� Wow man that�s really amazing� I am so happy for you. Such an honor. I mean really you want me to be in your wedding?� He asked.

� yeah I mean Tim�s the best man . And all the other guys are groomsmen. Tim�s is 16 now. He looks exactly like me now. You have been a best friend and mentor towards me. You are all I ever wanted to be.� Jesse said

Not know he thought

� well I would be glad too! When you come up we can talk about it. I am really looking forward to seeing you.�

� Yeah you too. I will call you with the information when I get it!� Jesse informed.

� Okay dude! Bye!� He turned the television back on and resumed into the game.

At halftime he got up and chugged a Budweiser.

� You know I really need to clean myself up AND this place too!� He said to himself,� I will start right now with the hall and the bedrooms.�

He started to clean and clean and clean. Before he knew it the bathroom and hall and bedrooms were done. Crystal clear.

Okay that looks great now I just need new carpet and linens. He thought after he cleaned it.

Over the next few hours he cleaned the kitchen and family room and soon enough the whole house was clean.

� Tomorrow I will go shopping for house stuff� He announced. With that he made a lean cuisine and filled a glass of ice water for lunch. He cleared his table and threw away various Sports Illustrated and New York Times. he found a receipt and almost threw it away. He saw the writing on the back of the paper.

Hey ! I missed you Matthew Ballinger. Room 1443 Plaza. Love Zucchini.

Zucchini I haven�t talked to her since junior year. She must have been the person who gave me all that money. he thought.

She is staying at the Plaza Wonder what she is doing in New York. I should call her!� he whispered to himself. Matt grabbed the phone book that he had moments before organized in a stack with other important books. � The Plaza hotel ,223 - 8153.� Matt wrote down on a piece of paper he found in the cabinet. He dialed and a young women picked up.

� hello Plaza hotel in New York City. What is your purpose for calling?� She asked politely.

� Hello I would like to reach Zucchini Impulutti. Can I give you her room number or just leave a message?� Matt questioned.

� yes she is staying in 1817 right?�

� No 1443 she is in 14 - 43� he confirmed.

� Good, Glad you realize she is not in the utility closet!� She laughed.

�haha can I leave a message?� Matt asked.

� uh yeah sure let me connect you� She said. There were two beeps and a voicemail box picked up.

� Hey Zuci! It�s Matt. It was really nice of you to leave that money. Now I know you think I am some homeless bum on the street , but I am not. I have an apartment and have some money. I am not really the guy you met so many years ago. We I was just wondering if you wanted to have dinner tonight. It might be fun. If that�s not okay call me back, 737 -8132. If it is I will pick you up at seven. Hope we can have dinner Bye� Matt spoke into the phone.

I hope she wants to have dinner. I hope she is ready at seven I hope she comes. He thought.

The day went by pretty fast. He bought new bed linens and towels. He got his hair cut back to the short way he used to wear it as a teenager.

He slipped on a pair of worn jeans after he showered for the first time in a week. He combed his hair and shaved off his attempted beard. Matt took a vintage Chicago Bears Super bowl tee shirt and slipped it over his head gently. He was still skinny as a stick. His upper body was toned and muscular, but not to the point of bulging at the seams. He had grown to be tall and lean.

He looked at himself in the mirror and exclaimed excitedly � I look pretty good!�

He called a cab and quickly got flowers at the local florist he got for his mother. As the cab pulled up to the Plaza a billion emotions flew through his brain to his stomach, faster than you could said �Kalamazoo�.

� Jitters?� The cab driver asked.

� Yeah , I Guess,� matt answered, � haven�t seen the girl in ten years� I hope nothing came up.�

� Someone would be brain dead to turn you down. You are a very handsome young man.�

� Thank you� Matt whispered as he handed him a twenty, �Keep the change.� Matt demanded as he stepped out of the cab and made his way towards the doors of the Plaza.