Ed was never in such a tight spot before. For money, that is.

Before the personal bankruptcy he could always use the credit cards to tide him over. But, of course, that path led to his and his ex-wife’s final financial disaster.

Now he was divorced, supporting, as best he could, the children who were living with his ex. The kids were his top priority, after his own food and shelter, meager as both were.

He finally got a good job, one that would provide just enough for two the households. But there was no cushion.

The job depended on a car, and the car was a bit on the elderly side, prone to the occasional and expensive malaise. This was such a time. Ed had never borrowed from a friend before, but desperation pushed him to the edge. Perhaps Frank would understand. Ed gave him a call.

“Uh, Frank.”

“Yeah?”

“I got that job.”

“Super!”

“That’s the good news”

“Are you implying, therefore, that some bad news is about to follow, as if I couldn’t tell?”

“It’s the Honda.”

“The one I recommended to you.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t fix Hondas, I’m a General Motors kinda guy, maybe the occasional Ford.”

“Well, the water pump, maybe the whole cooling system, is a wee bit too old. It’ll take up to $1,000.”

“And you, my reformed spendthrift ol’ buddy, are on the shorts and maybe ol’ Frank’ll stand up for you, huh?”

“Man, you are sharp!”

“How long you need it for?”

“With the new job, I can repay each month—12 months, say?”

“Look, I’ve got a $1000 T-bill up for renewal right now. I’ll cash it and you can pay me in a year at T-Bill interest, OK? I don’t want no stinkin’ monthly payments.”

“Man, this saves my job and, therefore, my life.”

“You don’t remember when you saved mine?”

“Uh, no, when was that?”

“You enticed that young lady away from me and then you married her, remember?”

“That saved your life?”

“Well, look where that gambit took you!”