# 25: Harvey - Felt Bad

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When Harvey woke up the next morning he felt really bad. He’d tossed and turned all night and hadn’t got a bit of rest. Sometime during the night someone had stolen his bicycle.

It hadn’t rained during the night. There had been nor flood, no deluge, he hadn’t drowned. He slithered out of the culvert, climbed out of the ditch and did his best to clean up. He brushed off the dirt, leaves and trash off as best he could. Then he started walking. He had no idea where he was going but he’d learned in the past that being hesitant or acting confused drew unwanted attention. It was best to appear self confident. Fewer punks messed with him if he did.

Out of the corner of his eye Harvey had noticed motion. A man had turned the corner behind him. The man had slowed down when he’d seen Harvey and was following him. That wasn’t a good sign. Harvey began looking around for a weapon. He noticed a stout stick in the ditch to one side. He retrieved it. It made a fair walking stick that could be used as a weapon if need be.

He trudged on.

The man behind slowly over took him. Soon the man was by his side. It was a public sidewalk and he had every right to be there. Harvey moved over a bit to give him room.

“Hey buddy,” Harvey heard him say “You don’t look so good. Can I help you somehow?”

“Uh...I...my schedule. “ He muttered. “....lost my job. Lost my home....mutter, mutter, mutter”

“That’s a raw deal.” The man said. The two were side by side. Harvey was walking rather slow using his improvised stick/ cane. the man was pacing him. “Maybe I can help.”

Harvey turned to stare at him as if seeing him for the first time. He had been aware of the guy as a potential threat but hadn’t looked at him as a person. Now he did. He saw a man wearing a long coat, carrying a staff. “Wha...wha...what do you mean?”

The man said “I can give you a magic wand. It can help you.”

Harvey stared. Was he hearing right?

“No really.” the guy said “I can. Tell you what. Put that stick down and step back.”

Not likely. The stick would be a valuable weapon in a fight. He saw no reason to put himself at a disadvantage. He shook his head and said “No.”

The man said “Cautious are you? I can’t say as I blame you. I might do the same if I were you.”

They proceeded in silence for a few minutes. The exercise was doing Harvey good, it was clearing his head. He noticed his impromptu companion’s walking staff as they walked, although the man didn’t use it. The man walked extremely odd just gliding along. After a little while Harvey looked at him and said “Wanna swap?” with a slight grin. He fully expected to be denied.

The man grinned too. That was unexpected

“ Your stick for mine?” The man asked then said “Certainly. Here you go.”

Harvey extended his off hand, the one that didn’t hold the stick. He was cautious. He wasn’t letting go of his stick until he had another one in hand. The stranger grinned again as if he knew what Harvey was thinking.

“Very wise of you.” he said then handed his staff to Harvey. For a moment Harvey held his stick and the staff both. Harvey blinked then handed his stick to him.

“Oh.“ The man said “One more thing. I need to make a few changes.”

Harvey stepped back cautiously when he saw the man toss the stick upon the ground in front of them then pulled a small wand from his sleeve. The man pointed the wand at the stick laying on the ground then snapped his wrist slightly.

Harvey twitched at the a slight boom, the dull flash and was fascinated by the small cloud that erupted around the stick on the ground. Had the guy thrown a flash bang? If he had then it was certainly an anemic one. The stick was briefly obscured then a staff, just like the one that Harvey had in his hand, floated off the ground into the man’s hand.

That was cute.

“Now I have my old staff back, or one just like it. Gotta go now.” The man told him. “Listen to the Genie in the wand. It will tell you what to do”.

Harvey watched the man glide quickly away. What the hell did he mean by ‘genie in the wand’? The guy was moving strange. He was either riding something or he had a really odd way of walking. Harvey felt a slight bite or perhaps sting in his palm, the one that held the staff. It was much like a bee sting but not as strong. Perhaps like that of a mosquito.

“Ow!” he said and swapped hands with the staff and shook the hand that was stung. He examined his hand but did NOT let go of the staff. He didn’t see any damage. He shrugged his shoulders and trudged on. He knew where he was going now. The sting had reminded him of mosquitos, and the swamp. He was going to get his boat.

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