Trouble in the E-mail
It was a snowy cold day on December 27, just a few days from New Years. Mark couldn't wait. He would party all night. For now though he had to sit down and do his writing assignment for his grade eleven writing class. Mark was a bright sixteen years old young man who was on the road to a prosperous future, all he had to do was work a little to stay on track. As he sat down at the computer he thought that he would put off doing his writing just for a little while, just long enough to check his e-mail.
As he boots-up the computer Mark starts to think of his wonderful girlfriend Julia, he being the same age as Mark thinks she is the most beautiful girl in the world and would not let anything ever happen to her. Mark remembers that he must call Julia and finalize then plans for New Years Eve. It would be their six-month anniversary and Mark wanted to do something extra special for Julia because he loved her so much.
Finally connected to the Internet Mark goes to login at hotmail.com where his address is. Mark checks in and sees that he has a new message, so he clicks on it to bring it up. Mark looks at the address and does not recognize it as one of his friends, it says "[email protected]" He reads it slowly, it says:
"Mark,
I have finally found you, too bad for you. You owe me and I want what is mine.
Don't f!%k with me, you know I always get what I want. I want the $100 dropped
off at 130 Longwood Drive before New Years that you owe me. Give it up, or
else pay a price!!
Signed,
Mike"
Well, Mark was not one to be intimidated. So this actually provoked him. When he thought of who it may be he couldn't figure out why he would owe someone one hundred dollars, and he didn't know who Mike was either, so he figured it was one of his punk brothers or one of their friends who just wanted to get back at him for something he had done to him at an earlier time. So in retaliation Mark goes to Hotmails homepage and starts to set up a phony e-mail address so he could e-mail them back without them knowing who it was from. So for the address he picks "[email protected]". So in the message back he says:
"Hey!
You don't know who THIS is! This is not Mark, although I know who you are and I am not one bit scared of you! For one reason I am bigger than you, and I could beat you up with one hand tied behind my back. You will never get any money from me or Mark. For just sending me that stupid letter I have sent a virus in this e-mail and by the time you have finished reading this it will have already installed itself, hahahaha!!!!!! That should teach you to threaten us. Your dad will be very angry when your computer won't work, woo woo ha ha !!!!!
Signed,
YOUR Worst Nightmare"
Mark was happy with this letter, it let the person know he wasn't going to give them what they wanted and that he wasn't scared of them, even though he really didn't know who it was that sent the letter. So Mark went on with the rest of his e-mail, just a bunch of junk. Chain letters that his friends had sent him, what a waste. It was now time to get down to business, time to get those assignments done. So Mark went to work.
That night Mark and his girlfriend Julia went out for dinner and then a movie. Mark told Julia about the letter and they both thought nothing of it and just laughed it off. Julia agreed that it was what he suspected, probably his brother and friends fooling around. Just the same they decided to go find 130 Longwood Drive, just to find out whose house they were using. On the way to the movie they drove down Longwood Drive. It was filled with big houses with little properties. Only the rich people lived in this area and he didn't know any of his brothers friends who lived here. Anyway they drove on and eventually came to the end of the street where they found the house. It was a humongous house with a black BMW in the driveway. Both of them remarked on how swanky it was, obviously the people who lived there were made of money. Mark turned into another driveway and went down the street and made his way to the movie. Mark decided he would ask his brother who his new friend was, and then call him and laugh at him for trying such a stupid idea. So Mark and Julia went to the movie.
The next day when Mark got up he decided that he would check his phony e-mail to see if the person had written him back. When he tried to login into his account it always came up that he was putting in the wrong password, and he thought this was strange because there would be no way he would forget it, for it was the one he loved, Julia. So after trying three times to get in he decided to take the hint that you could get if you forgot your password, if you answered the hint right then it would tell you your password. So he went to it and when he typed in his login he had a surprise. In the hint box it said "Obviously you don't take me very seriously. Look in your real account for mail."
This kinda scared Mark because he didn't think that this guy wasn't really serious, but now Mark new that this wasn't some punk cause no punk could hack into his account and change his password like that. Also this meant that the person was not scared off by the note he had send and also knew that there was no real way he could send a virus just in the e-mail. He had to go and read the new mail that had been sent. So Mark went go check it out. When he got there, there was another letter from the same address so Mark clicked on it to bring it up. It read:
"Mark,
You really are a fool, what do you think I am? Stupid?�? You can't send a virus without me doing something to activate it. And what are you talking about my dad, like I'm scared of my dad!!! Please. Look, just give me the money and we will be even, I will forget everything that happened, if you don't then you will have to pay the consequences! So don't delay in writing back because I'm not in the mood to play games. I'm under a lot of pressure from my bosses to get the money. Just write me back telling me you understand and then I will write you and give you the instructions.
Signed,
Mike"
Mark was dumbfounded by this, he had no idea who this was, and if it was one of his brothers friends then they were doing a damn good job at making this believable because Mark was kinda starting to get scared. Mark decided to tell his friends Antoine and Jacob and get them to try to figure out who this was. Antoine and Jacob, were good at computers and knew more ways to figure out who this person was so he figured that they would help. So Mark sent the messages and a story explaining the situation. Antoine and Jacob both guessed that it was what Mark originally thought, that it was one of his brothers friends but Mark wasn't so sure anymore.
When Antoine and Jacob both came up with nothing on this guy Mark figured this was more serious than he had thought. Mark tried to think of a Mike that he had met, as hard as he tried he couldn't think of one, not even a Micheal. Still the same he mailed him back to try to find out who this is and why he wanted the money. In this letter it said:
"Mike,
Look I don't know who you are. I don't remember you. Why should I give you
$100 if I don't know why. I want some explanations and then I will tell you why
I won't give you the money.
Signed,
Mark"
Mark sent the letter and then was off to call Julia and tell her the news and find out what they were going to do that night.
When Mark told Julia about what had happened she was a little worried. She wanted Mark to find out who this was and why they were bugging him because she didn't like this at all. She just didn't like the feeling she was getting after seeing that big house and after hearing about the mail. Mark tried to comfort her by telling her everything was fine and that would get to the bottom of this right away! So Mark and Julia headed out to the party that night which was at a friend at schools house.
Mark and Julia arrived at the party late as usual and already everyone was already drunk or stoned. So they both sat down and started to mingle. Julia had a little to drink but not Mark, he was driving and he refused to drink when he had his car. So everyone at the party is a little bit wasted except for Mark and a couple of other designated drivers, and Mark was talking to the sober people until he heard an old friend call his name from across the room.
"Mark", It was Brent, a friend of his in junior high. They had separated when Brent got a little too heavy into drugs for Marks liking and Mark occasionally saw him at parties. So Mark went over to him and started talking. It was obvious that Brent had been smoking because he reeked of pot and his eyes were almost shut. They began talking and it turned out that Brent had run into one of their old friends that they met at camp. His name was Micheal. Mark remembered him very well. He was older then them and bigger to. He was more Brents friend then Marks. Mainly because Mark didn't smoke pot and they did. Micheal loved his weed, Mark remembered that he had a huge Stash of it hidden away at camp. Anyway, Brent tells Mark that Micheal had moved to town and that Brent wanted them to get together just like old times. Mark knew exactly what that meant, that Brent would take Micheal's weed and they would smoke it together while Mark watched. So Mark said sure knowing full well that he wouldn't spend any time with Brent or Micheal. So the party went on into the night and Mark and Julia left around twelve o'clock.
The next day Mark got up and went straight to the computer. Mark couldn't wait to see what was in his in-box. When he got there what he saw was exactly what he expected. Only one letter and it was from Mike. He clicked on it without hesitation. It came up and read:
"Mark,
I can't believe you don't remember me, it's Mike, or should I say Micheal. Do you
remember me now??? I met you at camp with Brent. We use to hang out and
do some endo. Anyway remember that summer when I had that large Stash
of weed on me and you ruined it, by dumping it in the water, well I want the
money for that. I told you then that I wanted it and you never replied. Well I
found you and now it's time to pay up. My dealers said it was worth $100 so
I paid it off so I wouldn't get the sh!t kicked out of me. So now you owe me
and if I don't get the money I will have to take something that is very dear to
your heart, maybe someone by the name of 'Julia'. Hehehe I mean business.
The money on New Year's or else your girlfriend.
Signed,
Mike"
Well Mark was astounded, he couldn't believe that Micheal, or Mike would even threaten to take his girlfriend. This made Mark very mad! Mark thought he should call his girlfriend to make sure she was all right, and to tell her what had happened. Together they would figure out a plan to take care of this character. So just as Mark was about to pick up the phone to call her the phone rang. Mark picked it up to answer it, and it was Julia crying. Mark asked what was wrong and Julia told him that she had been confronted by a gang of very large men at the grocery store. She told him that they wanted the money that he owed him or else she would be visited again. Mark became very irate. To calm her down Mark told that he would come and pick her up in five minutes and that they would solve this right away so she wouldn't have to be visited again.
So Mark got in his car and drove to Julias. When he picked her up she had stopped crying but he could still see where the tears ran down her face, this made him even more angry. Mark headed for Tim Hortons where they could talk. Mark got his usual, a chocolate glazed doughnut and a peach juice. He also got Julias usual for her, just a hot chocolate. They sat down and started to go over the whole situation together. Mark explained Julia the story of when they were at camp one summer and one day when Brent and Micheal were out smoking and Micheal had a very large bag (or at least it seemed big to them) of weed and Mark was forced to hold it while Brent and Micheal smoked. Unfortunately Mark was very nervous handling this bag because it was illegal and Mark knew it. Anyway an owl started to hoot and Mark was startled, and at the time Mark was near a stream and he accidently fell into it with the bag. Well it ruined the bag and all of the pot inside the bag. Micheal laid the beats to Mark and told him if he didn't give him the money for it then he would give him the beats again. Mark never went back to camp.
Now Mark had to find a way to get the money to pay Micheal back. Nor Julia or Mark had a job or a lot of money. They tried to figure out what they could sell in order to get the money but once again both of them were not rich and did not have a lot of extras so they had to can that idea. They thought about asking their friends but their friends didn't have any extra money either. In the end they decided to get all their friends together and get anything that they could sell and sell it to whoever would buy it.
So they made their way to everyones house. First they went to Jacobs house and explained the whole story so he was glad to give stuff up. Jacob gave them a CD, some golf balls, and a putter. Julia and Mark thanked him and made their way to Antoines house.
When they got to Antoines house they explained the story to him again and he went and searched his house for what he could give. He found a computer game, a book, and a wrestling figurine. He gave up the figurine up reluctantly but for the other stuff he was glad it was gone. Antoine wished them luck and they were off.
They figured they had about eighty-dollars worth of stuff so they went to Lisa's house. She was one of Julias friends. They got to Lisa's house and they told the story once again and Lisa freaked out and couldn't give them enough stuff. Lisa gave them a picture frame, a candle, a movie, and a beaded necklace. Mark was sure he could get enough money from all of the stuff. He thought there was definitely more than a hundred dollars worth of things. Just to be sure Mark and Julia went to each of their houses to get some extra stuff.
The first place they stopped was one of Marks old friends. Chris was his name and he loved golf so Mark thought he could sell the golf balls and putter to him. When he got to his house his mom told Mark that he was over with Jeremy at Zachs house watching wrestling. Zach and Jeremy were old friends to and they loved wrestling so Mark thought he could at least sell something there. So Mark and Julia headed over to Zachs house.
When they got there Chris answered the door and asked them to come in. They told the boys there story and they were willing to buy the merchandise. Chris bought the putter and golf balls just as Mark had thought. Surprisingly Jeremy bought the video game and movie. It turned out that Jeremy just got a new computer and couldn't wait to try out his new one. Also Jeremys favorite movie was the one Antoine gave up so that's why he bought it. Zach was not a big spender and Mark didn't expect Zach to buy anything but he bought the wrestling figurine and a Pat Borders autographed baseball card that was Marks. Mark was sad to see that card go but he loved Julia so much he didn't even blink an eye. It turned out that the stop was a good one. They came out of Zachs house with eighty dollars. They only needed twenty more. Julia then remembered that she thought a friend of hers would buy the candle and the necklace. So off they went to Emilys house.
When they got to Emilys house she answered the door and let them in. Once again Julia and Mark told them their story. They were really getting sick of telling it. She of course was concerned for Julia and gladly agreed to look at some of the stuff they had. Emily immediately wanted the picture frame and the candle. As she looked further she noticed a diary that was Julias and took it as well. Emily gave them twenty-five dollars and told them if they needed more to tell her and she would give it to them. They declined the extra money and told her she already had enough money but thanked her all the same.
When they got to the car they took out the money and counted it. They had one-hundred and five dollars. They decided to return the stuff they didn't sell to the people who gave it to them and split the left over money between those people. They couldn't thank them enough.
Mark got home and immediately got on his computer and wrote an e-mail to Mike. In the e-mail he told him that he had the money and that he wanted to give them the money as soon as possible to get the mess over. Mark also told them to call him at his house so they could iron out the details of how it was going to work. He gave him his number, sent the letter and waited for them to call.
It was mid afternoon when a man called Mark asking for him. It wasn't Mike on the phone though, this guy seemed like he would be very large in person. He had a deep, raspy voice that seemed kind of scary. So Mark just listened without saying a word. The man told him that he was to meet them at his house on 130 Longwood Drive that night at ten o'clock, and he had better bring the money. Mark assured him he would have the money. The man hung up without another word.
That night at nine-forty-five Mark started out of his driveway with Julia by his side. He didn't want her to come along but she insisted and Mark couldn't argue with her. At nine-fifty-five they pulled in the driveway at 130 Longwood Drive. Mark admired the black shiny BMW in the driveway. They went to door and pushed the door bell. A well-built man came to the door and asked what they wanted. Mark explained himself and the man led them inside, down the stairs to what seemed to be a pool room. There he found a group of men drinking beer and smoking cigars. Two of the men were playing pool. Then Mark saw a man who seemed to resemble the old Micheal that he use to know. The man looked at him and asked him if he had the money. Mark replied with a strong yes. Mark asked him if he was Mike. The man said that he was surprised that Mark did not remember him. Mark told him he wasn't exactly expecting him. Mike chuckled and told him to give him the money. Mark pulled out the money and laid it on the bar. Mike counted it, approved it, then asked them if they wanted a drink. Mark quickly refused and Mike then seemed offended that he didn't accept. Mark told Mike that he had to be going because they wanted to catch a movie. Mike responded with a no. Mark surprised asked why? Mike said that there were a few other matters that they had to deal with. Mark looked at him and asked what? Mike asked him if he could see the scar above his eye. Mark nodded. Mike took off his shirt and showed them his back. Do you see these scars he said enraged. Mark could see he was getting out of control, so he started to back up. Mike got closer and told him that he got those scars from his bosses when he couldn't pay that money back when he was younger, and now he was going to pay Mark back with some scars of his own that money couldn't fix. Mark pleaded asking Mike if he could give him more money but he wouldn't listen to him, he just wanted to give Mark some scars of his own so he would feel the pain that Mike did. Mark and Julia tried to make it to the door but it was already guarded by to muscle-bound men. They stopped dead in their tracks. Mike just laughed. He told him if he let him beat him up then the girl would not be harmed but if he tried to be a hero then she would get it to. Mark counted the number of men. There was two by the door, Mike, and two playing pool. Mike told him to take off his shirt and lay on the ground. Mark asked if Julia could be taken upstairs so she wouldn't have to see him be beat up, and Mike agreed so one of the muscle-bound men took her upstairs to the living room. Mark took off his shirt, then laid on the ground. Mike took a swift hard kick to his side. Mark rolled over in pain. He then took advantage of a pool cue that was on the ground. He picked it up and hit Mark over the head with it. He then turned to the guys at the table and hit one in the knee so he bent over and then on the head. The next guy came over with the other big guy and Mark picked up a pool ball and threw it as hard as he could at the big guy and then threw one at the smaller guy as came at him. Then he threw a chair at the big guy and knocked him to the ground. He then went and stepped on the guys throat making him silent for quiet a wile. By this time Mike had got back up and just as Mark got done stepping on the guys throat he swung the cue and knocked out Mike. Then the smaller guy came at him again and they looked at each other then the guy lunged at him and he dodged him and then hit him over the head with the cue, knocking him to the ground. Mark then took a gun that was behind the bar and went upstairs to get Julia. When the big guy saw him he jumped up to meet him but when he saw that Mark had a gun he quickly put his hands up. Mark made him lay down on the floor while the two escaped. They ran to his car and started the car. Just as it started the big guy came running out of the house. Julia grabbed the gun, rolled down the window and shot at him. The man ducked and stopped in his tracks. Mark headed straight for the police station. When he got there he told them what happened and they sent cars to the house to arrest Mike and his gang. They not only had witnesses which were the neighbors that saw what happened but also the e-mail helped them out as well.
Mark and Julia were at the station all night telling their story, every little detail. The police had to know everything. They called their parents and they came down to the station to comfort them. Early in the morning they were aloud to leave so their parents wanted to drive them home but Mark insisted that he drive Julia home so they let him. They didn't say much on the way home except them telling each other that they loved each other and that they never wanted to go through anything like that ever again. As Mark kissed Julia in her driveway he told her that he would never had let anything happen to her and that he would fight to death for her. Also he promised her that it would never happen again. She looked at him, kissed him and then told him that if anything like that did ever happen again that she would kill him herself for making her worry so much. They kissed a final time and she told him she would call him later and they said their good-byes. She got out and he left for home.
Trouble in the E-mail
by
Alex O'Donnell
Semester Project Mr. Hull