This couldn’t be happening. I stared through the metal grate, desperately trying to find any sign of my keys- some small glint of light from where they had fallen or the square shape of the key chain I had earned by being a best man.

Below the grate lay an infinite see of unbroken shadow.

Worse, I was ten feet from my car. Ten fucking feet. I had been three steps away when the keys had slipped through my fingers and slid through the grate like a losing pinball.

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!” I screamed into the empty parking lot. Spinning around I kicked the curb for all I was worth. Ugh. I was turning into my dad. That was a sobering thought.

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have any spare keys. It was eleven o’clock anyway. If only there were some way to get my keys. If I got them now, I promised myself that I would make a copy the next day. And give money to the homeless. Or a church. Anything.

A squad car rolled into the parking lot and for the first time in my life, I rejoiced at seeing the police.