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The Temptation of Clark Forrester

John Ragusa

    Why did he do it?
    Perhaps it was because he was tired of being poor. Or maybe he just wanted better things for his wife and child.
    At any rate, Clark Forrester did not make a deal with a demon because he was evil.
    This is a shame, for when a good man is tempted, his punishment is all the more tragic.

* * *


    “May I have a bicycle for my birthday, Daddy?” Marina asked her father, Clark.
    “I’m sorry, darling,” he said. “I really can’t afford it. Perhaps a book would be okay?”
    “I think Marina wants something more enjoyable than a book,” his wife Elaine said. “I could buy the bike for her with some of my money.”
    “Why should you do that?” Clark said. “You work hard for your pay.”
    “It won’t cost that much.”
    “How will we pay the mortgage? Who will buy the groceries? I don’t have a money tree.”
    “Oh Daddy, please let me have the bicycle,” Marina pleaded.
    “I’ll think it over.”
    She ran to Clark and kissed him. “Thank you!”
    “No promises.”
    “I understand.”
    “Now go to your room while we finish our dinner.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    After Marina went upstairs, Clark said, “I don’t know how we’ll manage the finances. It’ll be hard.”
    “We’ll pull through,” Elaine said. “You wait and see.”
    He sighed. “I hope so.”

* * *


    Mr. Brennan, Clark’s boss at the bank, called him into his office the next day.
    “What do you want to see me about?” Clark said.
    “I’ve been going over your records,” Brennan said.
    “Is there anything wrong with them?”
    “Yes, there is. Several accounts have sloppy errors in deposits and withdrawals. Can you explain this?”
    “I saw no inaccuracies when I last checked them.”
    “The mistakes are definitely there, Clark. I looked over them several times.”
    “I’m sorry, sir.”
    “Apologies won’t mean a thing if we lose important clients. I’m afraid I’ll have to fire you.”
    Clark was devastated. Without a job, he would have no means of support.

* * *


    He dreaded breaking the news to Elaine. He decided to have a few drinks at a bar to steady his nerves.
    He went to Jerry’s Lounge and drank a Vodka. Soon he was approached by a young man in a black suit.
    “Is this seat taken?” he asked.
    “No, it’s not,” Clark replied.
    “May I sit here?”
    “Go ahead.”
    The man sat down. “I’ll have a Bloody Mary,” he told the bartender.
    After pouring the drink, the bartender laid it in front of the young man.
    Sipping his drink, he turned to Clark. “A penny for your thoughts.”
    “I was wondering how I can tell my wife that I lost my job.”
    “Wow! That’s tough.”
    “You know it. We need all the money we can get, too.”
    “What a shame.” He leaned closer. “Say, I have a solution for you.”
    “What is it?”
    “First let me introduce myself. My name is Olivier.”
    “I’m Clark Forrester. Now what’s this solution you mentioned?”
    “I’m offering you wealth in return for your soul.”
    Clark smiled. “Surely you’re not serious.”
    “This is not a joke.”
    “I’m a religious man. I wouldn’t hand over my soul to you.”
    “But if you do, you’ll become filthy rich! It would certainly be worth it.”
    Clark finished his drink. “Let me think it over.”
    “Okay,” Olivier said. “I’ll see you in a few days to hear your decision.”

* * *


    One afternoon, Clark was in the den, reading a book. Elaine and Marina had gone shopping. Suddenly, Olivier was standing in front of him.
    “Well, Mr. Forrester, have you decided yet?” he asked.
    “I don’t know. I have my doubts. I wouldn’t want to go to hell when I die. That’s what will happen if I sign your contract, isn’t it?”
    “To be honest, yes. But how do you know you won’t go to hell, anyway?”
    “That can’t possibly happen!”
    “Yes, it can. I am a demon who’s in charge of cruelty to the poor. Many demons are accorded nemesis-angels in heaven. My divine opponent’s name is Lawrence.”
    “What does this have to do with my deal?”
    “If you don’t believe me when I say you’ll end up in hell no matter what you do, just listen to Lawrence. He’ll prove it to you.”
    A young man in white robes appeared in the den. “Hello, Clark,” he said. “I am Lawrence, an angel from heaven.”
    “Olivier said I’ll go to hell even if I don’t agree to his deal. Is that true?”
    “Well, why don’t we look at the Future Predictor and find out?”
    Lawrence snapped his fingers and a TV set appeared in the den.
    “This is the Future Predictor,” he said. “Watch.” He turned it on.
    Clark saw himself standing in some shrubbery on the TV screen.
    “What is that vegetation?” he asked.
    “It’s poison ivy,” Lawrence said.
    Clark was horrified. “Then Olivier was right! I’ll go to hell even if I don’t sell my soul!”
    “I’m afraid so.”
    “But what mortal sin did I ever commit?”
    “Do you remember the day you broke old man Brackett’s window with a slingshot when you were a boy? Well, the noise caused him to have a fatal heart attack. You killed him.”
    Clark made his decision. “If I’m to go to hell even if I don’t make the deal, then I might as well agree to it and enjoy some wealth while I’m alive.”
    “Now you’re making sense,” Olivier said.
    “Don’t do it, Clark,” Lawrence said. “You’ll be sorry if you do.”
    “Don’t listen to that idiot,” Olivier said. “Sign this contract.” He held out a paper and a pen.
    Without hesitation, Clark signed the contract.
    Suddenly, Olivier and Lawrence burst into laughter.
    “You’re screwed, sucker,” Lawrence said, shaking hands with Olivier.
    “Wait a minute,” Clark said. “You guys are supposed to be enemies!”
    “This fellow is not really Lawrence,” Olivier said. “I lied to you about that. He is Beelzebub, another demon from hell.”
    “What I showed you on the Future Predictor was a hoax,” Beelzebub said. “If you had not made the deal, you really would have gone to heaven, because Brackett’s death was an accident. But it’s too late for you to go to heaven now.”
    “You both tricked me!” Clark said.
    Olivier smiled wickedly. “Isn’t that what demons always do?”



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