英语听力突破掌上宝reading-第31章

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y　ATM　receipt。〃　Without　fail；　it　would　always　prompt　a　great　conversation。
　
It　was　also　very　entertaining　to　call　my　twenty　four　hour　banking　line；　and　listen　to　my　bank　balance。　I　did　twice；　three　times；　four　times　a　day。　To　my　surprise；　it　remained　at　over　a　hundred　grand；　all　week　long。　I　was　thinking；　that　check　should　have　been　bounced　by　now。
　
Friday　morning；　I　went　to　my　bank；　a　branch　of　First　Interstate；　approached　a　teller；　and　posed　this　question：　〃If　I　need　a　cashier's　check　for　70；000　later　this　afternoon；　do　I　have　the　funds　available？〃
　
The　teller　typed　my　account　number　into　her　computer。　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃the　money　is　available。〃　I　said；　〃Are　you　sure　there　is　not　a　warning　sign；　a　flashing　light；　an　asterisk　or　something？〃　She　assured　me　there　wasn't。　
　
I　got　out　of　the　bank　fast。　I　felt　supercharged　with　possibility　and　shock。
　
From　that　moment　until　the　next　Wednesday；　when　I　boarded　a　plane　for　a　four…day　career…counseling　conference　in　Orlando　（I　make　my　living　as　an　author　and　speaker　addressing　career　success）；　95；093。35　was　available　for　withdrawal　from　my　account。　My　close　friends　and　I　contemplated；　for　fun；　all　the　possibilities　a　hundred　grand　afforded。　〃To　leave　the　country　or　not　to　leave：　that　is　the　question。〃
　
I　knew　that　the　money　was　going　to　be　taken　out　of　my　account；　and　each　day　I　figured　it　would　happen　tomorrow。　I　boarded　my　flight　to　Orlando　confidentand　glad；　reallythat　in　all　likelihood　the　money　would　be　gone　upon　my　return。　It　had　already　possessed　my　thoughts　for　a　week。
　
On　Monday；　the　day　after　my　return；　I　called　for　my　account　balance。　Five　thousand　and　something　dollars　was　what　I　expected　to　hear。　What　I　did　hear　was　over　100；000。
　
What　was　happening？　Two　weeks　and　that　money　was　still　sitting　in　my　account。
　
〃It　will　be　gone　tomorrow；〃　I　kept　telling　myself　for　the　next　five　days。　Then　on　Friday；　exactly　three　weeks　since　I　had　deposited　the　sample　check；　I　again　returned　to　the　bank。　I　approached　a　bank　teller　at　the　special　Customer　Service　window；　and　I　sternly　stated；　〃I　recently　deposited　95；000　and　I　don't　want　to　spend　any　of　the　money　if　there　is　the　possibility　of　the　check　being　returned。　How　long　should　I　wait？〃
　
The　teller　keyed　in　my　account　number。　Then　she　said；　〃95；093。35　was　deposited　on　May　21。　You're　safe　to　spend　that　money　now　because　that　check　can　no　longer　be　returned。　Depositors　are　protected　by　a　law　that　says　checks　cannot　be　returned　after　ten　business　days。〃
　
I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　I　couldn't　believe　my　luck。　I　couldn't　believe　what　was　happening。
　
On　my　way　out　of　the　bank；　I　grabbed　every　brochure　and　pamphlet　that　vaguely　implied　it　might　contain　the　law　she　had　just　referenced；　and　I　went　home　and　read　voraciously。
　
My　reading　didn't　reveal　the　law　I　was　looking　for。　Quickly；　I　learned　that　bank　brochures　don't　tell　you　your　rights；　they　tell　you　all　the　bank's　rights。　And　banks　have　a　lot　of　rights。　At　the　end　of　one　of　the　brochures；　however；　I　found　a　reference　that　said；　〃For　more　information；　contact　the　Office　of　Thrift　Supervision　（O。T。S）。〃
　
I　called　the　O。T。S。　and　a　man　answered　the　phone。　I　gave　my　first　name　only　and　gave　him　a　quick　synopsis。　He　treated　my　story　with　a　cool　intrigue。　He　told　me　that　the　ten…day　law　the　teller　had　mentioned　was　known　as　the　〃Midnight　Deadline。〃　But　he　suggested　that　the　more　important　legal　question　had　to　do　with　〃negotiability。〃　He　wondered　if　the　check　I　deposited　was　a　true　negotiable　instrument。　He　said；　〃The　banking　law　book；　Brady's；　has　specific　criteria　that　a　check　has　to　match　in　order　to　qualify　as　a　legal　negotiable　instrument。　I'm　not　sure　what　they　are；　but　if　the　check　you　deposited　was　actually　a　negotiable　instrument；　that　would　explain　why　your　bank　passed　it。〃
　
Within　three　hours　I　was　on　my　way　to　the　Hastings　Law　Library　and　to　the　book　Brady　on　Bank　Checks：　The　Law　of　Bank　Checks　by　Henry　Bailey　and　Richard　Hagedorn。
　
Soon　I　knew　why　law　students　always　looked　so　beat　and　tired。　I　didn't　know　how　I　was　going　to　find　anything　in　the　monstrous　tome　in　front　of　me。
　
Then　my　eyes　caught　sight　of　a　small；　pocket…sized　book　titled　Negotiable　Instruments　and　Check　Collection；　a　guide　for　laymen。　And　plain　as　day；　it　listed　the　nine　criteria　for　a　negotiable　instrument。　Read　for　yourself　what　I　read；　and　I　believe　you'll　yell　out　loud　just　as　I　did　when　I　came　to　the　very　last　word：
　
　
〃1。　Must　be　in　writing。
2。　Signed　by　maker　or　drawer。
3。　Promise　or　order。。。。A　check　usually　meets　the　requirement　because　the　drawee's　name　is　printed　and　encoded　on　the　face　of　the　instrument。
4。　Unconditional。。。。
5。　Order　to　pay　money。
6。　Must　be　a　fixed　amount。
7。　Payable　on　demand　or　at　a　definite　time。。。。
8。　Payable　to　order　or　to　bearer。。。。
9。　No　other　undertaking　or　instruction。　The　final　requirement　of　negotiability　is　that　beyond　the　maker's　order。。。the　instrument　must　not　contain　'any　other　undertaking　or　instruction'。。。。The　opposite　issue　is　whether　or　not　the　parties　can　use　a　form　that　is　a　negotiable　instrument　and　avoid　negotiability　by　declaring；　on　the　instrument；　that　it　is　not　negotiable。　The　answer　is　yes；　except　for　a　check。〃
　
　
This　was　one　book　I　wanted　to　steal　from　the　library　（but　didn't）。　The　get…rich…quick　company　had　accidentally　designed　a　real　check；　and　I　had　deposited　it！
　
　
End　of　Part　I
Part　II：　Getting　A　Cashier's　Check　
　
　
Patrick　Combs　is　available　as　keynote　speaker　for　your　next　event。　Let　him　inspire　your　audience　with　the　story　and　discussion　of　his　95；000　Adventure。　He　is　also　the　author　of　MAJOR　IN　SUCCESS：　Make　College　Easier；　Beat　The　System　&　Get　A　Very　Cool　Job　（Ten　Speed　Press）。　All　contents　on　this　page　？　1995；　By　Patrick　Combs。　All　rights　reserved。　goodthink
　
　

95；093。35　Adventure；　Part　II　　Getting　a　Cashier's　Check
　
I　didn't　touch　the　money　for　a　month。　Then；　I　called　my　brother　and　asked　him　what　to　do。　We　both　agreed　that；　law　or　no　law；　someone　would　be　coming　for　the　money；　and　they'd　probably　be　wearing　black　suits　and　packing　heat。　Then；　my　brother　suggested　that　I　get　the　entire　amount　in　cash　and　put　it　in　a　safe…deposit　box　at　my　bank。
　
〃Why？〃　I　asked。
　
〃Picture　walking　into　the　vault；　going　behind　the　curtain；　and　opening　a　box　filled　with　95；000　cash。　It'll　be　fun　to　look　at。　How　many　times　in　your　life　are　you　going　to　have　95；000　cash　in　a　safe…deposit　box？〃
　
I　liked　the　idea。　It　seemed　as　though　it　couldn't　hurt；　since　the　money　would　never　leave　my　bank。
　
I　asked　a　teller　if　the　bank　could　get　me　a　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　cash　if　I　needed　it。　The　teller　broke　out　in　a　chuckle　and　said；　〃Nobody's　ever　done　that　in　the　fifteen　years　I've　been　working。〃
　
〃But　if　I　wanted　to；　can　you　get　me　that　much　cash？〃
　
The　teller　chuckled　again；　this　time　with　a　touch　of　nervousness；　and　she　replied；　〃We'd　have　to　tell　the　IRS　and　order　it　four　days　in　advance。　But　nobody's　ever　done　that。〃
　
〃You'd　have　to　order　it　four　days　in　advance　and　notify　the　IRS？〃　
　
〃Yes；　because　we　don't　keep　that　much　cash　on　hand。　The　largest　bill　in　circulation　now　is　the　100　bill；　there　are　no　more　500　bills。　And　we　have　to　report　any　cash　withdrawals　in　excess　of　10；000。〃
　
Five　First　Interstate　branches　later；　I'd　learned　that　no　safe…deposit　boxes　were　available　that　were　big　enough　to　hold　that　much　cash　in　100　bills。
　
Later　that　day　I　began　contemplating　just　how　much　money　95；000　was；　and　I　arrived　at　this：　one　thousand　dollars　a　month　for　eight　years。
　
The　next　day；　June　13；　I　woke　up　and　decided　that　if　I　couldn't　look　at　cash；　it　would　be　almost　as　fun　to　look　at　a　cashier's　check。　I　got　in　my　car　and　drove　to　the　California　Street　office　of　First　Interstate；　because　it　is　the　bank's　showcase　branchcathedral　ceilings；　marble　floors；　towering　columns；　and　gold　trimlocated　in　the　heart　of　San　Francisco's　skyscraper　district。
　
First　I　approached　the　Customer　Service　window　and　filled　out　the　form　for　a　small；　fifty…dollar…per…year　safe…deposit　box。　Then　I　went　to　a　teller's　window。　The　teller　asked　how　she　could　help　me。
　
Suddenly；　my　mouth　got　all　dry。　I　didn't　want　to　say　95；093。35　out　loud；。　So　I　asked　the　teller　for　a　piece　of　paper。　I　wrote　95；093。35　on　it；　passed　it　to　her；　and　said；　〃I'd　like　to　get　this　amount　in　a　cashier's　check。〃
　
Without　saying　a　word；　she　began　moving　quickly　to　grab　papers　and　forms。　Then　she　rushed　out　these　words：　〃You　need　to　write　me　a　check　for　the　same　amount。〃　She　seemed　bothered。
　
I　understood　and　began　to　write　out　the　check。　Suddenly　I　was　daunted　by　having　to　write　out　95；093。35。　I　had　never　written　it　out　in　words　before　and　I　wasn't　sure　I'd　be　able　to　get　it　to　fit　on　the　line：　ninety…five　thousand　ninety…three　dollars　and　thirty…five　cents。　That　was　the　biggest　number　I'd　ever　written　into　the　suddenly　small　space　on　a　check。
　
It　took　her　only　two　minutes　to　prepare　the　cashier's　check。　It　seemed　like　twenty。　Her　manager　approved　it；　and　she　slid　it　across　the　counter　to　me。
　
　
　
I　walked　straight　back　to　Customer　Service　and　was　escorted　into　the　vault。　The　bank　teller　slid　my　box　out　and　pointed　me　to　the　curtain　I　could　go　behind　for　privacy。　〃No　need；〃　I　said；　and　I　slipped　the　folded　check　out　of　my　jeans　pocket　and　into　the　metal　container。
　
The　minute　I　stepped　out　of　my　bank　and　onto　the　street　just　below　the　TransAmerica　Pyramid　Tower；　my　blood　raced　with　the　strangest　feeling：　like　I　was　ten　feet　taller；　twice　as　fast；　and　suddenly　capable　of　super　powers。　As　I　headed　to　my　car；　I　slipped　the　ninety…five　thousand　ninety…three　dollar　and　thirty…five　cent　safe…deposit　box　key　onto　my　key　ring。
　
　
End　Part　II
Part　III：　The　Day　They　Noticed　95；093。35　Missing　
　
　
Patrick　Combs　is　available　as　keynote　speaker　for　your　next　event。　Let　him　inspire　your　audience　with　the　story　and　discussion　of　his　95；000　Adventure。　He　is　also　the　author　of　MAJOR　IN　SUCCESS：　Make　College　Easier；　Beat　The　System　&　Get　A　Very　Cool　Job　（Ten　Speed　Press）。　All　contents　on　this　page　？　1995；　By　Patrick　Combs。　All　rights　reserved。　goodthink
　
　
　
95；093。35　Adventure；　Part　III　The　Day　They　Noticed　95；093。35　Missing
One　week　after　I　put　the　cashier's　check　into　the　safe…deposit　boxand　thirty…three　days　after　I　had　deposited　the　junk　mail　checkthree　people　from　my　bank　called。　They　flooded　my　voice　mail　with　messages　that　said　it　was　〃very　important〃　and　〃very　urgent〃　that　I　return　their　calls　〃as　soon　as　possible。〃　One　of　the　calls　was　from　my　branch　office；　one　from　the　bank's　Los　Angeles　headquarters；　and　one　from　an　officer　in　the　security　department。
　
That　evening　I　put　my　bank　card　into　an　ATM　to　get　some　cash　for　dinner。　The　ATM　ate　my　card；　and　on　the　screen　green　words　glowed：　〃Card　Confiscated。　Contact　Your　Branch　Office。〃
　
The　next　morning　I　was　up　at　5：30　a。m。　to　catch　a　flight　to　New　York；　to　begin　a　three…week　vacation　I　had　scheduled　over　a　month　ago；　before　The　Check。　My　flight　had　a　short　stopover　in　Seattle　at　about　10：00　a。m。；　and　I　used　the　time　to　return　the　bank's　calls。　The　hardest　call　was　the　third　call　with　the　Robert　Gage；　First　Interstate's　Senior　Security　Officer。　He　took　my　call　right　away。　（It's　funny　how　you　don't　have　to　wend　your　way　through　yo