The Dancing Man, Redemption and Shifters by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview

Readers be advised

Warning: Contains adult content due to graphic descriptions of any or all of the following:

Battles, Language, Sexual

Both the cover and images in this book are not photographs or hand drawn art. They were created using AI text to graphics programs by the author.

The Dancing Man, Redemption and Shifters © 2025 D. A. Sanford All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author or publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

for permission from the author contact danielsanford@sbcglobal.net

The Dancing Man

I’m free! Something that would be tragic to others, has me dancing. Reality is that I just had my home foreclosed on. I am homeless. An explanation is needed.

You see that house, I don’t call it a home, was the home that my wife grew up in. Since she passed, I have been rattling around in it but she was there. Not physically, not as a spirit but as memories. I could not bring myself to sell it.

Things happen. I lived by the safe axiom, never borrow against your home. There was an event that changed everything. I had a situation that I really needed money on hand.

I was in a bind because all I really had was my social security and the house. I mortgaged the house for as much as I could get.

Like I said, things happen. As I closed on the new mortgage, the deal I was going to get in on, fell through. There I was, a good bank account, different from the company I had the mortgage with, And the thought hit me.

I had one of those estate people come in and sell everything. I mean everything. What did not sell. I had them donate anything left that was usable. The remainder went into a dumpster. I now had an empty house. At a thrift store, I got my basics. I did pay the utilities but the mortgage went unpaid.

After a few months, I received the foreclosure notice. I sent it back telling them that I was vacating the property. I had enclosed the keys, and walked out the door. Locking it behind me. Something I really couldn’t bring myself to do, fell in my lap. I was free.

My neighbors were sad that I was going but knew that I was not living my life, I was existing. They now saw life in me again. They all knew my plans, I wanted to travel around the country. I have bought a postal delivery vehicle, right hand drive. The back now has a recliner, propane fridge and stove. Of course, an entertainment center.

I hit the road.

For the first few weeks, I had a ball. Seeing the sights, eating what I wanted. Then it started to sink in, like I knew it would. Seeing and doing things without someone to share it with is just, there are no words that can express it other than dull.

A beautiful scene is only another hill if it is not shared. A good meal is just food. I need to do something about it.

As I said, I am different. I needed to replenish my food so I stopped in a supermarket.

Walking around I noticed that there were a few mothers walking around with a child in the cart. They had big bags of low nutritional food in the cart. You could tell that they wanted to get more but they were looking at their cart and you could see on their faces that they had limited funds.

I went to the manager and bought, in store gift cards, five hundred dollars each. They needed to have individual receipts. I told him what I wanted to do and said that I was going to hang out in here for the day.

Walking up to the first woman, I handed her the card and receipt. She was stunned.

“I have been where you are. This will not change your circumstances dramatically, but a good meal goes a long way.”

I walk away. There were five that I gave the cards to, then I left the store. Walking to my truck, I actually had a spring in my step. I felt good. The next stop, I did the same thing.

This time I paid for their carts. It was the same.

This went on but then there was a television news article about a man driving an old postal truck that was giving gift cards to needy grocery shoppers. I would stop and be swarmed with people almost demanding cards. It was so bad that I had to get on the highway and leave the area.

My truck has become a liability. I stopped at a used car dealer and traded it in for a small RV.

Greed made me stop that thing that made me feel good. I shrank into myself once again. Why are people so greedy that they feel that you must give them what they want? Not what they need?.

Sitting in a rest stop, cooking my supper, there was an article showing people that get food assistance buying water bottles by the cart load and then pouring the water out to get the deposit money for drugs. What a world.

I was driving through a very wooded area and saw a for sale sign that said that it was a large acreage plot. I called the number and we made a deal. The paperwork was finalized and now it was mine. There was an old logging road that led to a clearing. That is where I parked, this is my home now.

I had and electric bike for local travel. I used it to go back and forth from the town until I found an old pickup. With that, I picked up what I needed to be off grid. I once again became a recluse. Sitting under the awning, the beer cans piled up.

This went on for a while. I knew that I was losing it when I started hearing small voices.

Things started to happen. No wind but things moved, fell down or were underfoot when they were some where else. This went on for almost a month until I had enough.

“Either stop this and come out or leave me alone.”

A man comes out of nowhere. It was like he opened a door. There were little people with him. He sat down and popped one of my beers then put in what looked like a toy pump in it. He then put it on the ground.

Those little people came over and filled their glasses. They had a party.

The man now just stares at me for a while then shakes his head as he speaks.

“What a waste. You had a good idea, executed it well but you let the response get to you and then retreated from what you really need to do.”

“What’s that, being a total fuck up? I tried to make a difference. What happened, I lost my freedom. I really liked that postal truck but it became a liability. People’s greed.”

“You’re coming with me to see how you failed.”

He opened the door and we were at the first store. He said that we were hidden so people will not see us. He points to a woman. I recognize her as one of the ones I helped.

“She was at her lowest. There was a man who gave her a gift card. That card changed her life. She was able to pull herself up, study and was able to get a financial degree.

With that, she is now helping those who need a hand up. Most of those you helped, got their lives together and now are helping others.”

I did not fail anyone but myself. We go back to my RV. I was almost in tears. There was my truck, looking almost new. Now he floors me.

“You have been chosen by the gods to use this truck and spread your brand of a helping hand up. You will distribute encouragement. We know that when you first set out, you found it to be lonely. I am going to assign one of my fellows to share your journey. There is one decision that you need to make. I and my fellows are immortal. I was once mortal but I was knocked out of time. When that happened, I became immortal.”

I stop him there, “I do not want to be immortal. I have someone waiting for me in the next life. I don’t want a minute longer than I am allotted. If you want to have this go longer, find someone to take over. As far as companionship I had the most wonderful mate. I’ll go it alone. There is one problem. I spent most of what I had on the property. I

have just enough t augment my social security to live like this until I die. I would like to go back to the give away but the coffers are empty.”

“Money? Do you really think the gods concern themselves with that? If you really take this on, you will have an unlimited bank account. You will know who is true and who is a charlatan. See some deserving soul that is trying hard but is being held back. Rain, snow, that person rides a pedal bike to work every day. You can buy that one a car then stop that person and trade the car for the bike. You will already have the title in that one’s name. you will have that power. Each situation, you will know exactly what to do.”

Then he says,

“Let’s do this. Why don’t we get in your truck. I’ll show you the special features and try out your powers. What do you have to lose?”

I have decided that I will take his challenge. We get in and I sit in the driver’s seat. It feels comforting. The only distraction is his fellows. They are still partying. I look and see small hammocks hung all over the place. One by one they lay down and pass out.

“Now that it is quiet.” He says, “You have two modes of travel. One is normal driving.

The other is the same method that we travel. The door. You will need that because we will see someone that really needs the help desperately and we will give you the signal.

When you see this red light come on, press the button under it and you will be there instantly. You will see that person and then you can act appropriately. We will let you decide what is best.”

He tells me about the emergency button that will instantly bring me back here if I get overwhelmed again.

“That should not happen because, to others, they will see your truck as just an unnoteworthy car. Not even worth remembering. Only the one that you help will see the postal truck. Now, there is your first jump.”

Even though the red light is not flashing, I press it and we are at a grocery store. He tells me to open the stamp money drawer. I find that there is a bound stack of twenties. I take it out and to my amazement the spot is not empty. He tells me to take three stacks.

I do and it is not empty. I want to dance. That feeling is back.

We go in and he tells me that I am the only one that can see him. I grab a cart and walk around. I look and see one woman. She is very depressed. Just grabbing a few items.

Then I see her grab an item and put it in her purse. It was a piece of meat.

I walk over to her.

“I don’t know you and after this encounter, you will never see me again. Put that meat and all the other things into my cart.”

She is almost in tears.

“I have children. I only have enough for a few items but they are hungry. I only eat once every three days so they have something to eat. Please don’t have me arrested.”

“I’m not a cop. I am just a stranger passing that need to do at least one good thing a day. Today I chose you. Let’s start by you trusting me and put those items into the cart.”

She reluctantly agrees and does that. Now I walk with her and we load carts with all the things that she would need for a month. Two carts of everything, including treats. We go to check out and I pay for everything. She is besides herself.

The woman was trying to figure out how to get this home when I point to my truck and tell her that I would drive her home. Reluctantly she agrees and tells me where she is living. It is an apartment building that looks to have around ten units.

I help her bring in the groceries. Her three young children are delighted to see all this food. I give them each a small treat and ask them to go watch TV. They do and I sit at her table. I motion her to sit.

To her I am talking to the air when I ask the god to show himself. He does just that.

“I have asked this god to show himself so you know that there is something special going to happen to you. I have been given a mission by the gods to help people like yourself that really need a hand up not a hand out. I know that you sell yourself to make something to feed the children. As of now, that is over. I know that you do love this area.

There is a full crew coming in tomorrow to return this complex to new updated condition.

It has to be because you, as owner of this complex, insist on it.”

I stop there because she now looks as if she just had a human blue screen and is now trying to reboot.

Placing the deed on the table in front of her, she sees her name on it.

“This is real. You made a deal with the town and bought this place for a dollar. It was on the delinquent list as unsellable. You have been given a ten year property tax waver. All the crews have been paid by my philanthropic organization. Your tenants love you and will not withhold rent because the upgrades will not raise their rent. That rent will make that purse just for tissue.”

Now the god speaks to her.

“Those children of yours will not remember the hard times but will have the need to help. Your body has now been healed of that disease. You will live a full life and will help others out of the profession you were forced to work in. That vacant ground floor apartment will become your office.”

He hands her a debit card. “For good purposes, that card will never run out. For nefarious purposes, it will be an empty account. I have the knowledge that you will use it wisely. What has been done for you must never be told. People will only know you as a friend, not a hooker.”

With that, I kiss her hand and we both leave. My postal vehicle faded from her vision as she looked out the window. I pushed the return button and we were back on my property. His fellows were waking up.

“You did well with that one. All the correct things. It came natural to you didn’t it. Now I’m going to show you the future that you help start. He opened the door again to that town.

The building was beautiful. We sat on a bench opposite it. A man comes out of the first floor office.

“That is the grocer. He is now working with her to augment the government food vouchers. At first she was paying for all the extra but that owner has stepped up and is now doing half with her. That office has helped many women to get off the streets . She has paid for their schooling. People in this town now look to her for advice. There is a sign on her office wall that reads, We give a hand up, not a hand out.. Look around, this town is alive, cleaned up. She has twice now declined the office of mayor.”

He pokes me in the chest. “Do you feel like dancing again?”

We stand and my feet just dance on their own. They are not being controlled. I just let them do what they wanted to do. I danced in the street and people joined me in my dance.

This was my habit through out my long drive. No one knew what I had done but my dance would bring me the name I like. Everywhere I go, I’m known as the dancing man.

When I finally made it to my last stop in life and woke up to my wife sitting on a chair next to our bed, she did not say anything. She took my hand and led me outside. There on the grass were people I recognized as ones I helped.

We all danced. I smiled and laughed.

Redemption