A shiny coin rested against the black asphalt of the parking lot, glimmering in the sun like a bright beacon guiding a lost vessel into the safety of its shores. Its coppery-metallic surface appeared unaffected and unblemished as it lay unattended, seemingly ready for any attentive passerby to take notice of its brilliancy and pocket it as his or her own.

But, surprisingly, no one who passed by this treasure took notice, nor seemed to care for its significance, viewing the currency as nothing in their estimation.

It wasn't until a certain man who had stepped out of a green Packard took notice of it that the coin finally received the recognition it deserved.

"Golly woulda look at that," the elderly man muttered out loud, stopping short in the middle of the active lot, completely forgetting his surroundings and his future destination as his eyes lit up at the sight of the metal. "That's gotta be one of the shiniest pennies I've ever seen..."

Phil swiftly bent down, picking up the object that had sparked his attention. Once within his grasp, he curiously fiddled with the penny in his fingers, heavily examining both sides, amazed by its perfection.

He was so absorbed with his appraisal of the coin that he never detected the motion nor the sound of a vehicle speeding towards him.

All the next few seconds seemed to pass by like a blur. He heard a masculine voice yell out something or other, snapping him out of his coin-induced stupor.

He raised his eyes up curiously, wondering what was going on...to find himself in the vehicle's direct path.

The car's bright red color quickly flashed before his eyes, the gaudy color paralyzing him like a deer in headlights...when suddenly he felt something barrel into his side.

In an instant, he was swept off his feet, briefly in mid-air before gravity hit and he promptly landed on his back. His eyes closed instinctively as a sting shot through his spine once he made contact with the hard, course blacktop. He hissed in discomfort as his mind clouded over with shock and confusion.

Muffled sounds filled the air, the man unable to decipher them in his haze. Seconds passed before he discerned a gruff, but clearly worried voice ask, "Hey pal...are you alright?"

Phil's ears twitched at the utterance, the voice clearing away some of his shocked daze. With effort, he managed to crack his eyes open.

Through heavy-lidded eyes, he saw an obscure, large form looming over him, seemingly bathed in glorious rays of light.

It didn't take long for his vision to clear and for the blurred figure to turn into none other than Big Bob Pataki.

Big Bob was on his knees, his torso upright as his eyes carefully inspected Phil's almost hit form. His face seemed flushed and his chest kept rising and falling as he heavily breathed in and out. "Are you okay?" He stressed, having obviously noticed him stirring.

Blinking in surprise, the older man could only nod his head in confirmation.

Bob's face went through countless emotions before his expression settled into a sort of angry exasperation, the full weight of the situation hitting him all at once.

"Criminy...what in blue blazes were you thinking?!" Bob blurted out, his worry easily shifting to scolding. He looked pointedly at the laying man, his question not seeming rhetorical.

Phil remained silent, not answering his entreaty. Instead, he tried to slowly raise his head, struggling to ignore the dizziness that remained. He planted his elbows against the concrete to help prop himself up before his eyes searched the area around him. "Where's...?" his lips muttered out weakly before the rest of his words fell to the wind.

"Where's...what?" Bob questioned, his features imploring now as he inched closer.

With a look of genuine seriousness, Phil raised his pleading eyes up at the man, asking him the one question that had been plaguing his mind the entire time...

"Where's...my penny?"