Woohoo!

Back in May I sorted everything I own and in the process I found a what I thought was a pay stub from Springdale (Arkansas) School District. I got directed deposit while i was teaching there, but you know how they give you what looks like a check when they pay you? Only it says, void, not a check. [Today I learned about negotiable instruments (which includes checks) for my bar study--that's actually what reminded me of this.] Okay, so I found one of those and thought to myself, too bad it's not a real check. I could certainly use the money. Then I looked again. And again. I read the whole document on front and back. And it was a check. A real one!
That summer after I taught I did a little, week-long summer class with another teacher and got paid for it. But since it wasn't my regular contract they just gave me a check--at least that's what I'm assuming. Don't know why I didn't mail it to Utah. ??? Anyway, it was dated June 2006, so I was pretty sure I couldn't get the money. Although, you know how most checks say "not valid after X days..." Well, this one didn't. So, I tried my bank. No luck.
But, ironically enough I knew I'd be in Springdale, Arkansas in a couple of weeks. What are the chances? With all the places I've lived, that was the one I was headed to. So I thought I'd check with them. Luckily, I drove past the school district offices every day while I was living with Pam (otherwise, I probably would have forgotten again). So, I went one day and the secretary called the accountant out and I explained the situation, briefly. She went back to her office and I waited, waited, waited. Finally she came back and said she'd put in an order and the district would pay me another check for the same amount (which was already minus taxes, so the new one wasn't a paycheck--just a "supplier" check). A couple of days later it came in the mail. Hoorah for some extra money. And for nice people. [I should analyze it under my new skills, but I'm pretty sure they were not obligated to give me the money.]