...at the bottom of the sewer drain!

“Oh no!”

At the concrete floor of the sewer, beyond the grate, her envelope rested. She bent down, put her hands to her face and shook her head rapidly.

“No, no, no, no, no! How could I be so stupid!”

She spotted an adjacent manhole, but she couldn't even begin to entertain the thought of lifting it all by herself! But just her luck, right across the street she saw three men hanging out in an open garage drinking beer and jamming to music.

She ran up to the residence.

“Excuse me, sorry...”

From out of the sunlight and into the shade, she came before them as if from out of nowhere.

The guys quieted down, and one of the men, in ball cap and a yellow shirt said, “Oh hey there girl. Whatcha come looking for?”

She could actually feel the three sets of eyes all over her body.

“Something very important to me fell down the sewers,” she said, pointing a finger back over her shoulder. “Please, please, please, I need someone to lift the manhole cover.”

The men laughed as if she had just told a tired joke.

The bald man in a black shirt got up from his chair and picked out a crowbar from beneath a table. Elyse nearly drew back in terror until he said, “Well, I think this here item will do the trick. Let's all go take look.”

The last man, with brown hair and wearing an odd necktie, rose up as well, with beer in hand, and said,

“Come on, let's all go.”

All three (Cap, hair and no hair) ventured along with Elyse back to the manhole. In short order, the manhole cover was lifted and four sets of feet stood around its open entrance.

“There, that was easy,” said the man with the cap.

“Well, it ain't the first time someone's gone and lost something down there,” replied the hair.

“It appears,” said the bald man, pointing, “that there's no ladder for this one.”

And replied the hair: “Hmm, not too far of a drop though. A bit of a challenge getting out.”

The man with the hat prepared to drop himself into the hole, saying, “Seems I got the best shoes for this,”

But, his advance was postponed, as Elyse had a better idea.