literarydiscussions.myfreeforum.org

Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

http://sulekha.com/chpost.asp?for...ilosophy&show=0&cid=69037

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next
door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College,
girls,career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved
clear acrossthe country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush
of his busy life,Jack had little time to think about the past and
often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his
future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night.
The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an
old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I
thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,"
Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how
you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent
over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to
make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be
in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time
teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for
the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to
his hometown.

Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children
of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away. The night
before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the
old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like
crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories.
Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box? " Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his
desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All
he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser
family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I
better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home
from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.Signature
required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post
office within the next three days," the note read.Early the next day
Jack retrieved the package.The small box was old and looked like it
had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to
read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package.
There inside was the gold box and an envelope.

Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack
Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was
taped to the letter.His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack
carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold
pocket watch. Running his
fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.

Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time!
-HaroldBelser."

"The thing he valued most...was...my time."Jack held the watch
for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his
appointments for the next two days.

"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said."Oh, by the way,
Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away."

Get your own free IRC Chat room