Subject: The Box
From: Unicorn (unicorn@indenial.com)
Date: Sun Jun 29 2003 - 17:40:20 EDT
"The Box"
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 across the 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! Harold Belser."
"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."
Have a great day and thank you for your time...
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