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. 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. 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.
Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
Jack and his Mom stopped by 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 thru space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture…Jack suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” his mother 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 hem a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’”
It was gone! Everything was how Jack remembered it except for the box. “Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said.
It had been about 2 weeks since Mr. Belser died and Jack received a package. The box was old and looked as though it had been mailed a hundred years ago.
The return address caught his attention. “Mr. Harold Belser”
Jack ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and a note…”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 was racing, as tears filled 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!”
