What He Valued Most

    It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, carrier, and itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the contry in pursuit of the 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 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, 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 improtant. Mom, I'll be there for the funeral." Jack said.

   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, which 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's 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 sadly.

   Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.

   "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

   Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's shook as he read the note inside.

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

   Inside he found these words carved:"Jack. Thanks for your time! Harold Belser."

   "Oh. My God! This is the thing he valued most...."

   Jack held the watch for a minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" his assistant asked.

   "I need some time to spend with my son," he said.