> > The Movers and the Gentleman > > The day began like any other moving job in the city. The > moving crew was on the job at the agreed upon time, 8:30 a.m. > After introducing themselves to the customer and a brief > tour of the residence to assess the plan for loading, the old > gentleman asked them if they would like some coffee. The men, > charging by the hour, declined his offer. He smiled at their > honesty and gestured to them to continue. > The old house had a redolent fragrance of musty rose > petals. The bereaved seventy-nine-year old husband merely > watched and quietly chatted and quipped with the young-strong > men as they went about their work. It was obvious he was lonely > and welcomed the rather captive audience into his home. Even > under the albeit necessary circumstances of having to move to > the nursing care facility, their presence heartened him. > The young men were kind to the old gentleman, tolerating > his rather one-sided conversation. Occasionally, they had to > ask him to 'move to one side' while they removed furniture and > memories all at one time right before him. > In a way he was as glad to be leaving the house which > really had no relevant significance for him anymore since his > partner of sixty-two-years had died two years ago. He found > peace each day in prayer. The responsibilities for his care > would be a welcomed solace. > The hours sped by and the house became but a shell of past > occupancy. Upon near completion of the job one of the movers > went through the house to check each room to make sure nothing > had been left behind. In the upstairs bedroom under a small > alcove there was a chest almost imperceptible because it was the > same wood hue as the paneling on the wall behind it. When he > started to remove it, the entire contents fell through the > bottom of the chest. Papers were strewn all over the floor, > along with photos. He began to collect everything into some > semblance of order when a yellowed newspaper clipping caught his > eye: TWIN BOYS DIE IN BOATING ACCIDENT. After quickly scanning > the article, he learned that they were indeed the old > gentleman's sons, lost to him and his wife forever over three > decades ago. > When the movers had completed the move, the man thanked > them for their diligence and careful concern for his precious > belongings. He told them that their kindness to him was more > appreciated than they could ever realize. > Six months later, almost to the day of the move, the > gentleman died. In his will, he left his entire fortune of one > and a half million dollars to the "Two movers who were so kind > and reminded me of my own sons." > > By Barbara Chase-Pace > Reprinted by permission of Barbara Chase-Pace (c) 1998, from A > 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark > Victor Hansen. > > »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« You're Just Jealous Because The Voices Are Talking To Me Richiele Sloan ICQ #63829109 (Missi) »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«