[00:06.28]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.
[00:15.10]He was working on his future and nothing could stop him.
[00:19.13]Over the phone his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night.
[00:24.15]The funeral is Wednesday.”
[00:25.99]Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel.
[00:29.48]“Jack, did you hear me?”
[00:31.87]“Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him.” Jack said.
[00:38.41]“Well, he didn’t forget you.
[00:41.24]Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing.
[00:44.18]He’d reminisce about the many days you spent with him,” Mom told him.
[00:48.21]“He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.
[00:56.48]Jack kept his word and attended Mr. Belser’s funeral.
[01:00.30]The night before he returned home Jack and his Mom went to see Mr. Belser’s old house one more time.
[01:07.05]Standing in the doorway Jack paused for a moment.
[01:10.86]It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
[01:15.54]Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture...Jack stopped suddenly.
[01:22.95]“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.
[01:26.54]“The box is gone,” he said.
[01:29.26]“What box?” Mom asked.
[01:32.09]“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.
[01:37.10]I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.
[01:40.59]All he’d ever tell me was, ‘The thing I value most.’
[01:44.29]Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said.
[01:48.21]It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died.
[01:51.91]One day Jack discovered a parcel list in his mailbox.
[01:56.26]Early the next day Jack retrieved the package.
[01:59.86]The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.
[02:04.54]“Mr. Harold Belser,” it read.
[02:07.59]Jack tore it open. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
[02:12.93]Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.
[02:15.76]“Upon my death please forward this box to Jack Bennett.
[02:20.99]It’s the thing I value most in my life.”
[02:23.70]His heart raced as tears filled his eyes.
[02:27.73]Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
[02:33.95]He opened the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! — Harold Belser.”
[02:42.82]“The thing he valued most...was...my time.”
[02:48.28]Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days
[02:54.84]…he needed some time to spend with his wife and son.
