Alex struggled up the narrow path before collapsing against the old trailer’s side. He sighed as he poked at a rust spot that was peeking out from beneath a peeling paint curl.
He needed to fix the trailer, but the salary of a janitor didn’t leave much money for savings. To escape the chill, he shook his head and turned toward the interior, but he stayed put when he noticed a package on his doorstep.
He hoped it wasn’t a joke because recent events in life had not been kind.
With each step, he cautiously approached the grass.
The package was just brown paper wrapped in twine and was plain. Despite not being unusual, it appeared out of place.
He picked it up on his knees, feeling surprised by how light it was for its size. There was no address for return.
He gnawed at his curiosity.
While making a quick dinner, he took the package in and set it on the table.
Alex tore open the paper by snipping at the twine in between sips of instant noodles. He put the last of his meal aside to open the cardboard flaps, but he was still wary of the package.
He was nearly out of breath by what he found inside. On a letter, his father’s handwriting was immediately recognizable.
The worn, familiar fabric of his father’s previous jacket lay beneath it.
a piece of history and home.
He carefully unfolded the letter before sinking into the shaky chair. Dear Alex, I was aware that your brother would place business and money ahead of family, leaving you with nothing.
Consequently, I instructed my attorney to deliver this jacket and letter to you following my passing. You have always valued family and treasured our shared experiences.
Our bond is symbolized by this jacket, which is filled with happy memories.
Keep in mind, my son, that you are incredibly strong and have a beautiful soul.
Your brother will succeed on his own. Believe in your goodness and self-worth.
Son, I adore you so much. I sincerely believe that Dad Tears obstructed his vision.
An overwhelming wave of emotions overcame him as he held the letter close to his chest.
It was all too much, his father’s love and faith in him.
His voice broke as he whispered, “Damn it, Dad. ” Why did you need to leave?
He still carried fresh wounds in his heart from his father’s death just two short months earlier and Dylan’s subsequent betrayal. Dylan, who had always been a businessman, had evicted Alex without giving Alex a second thought and quickly claimed the family estate for himself.
Alex had nowhere else to go but the trailer, which their family had used on numerous cross-country road trips.
It wasn’t too bad to live here.
It brought back fond memories of spending long summer evenings by the campfire, hearing his father tell tales about their ancestors, and hearing the laughter echo through the forest. The weight of those memories and the stark contrast to his current reality made Alex’s heart ache.
He was left with only the trailer, a reminder of simpler times when the family was complete and there was a lot of love. The familiar odor of his father hitting him with a punch hit him as he picked up the jacket.
The childhood memory of sneaking into the hall closet to look in the pockets for the candy his father always seemed to have came flooding back.
He recalled walking cautiously down the hall, his heart racing with the excitement of mischief.
He would reach up, barely tall enough to reach the pockets, as the hall closet door creaked open. In search of the familiar crinkle of candy wrappers, his small hands would fumble inside.
His father stood in the doorway with a knowing smile when he had been caught red-handed one evening. “I think you’re pretty neat, don’t you?
” Laughing, his father had said, Alex, I’ve always known you were the candy thief.
His father had knelt down and offered him another piece, ruffling his hair, rather than yelling at him.
Son, I place them there for you. Keep in mind that no matter how difficult things get, there will always be some sweetness waiting for you.
The memory was sweet and bitter, bringing comfort as well as sorrow. With tears now freely flowing, Alex pressed even harder on the jacket.
The warmth that broke through the cold and reminded him that he wasn’t alone made him feel his father’s presence in the room.
“Why now, Father?
” In the silence, Alex whispered, his voice echoing. His emotions of remorse and gratitude were at odds as he wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
He had thought he had lost his sense of family and belonging, but the letter had awakened something in him. A thought occurred to him as he sat there with the jacket in his lap.
Half expecting to find another candy, he reached into the pocket.
Something crinkly and foreign caught his fingers.
As Alex pulled out two candies that were identical to those his father had given to him, his heart raced. “What the heck.
. .
?
” As he stared at the envelope, he muttered.
It was sealed, and the paper had a little wear. He ripped it open with care, shaking his hands.
There were papers and a brief note inside. He started by unfolding the note.
If Alex is reading this, it indicates that you have discovered the letter and jacket.
I was sure you’d remember the candy.
I still have one last thing for you to help you get back on your feet. You should use this account.
Use it with care. All my affection, Dad.
The papers caught Alex’s attention as he blinkered.
Information about your bank account.
He thought quickly. an unpublic account?
Why did his father conceal this from Dylan and everyone else? Particularly Dylan, who was constantly looking for more money.
The letter and bank information were still in his hands as he grabbed his coat and dashed out the door.
He needed to know if this was real and if that account actually had money in it.
Alex pushed the door open to a small, old bank with a bell that jingled. In an effort to calm down, he approached the counter.
He said to the kind-eyed middle-aged teller, “Hi, I, uh, need to check an account,” She responded, taking the documents from him, “Of course.
” Just a second. Alex’s mind was racing with ideas as she typed away on her computer.
What if something went wrong?
What happens if the account is empty?
“Mister Lane? ” His thoughts were disrupted by the voice of the teller.
There are sixty thousand dollars in this account. Alex’s mouth burst open.
How much is sixty thousand?
Are you certain?
” Sir, yes.
Are you in need of anything else? ”
That’s all, n-no. I’m grateful.
Dazed, he stumbled out of the bank.
60,000 bucks.
enough to alter his life and set him on a new path. Alex stared at the jacket from the edge of his bed back at the trailer.
“Dad, you really did consider everything, didn’t you? ” He said it out loud with a smirk on his face.
For the first time in a long time, he felt a surge of hope.
He started working on the trailer’s restoration as soon as he could.
He was able to fix the roof, buy new appliances to replace the old ones that were broken, and paint the place new with the money from the bank account. “Seems brand-new, doesn’t it?
” Stepping back to admire his work, Alex thought to himself. The trailer no longer represented his struggles in the past but rather his new beginnings as it shone in the sunlight.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page. Tap READ MORE to discover the rest 🔎👇
