I ended Ms. Ruby’s funeral by asking everyone a question: “What is in your heart—your tin box? What are you holding onto so fervently that it consumes your box, making you just like it? I, for one, choose to hold onto the memory of my family and how they overcame slavery, ignorance, and injustice. They taught this thankful boy how to love God and trust His plan for my life. To live a life of self-determination and self-control. Yes, they were born slaves, but they did not remain slaves. They found their freedom, and they shared that freedom with many others, including this very thankful man standing in front of you today.”
Looking over at Ruth, sound asleep on his shoulder, Tobias allowed the momentary sorrow of Ms. Ruby’s loss to touch his heart. “That is the price I must pay for having had you in my life, Aunt Ruby. It has been eight years, and I still miss you—but I did keep my promise.”
Being careful not to disturb Ruth, Tobias reached for the tin box and placed it on his lap. He undid the latch and took out the final item he had placed in the tin box before leaving home. For six long years he toiled over this item in order to keep his promise to Ms. Ruby. When the feelings of loss threatened to overtake him, he would write. Once his book was finished, he had opened the envelope Ms. Ruby had tucked inside the family’s favorite book. Inside he found a bankbook with Joseph’s and Arthur’s money deposited into an account with his name on it. It had been deposited into this account the year he had turned twelve. Inside the bankbook was a note.
Dear Toby-Boy,
If you are reading this, you have kept your promise to Sister and me. Use this money to print our story so Momma Hannah, Daddy Charlie, Brother Samuel, Sister Pearl, Joseph, my Arthur, and sweet little Estée can live on in the telling.
Always stay my beloved boy.
I have loved you with my whole heart,
Great-Auntie Ruby
Tobias smiled as he held his book, Lessons My Family Taught Me. Grateful that he had kept his promise, he carefully tucked his book back into his tin box, placed it on the floor at his feet, then laid his head against Ruth’s head and contentedly fell fast asleep.
About the Author
DOREY WHITTAKER WAS accidently poisoned by arsenic at age three, left virtually deaf until age twelve, and illiterate until age sixteen. She knows how it feels to face tremendous obstacles. She was told, "Just get over it and move on." Dorey knew how broken she was. She also knew that God was her only hope.
None of us get to choose our beginnings, but we all must decide our life path. Either we accept the label of "victim," with all its excuses readily at hand, or we can choose to follow God's path to true self-worth.
In all three of her novels, Dorey shines a light on God's path to living a victorious life.
Available on Amazon:
Book #1 Wall of Silence
Book #2 Hope Returns
Visit Dorey's website at: Doreywhittaker.com
Treasure in a Tin Box (Wall of Silence Book 1) Page 34
