The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1)

by Jim Stovall

  Miss Hastings walked Jason out of the conference room, leaving me alone with my memories.

  As I sat back in my chair and remembered my lifelong friend, Red Stevens, I reflected that our friendship had begun simply and without either of us understanding what our relationship would grow to be. Jason had learned the beginnings of how to be a friend, and I hoped that his new friendship would blossom into a lifelong treasure giving him as much pleasure as Red Stevens and I had enjoyed.

  SIX

  THE GIFT OF LEARNING

  Education is a lifelong journey

  whose destination expands

  as you travel.

  Red Stevens’ bequest to his great-nephew, Jason, represented the most unusual and, potentially, the most important matter I had ever handled for a client or a friend. As we entered the fourth month of our one-year journey with Jason, I was-n’t sure how much progress we were making. He had shown many signs of improvement, but his belligerent, arrogant, and selfish attitude—borne of a life of idle privilege—still showed through from time to time.

  As we began our monthly ritual around the conference room table, he interrupted the proceedings before Miss Hastings could even start the videotape.

  “Look, I have done everything you have said up to this point, and this has all been well and good, but I need to have some idea of where we are going here and what I get at the end of all of this. I can’t just waste a year out of my life.”

  I stared at Jason for several moments and tried to think of what Red would want me to say. Finally, I responded. “Jason, it seems to me that your entire life to date has been a series of wasted years. I don’t see how this one-year acquiescence to your great-uncle’s will could do anything but improve your track record; however, you do have the option to stop this process at any point in time.”

  He fired back at me, “Can’t you just give me some idea of what I am going to get out of this so I can decide if it’s all worth it?”

  I gave him my courtroom stare and stated, “Young man, I am bound by honor, duty, and friendship to perform each step of this process as directed by Red Stevens. I have no option in the matter. You, indeed, do have an option. Either you play or you don’t play, but if you’re going to play, you’re going to play by the rules. Is there any part of that you don’t understand?”

  Jason and I locked eyes, and we were in a staring contest that represented a test of wills. Unfortunately for him, my will had been tested many, many times over eighty years, and his was only just now being tested due to the love and concern of Red Stevens.

  He finally looked away and mumbled, “Okay, let’s play the video.”

  Red Stevens appeared on the screen and seemed to display a bit more intensity than before. It seemed that as we cleared each hurdle, the one before us seemed to take on more importance and significance.

  Red began. “Jason, the next element of the gift I am trying to leave to you encompasses knowledge and learning. As you know, I never had the benefit of a formal education, and I realize that you have some kind of degree from that high-toned college we sent you to that is little more than a playground for the idle rich.”

  Jason leaned back in his chair, slammed his fist onto the table, and blew out a long stream of air.

  Red continued. “Now, before you get your feelings all hurt, I want you to realize that I respect universities as well as any type of formal education. It just wasn’t a part of my life. What was a part of my life was a constant curiosity and desire to learn everything I could about the people and world around me. I wasn’t able to go to school very long after I learned to read, but the ability to read, think, and observe made me a relatively well-educated man.

  “But learning is a process. You can’t simply sit in a classroom and someday walk offstage with a sheepskin and call yourself educated. I believe the reason a graduation ceremony is called a commencement is because the process of learning begins—or commences—at that point. The schooling that went before simply provided the tools and the framework for the real lessons to come.

  “In the final analysis, Jason, life—when lived on your own terms—is the ultimate teacher. My wealth and success have robbed you of that, and this is my best effort to repair the damage.”

  Red paused for a few seconds, collected his thoughts, and continued. “Jason, you are going to be going on a little trip. Mr. Hamilton and Miss Hastings will be accompanying you. Your destination will be the greatest source of learning I ever discovered. If you will keep an open mind, you will find the key to the gift of learning that will serve you all the days of your life.

  “After one month in this great place of learning, you must be able to explain to Mr. Hamilton—to his satisfaction—the fundamental key to all learning, education, and knowledge. Mr. Hamilton has all of the details and will give them to you as you need them. I wish you well.”

  Miss Hastings got up to retrieve the videotape as Jason asked in a bored but resigned tone, “Where do we have to go, and what do we have to do?”

  As I stood and started walking out of the room, I said, “Jason, we don’t have to go anywhere or do anything. We can stop this process right now, but if you want to continue, be at the airport, Gate 27, at seven in the morning. Bring your passport, some summer clothes, and a good attitude.”

  The next morning, we actually met Jason—luggage in hand—crossing the long-term parking lot outside of the airport. I called to him, “Jason—good morning. I’m surprised to see you here a half-hour before the plane leaves.”

  He laughed and said, “I thought I’d try to catch one without running a hundred-yard dash and squeezing in as they close the door.”

  Miss Hastings took my arm as we crossed the driveway toward the terminal. She whispered to me, “It may be small and slow, but it does seem to be progress, indeed.”

  Jason caught up with us and asked, “So, where are we going?”

  I smiled at him and replied, “South America.”

  Jason stopped in his tracks and asked, “What university or graduate school is located in South America?”

  Miss Hastings responded to his question cheerily, “I’m quite certain you have never heard of it.”

  Three flights later, we found ourselves in a rickety taxi, winding along a dirt road with dense jungle on either side. Eventually, we arrived at a dusty village with dirt streets and a few dilapidated buildings running along the edge of the jungle.

  The taxi stopped in front of the largest building on the street, and we got out and retrieved our luggage. As the taxi drove off in a cloud of dust, Jason asked incredulously, “Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

  I laughed and replied, “Education and learning are where you find them.”

  We got settled into our three rooms in the modest but surprisingly comfortable hotel and agreed to meet in the lobby for breakfast the next day. I was very tired and fended off each of Jason’s queries by simply telling him that the lesson would begin in the morning.

  With the hectic day of travel behind me, I slept well and met Miss Hastings in the lobby, where she had already procured a table for us at the edge of what passed for a dining room. Several moments later, Jason arrived, and we ate a quick and simple breakfast.

  As I got up from the table, I said, “Jason, we’re going to walk down to the end of this street. There’s a building there where your education will begin.”

  Jason stood and sighed, saying, “I’ve come this far. I may as well see what my crazy great-uncle had in mind.”

  As we walked along the dusty street, the three of us must have made quite a conspicuous sight, as many of the local residents came out to look at us. There were many simple wood and sheet-metal structures, and as we got to the end of the street, the last building on the left was slightly larger and more modern than the rest. A sign over the door in both Spanish and English read, Howard “Red” Stevens Library.

  When Jason spotted the name, he began to laugh and asked, “What is going on?”

&nb
sp; As I climbed the three steps and opened the door, I said, “I think you’ll find out what you need to know inside.”

  We entered the library and were greeted by a pleasant young woman at the counter. She spoke English very well as she greeted us and said, “I assume you are Mr. Hamilton and Miss Hastings.”

  I nodded yes, and her eyes brightened as she looked at Jason and exclaimed, “You must be Jason Stevens. We are very proud to have you here. Señor Red Stevens was a great man who helped all the people in our village.”

  I cleared my throat and said, “Jason, for the next four weeks, you will be assisting the librarian in her duties. You will have everything you need here to learn the lesson that your great-uncle wants you to learn.”

  Jason raised his voice louder than necessary and stated, “I may not have done well in school or learned much in college, but I can’t believe that there is anything to be learned in this tiny place that I haven’t had access to before.”

  Jason turned a complete circle as he surveyed the one-room library.

  “This place is made up mostly of empty shelves. There’s only a handful of books here,” he observed.

  The librarian smiled and explained, “All of the books are being read by people in our village and for miles around. Your great-uncle told us when he gave us this library that books don’t do any good sitting on the shelf.”

  I told Jason that Miss Hastings and I would be leaving him to his work, but we would be checking in on him daily.

  Over the next four weeks, I slipped into the pleasant lifestyle of the village. Miss Hastings and I took several side trips and had ample opportunities for sightseeing and the collection of native artwork. The people were all friendly and pleasant, especially as they learned that I represented their late, great benefactor Red Stevens.

  As we checked on Jason each day, we discovered he was actually going about his task with more energy and diligence than I had expected. He became proficient at getting the books checked in and checked out rapidly, and he would often converse with the library patrons about the books that they had read.

  As the last day of our scheduled trip arrived, I almost hated to leave the pleasant village. Everyone came onto the street to wish us well, and we departed in what seemed to be the same cab in which we had arrived.

  After a hard day of traveling, we found ourselves back at the Boston airport, where we collected our luggage and walked toward the parking lot.

  Jason hurried a few steps in front of us, turned to block our path, and said, “Hold it right here. I did everything that you said, I worked hard in the library, and I looked at every book they had in that dinky little place. There was nothing new to be learned there. The only thing that I found out is that there are good and simple people who will get up hours before daylight and will walk many miles along mountain trails to get a tattered old copy of a book. The only thing I can honestly say I know now that I didn’t know when we left here four weeks ago is that the desire and hunger for education is the key to real learning.”

  As Miss Hastings and I stepped around either side of Jason and moved toward the car, I called over my shoulder, “Congratulations, young man. I will see you in the office on Monday, and we will discover where we go from here.”

  Miss Hastings and I got our luggage into the trunk of the car, and as we drove through the exit of the airport parking lot, I could still see Jason rooted in the same place—no doubt thinking about the lesson we had all learned.

  SEVEN

  THE GIFT OF PROBLEMS

  Problems can only be avoided

  by exercising good judgment.

  Good judgment can only be gained

  by experiencing life’s problems.

  I will admit to having a sense of anticipation the following Monday as I contemplated the possible direction of the next act in Jason Stevens’ life drama. I marveled at how my oldest and dearest friend, Red Stevens, could reach out from beyond the grave to impact a young life.

  At the appointed hour, Miss Hastings ushered Jason into the conference room and summoned me to our monthly encounter with destiny. Jason seemed to be more mature and confident than he had been just four short months earlier. He actually greeted both Miss Hastings and me as we began the next phase of our odyssey.

  The image of Red Stevens materialized onto the large screen. He gave Jason his customary congratulatory salute for passing the gift of learning milestone.

  Red began in earnest. “Jason, life is full of many contradictions. In fact, the longer you live, the more the reality of life will seem like one great paradox. But if you live long enough and search hard enough, you will find a miraculous order to the confusion.

  “All of the lessons I am trying to teach you as a part of the ultimate gift I am leaving you through my will are generally learned as people go through their lives facing struggles and problems. Any challenge that does not defeat us ultimately strengthens us.

  “One of the great errors in my life was sheltering so many people—including you—from life’s problems. Out of a misguided sense of concern for your well-being, I actually took away your ability to handle life’s problems by removing them from your environment.

  “Unfortunately, human beings cannot live in a vacuum forever. A bird must struggle in order to emerge from the eggshell. A well-meaning person might crack open the egg, releasing the baby bird. This person might walk away feeling as though he has done the bird a wonderful service when, in fact, he has left the bird in a weakened condition and unable to deal with its environment. Instead of helping the bird, the person has, in fact, destroyed it. It is only a matter of time until something in the bird’s environment attacks it, and the bird has no ability to deal with what otherwise would be a manageable problem.

  “If we are not allowed to deal with small problems, we will be destroyed by slightly larger ones. When we come to understand this fact, we live our lives not avoiding problems, but welcoming them as challenges that will strengthen us so that we can be victorious in the future.”

  Red Stevens paused and stared directly into the camera in a way that let us all know his conviction was borne through a life of experience in dealing with problems.

  Red continued. “Jason, I cannot turn back the clock and allow you to deal with each of the problems in the past that I eliminated from your life when I should have given you the opportunity to deal with them yourself. If I could take us both back in time, I would, but now I am left with trying to teach you the value of problems, struggles, and obstacles.

  “Since you have not had any experience in this area, you will have to learn quickly. There are problems heading your way that you are not prepared for. During the next thirty days, you will begin the preparation.

  “This month, I want you to go out and find people with problems in each stage of life. I want you to find a child, a young adult, a full-grown adult, and an older person—each of whom is experiencing a profound problem. Not only are you to find these four individuals, but you must be able to describe to Mr. Hamilton the benefit or the lesson that is derived from each specific situation.

  “When we can learn from our own problems, we begin to deal with life. When we can learn from other people’s problems, we begin to master life.

  “I wish you well, and I hope to talk with you again next month.”

  Even though the video had ended, Jason continued staring at the blank screen. He rose slowly and walked toward the door. As he opened it, he paused, turned back toward Miss Hastings and me, and said, “I will do my best and call you later.”

  Then he closed the door behind him.

  Miss Hastings turned to me and said, “The process seems to be beginning to work. I am detecting a shift in his attitude. What do you think?”

  “I hope you’re right,” I responded, “because I have a feeling the road gets steeper the farther we go.”

  Once again I found myself waiting for Jason’s call and hoping he was faring well. I felt the same way I did the first day I sent
my son off to kindergarten. With three days left in the month, Jason finally called and set up an appointment with Miss Hastings for the following morning. Miss Hastings told me he had sounded very worried and unsure of himself. All I could do was hope for the best.

  The following morning at the appointed hour, Miss Hastings ushered Jason into my office, got him seated, and pulled up a chair for herself. Jason sat silently, and as I looked at him, I had to admit he did seem very quiet and a bit apprehensive.

  Finally, I said, “Well, Jason, it’s good to see you again. I assume you have a report on your progress.”

  Jason glanced up at me and said, “I think I do.”

  He stared down at his hands, which were folded in his lap, and after a long pause, he slowly began. “Well, I knew I had to find people with problems from the four age groups. So I started by looking for a child. After almost two weeks—during which I was unable to find anything—I was so frustrated one afternoon, I just went for a walk in the park.

  “I was feeling sorry for myself and considering that after all this work I was going to lose my inheritance and whatever this ultimate gift is that my Uncle Red has for me.

  “Finally, I sat at the end of a bench, and I noticed at the other end of the bench there was a young woman watching a little girl playing on the swing. The woman told me she thought the little girl was really amazing, and in my depressed condition, I was not as kind with her as I should have been because I told her that I didn’t see anything amazing about her six- or seven-year-old daughter playing on a swing set.

  “She told me, ‘First of all, I’m not her mother, although I wish I were. Second, she’s probably the most amazing person I have ever seen in my life. I am a volunteer at St. Catherine’s Hospital. I work in a program where we try to grant special wishes for terminal patients. Emily has a rare form of cancer. She has been through countless operations and has spent probably half her life in hospitals dealing with great pain. When we told her that we could try to make a special wish of hers come true, she said she would like a fun day in the park. We told her that many kids went to Disney World or ball games or the beach, but she just smiled and said, ‘That’s very nice, but I’d just like to have a fun day in the park.’”