The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1)

by Jim Stovall

  “This woman went on to tell me that Emily had touched everyone in the hospital and had made a real difference in everyone’s life. About that time, Emily stopped swinging and slowly walked across the grass and sat between the two of us on the bench. She turned to me with a smile I’ll never forget and told me that her name was Emily and that this was her special day in the park. She asked me if this was my special day in the park too. I told her that I didn’t think it was, and she laughed and told me that I could share hers with her.

  “So, Mr. Hamilton, I spent the rest of the day in the playground with Emily. I realized that she has more courage and joy in her little seven-year-old body than any normal human being could possibly have.

  “At the end of the day, she was very tired, and the young lady from the hospital had to take her away in a wheelchair. But, before Emily left, she told me that when she got back to the hospital, she would talk to the nurses and see if they could arrange for me to have a special day in the park too.”

  Jason paused and looked directly at me. He had a tear in his eye, and I must admit I was fighting to control my composure as well. Miss Hastings retrieved a box of tissues and said something about her seasonal allergies. We all sat in silence and thought about a young girl whose problem could affect us so profoundly.

  Finally, Jason cleared his throat, wiped his eye, and continued. “Later that week, I found a middle-aged man walking down the sidewalk in front of my house. He spotted me getting into my car, so he smiled and walked directly over to me. He stuck out his hand and told me his name was Bill Johnson and that my car was one of the most beautiful cars he had ever seen. He told me that he was in the neighborhood doing odd jobs for people and that it would be a privilege to wash a car like mine.

  “I asked him why he was out doing odd jobs, and he told me that through a series of corporate cutbacks, both he and his wife had lost their jobs and that they had three young children at home. Both he and his wife were doing anything they could to make ends meet. Apparently, they had gone through their savings, and they were making it just day to day on what they could pick up doing these jobs. I asked him what would happen if he didn’t get enough money, and he just smiled and told me that there was always enough, and that the problem had created some interesting situations for their family. They were spending more time together than they had before, and their children had learned the value of money and work.

  “He chuckled as he recounted an incident the previous week when they had no food other than a little oatmeal. He said he was just about to give up when he heard his wife explaining to their children that many of the pioneers in the Old West went for days at a time eating nothing but oatmeal. He told me that their two youngest boys would probably want to eat only oatmeal from now on, no matter how much money they ever had.”

  Jason paused for several moments, searching for the right words, and then he continued, “He went on to tell me about all the wonderful things that he and his wife and family were learning and doing together. He washed my car, and I paid him what he asked. I tried to give him more, but he wouldn’t take it.

  “Before he left, I told him that I was sorry for his situation. He just laughed that amazing laugh of his and told me that he felt like he was the luckiest man on earth—that in the whole world, he couldn’t think of anyone he would want to trade places with.”

  Jason seemed deep in thought and finally said, “You know what’s funny, Mr. Hamilton? As he was telling me that there was no one in the world he would trade places with, I was thinking to myself that in a lot of ways I would love to trade places with him.”

  Miss Hastings supplied the three of us with glasses of water. Jason took a sip of his and resumed his report.

  “The next day, I was driving past the entrance to a cemetery, and I noticed the largest funeral procession I had ever seen. I didn’t think anything of it, and later that day I was passing back the same way, and out of curiosity, I thought I would drive through and ask one of the workers if it had been a celebrity or something. I drove through the cemetery, and the only person I could see was one very old man standing alone by a grave. Since the funeral procession I had seen had been several hours before, I assumed he was there on his own.

  “I got out of my car and approached the old gentleman. When he heard me walking up behind him, he turned in my direction. I told him I was sorry for interrupting him, but that earlier in the day when I was driving by, I had seen the largest funeral procession I had ever witnessed. I told him I was just wondering if he might have known if it was a celebrity or superstar or something.

  “He laughed softly and told me it had, indeed, been a celebrity and a superstar. He told me he knew that for a fact because he had lived with her for almost sixty years. Apparently, his wife had been a schoolteacher for forty years and had influenced so many of her students that literally hundreds of them had come in from all parts of the country for her funeral. So, he felt that made her a celebrity and a superstar, both.

  “I told him I was sorry for disturbing him on what must be the worst day of his life. He just laughed that quiet laugh again and told me that his life would be different, but that no one who lived sixty years with his Dorothy could ever have a bad day. ‘I was just standing here thanking Dorothy for everything she had done, and I had just promised her I wouldn’t let her down.’”

  Jason took another sip of his water, looked at both Miss Hastings and me, and continued. “That old man put his arm around my shoulder, and we walked out of the cemetery together. As I was getting in my car, he told me that if there was ever anything he could do for me that I was to call on him. I just sat in my car and watched him slowly drive away.”

  Jason seemed to have concluded his report at that point. I waited, but he did not continue, so I finally said, “Jason, you found a child who is living through one of the most difficult problems anyone could face with a joy that it is hard for me to understand. You found a middle-aged man and his family who are dealing with financial crisis while maintaining their sense of family and dignity. You found an older man who has taken a tragedy of death and turned it into a celebration of life. But, Jason, you were to have also found a young person with a problem.”

  Jason cleared his throat and finally resumed speaking. “Well, Mr. Hamilton, I know I was supposed to find a young person, and during the month I found several possible candidates, but I have to admit to you today that I couldn’t find any young person who has learned as much from their problem as I have from mine. I have lived my whole life in a selfish and self-centered fashion. I never realized that real people have real problems. It always seemed that problems happened to people on the news or in the movies or something.

  “But, thanks to you and my Uncle Red, I finally realized that I have been sheltered from problems, and that I have never learned the wonderful lessons that the people I met this month are learning. I finally know that joy does not come from avoiding a problem or having someone else deal with it for you. Joy comes from overcoming a problem or simply learning to live with it while being joyful.”

  Miss Hastings’ allergies seemed to be acting up again at that moment, as she was dabbing at her eyes and nose.

  Finally, Jason asked, “Do you think it will be okay if I serve as one of the four people I was supposed to learn from this month?”

  I assured Jason that it met both the spirit and the letter of Red Stevens’ final will and testament.

  Jason glanced at his watch and said, “If that’s all, I need to hurry to be at another appointment on time.”

  I told him that would be fine, and as Miss Hastings was showing him to the door, she asked, “Where are you rushing off to, Jason?”

  He said, “I have to meet a special friend in front of the swing set at the park. I will see you both tomorrow.”

  EIGHT

  THE GIFT OF FAMILY

  Some people are born

  into wonderful families.

  Others have to find or create them.

&n
bsp; Being a member of a family

  is a priceless privilege

  which costs nothing but love.

  The following day, Jason Stevens, Miss Hastings, and I gathered in the conference room for our monthly meeting which was becoming a welcomed ritual for me. We sat in our established places. I was lost in thoughts of what the next month might bring as Miss Hastings started the videotape.

  Red Stevens greeted Jason warmly. “Hello, and congratulations on learning to value the gift of problems. That lesson will serve you well all the days of your life. You are now entering the sixth month of our one-year remedial lesson in life. This month, you will begin to understand and respect the gift of family.

  “Now, Jason, I realize that our family is about as messed up as a family can be, and I accept my full share of responsibility for that. However, the best or the worst family situation can teach us a lesson. We either learn what we want or, unfortunately, we learn what we don’t want in life from our families. Out of all the young men in the world, I have selected you. I have asked Mr. Hamilton to undertake this monumental task on my behalf for you because you are my great-nephew. It’s hard to understand why that means something, but I want you to know that it does.

  “Families give us our roots, our heritage, and our past. They also give us the springboard to our future. Nothing in this world is stronger than the bond that can be formed by a family. That is a bond of pure love that will withstand any pressure as long as the love is kept in the forefront.

  “It’s important for you to realize that families come in all shapes and sizes. Some very blessed people are able to live their whole lives as part of the families they were born into. Other people, like you, Jason—through a set of circumstances—are left without family other than in name. Those people have to go out and create family.

  “I know this seems odd to you, but by the end of this month, I believe you will begin to understand what I am trying to tell you. This month, you, Mr. Hamilton, and Miss Hastings will be going on another trip. You will be meeting people who seem to have no family, and in this way I am hoping you will learn the value that a family can provide.

  “At the end of this month, I will ask you to demonstrate to Mr. Hamilton that you know and understand what the gift of family means.

  “Mr. Hamilton has all the details for your trip, and assuming you accomplish this objective, I will talk to you next month.”

  Jason turned to me and said, “I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me where we’re going, what we’re going to do, or whom we’re going to meet, are you?”

  I smiled and said, “All in good time, young man. I have been instructed to tell you only what you need to know and only when you need to know it.”

  Miss Hastings interrupted. “I believe we have made arrangements to pick you up at your home at 7:30 in the morning. We will be traveling several hours by automobile. Please be prepared to stay one month in a climate similar to the one which we are enjoying here in Boston.”

  The next morning, Miss Hastings and I were comfortably installed in the back of a long, black limousine driven by a very large gentleman selected especially for this mission. We pulled up in front of Jason’s palatial home, which his great-uncle had purchased for him via a trust fund.

  Our driver got out and went to the front door to collect Jason and his luggage. A few moments later, I saw the chauffeur—easily carrying both of Jason’s suitcases in one hand—leading Jason toward the car. Jason seemed a bit timid around the giant, and when the back door was opened to let Jason in, he appeared relieved to be in the company of Miss Hastings and me.

  “Who in the world is that huge guy?” asked Jason.

  Miss Hastings replied cheerily, “Oh, you mean Nathan? He is a very nice young man selected especially for this trip.”

  “What does that mean?” Jason asked.

  Miss Hastings just smiled and sipped on a cup of coffee.

  I turned and shook hands with Jason, greeting him. “Good morning, Jason. All will become clear at the appropriate time. For now, I suggest you sit back and relax, and I will tell you some of the details as we approach our destination.”

  We enjoyed a beautiful drive out of Boston, across eastern Massachusetts, and into New Hampshire. As we turned north along the coast, I began to explain our trip to Jason.

  “Before too long, we will be entering the state of Maine. We will travel several miles into a private forest, and we will arrive at the Red Stevens Home for Boys, where you will be a substitute houseparent for the next month. This will give the resident houseparent an opportunity for a well-deserved vacation and will give you an opportunity to get very well acquainted with thirty-six boys ranging in age from six to sixteen.”

  Jason stared at me dubiously and said, “I thought I was supposed to be learning about family. How in the world did that old man think I would learn about family from a bunch of orphans?”

  “That old man, as you so eloquently put it, started this place over thirty years ago and has funded it ever since,” I responded. “He knew it inside and out, and I am sure the lesson he has planned for you can be found there. I just hope for your sake you can keep an open mind and find it.”

  “Well, it doesn’t make any sense to me,” Jason mumbled.

  “Nevertheless, you’re in for a unique month, to say the least,” I said. “As your great-uncle made me the chairman of the board of this institution upon his death, Miss Hastings and I will spend the month working in the office, dealing with some of the donors, and seeing to next year’s budget.”

  A few moments later, we drove off of the main highway and onto a gravel side road. We passed a rustic sign reading, Red Stevens Home for Boys. Several moments later, our excellent driver, Nathan, guided the limousine to a stop in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by several buildings, including a dining commons, a dormitory, a classroom building, a gymnasium, and an administration building.

  Nathan got out of the limousine and opened the rear door for the three of us to get out. As he was getting the luggage out of the trunk, the door to the dormitory burst open, and an entire herd of young boys rushed to Nathan and began to mob him. He picked several of them up in the air, hugged several more, and slapped hands with still others. They were all calling his name and seemed to be terribly excited to see him.

  Finally, the enthusiastic greeting seemed to be over when Nathan said in a tone that would be hard to ignore, “Now, men, let’s get into our dormitory and make sure everything is squared away, because we have a new houseparent here for the month.”

  The boys responded immediately and rushed back into their dormitory. Nathan, somehow carrying all the luggage at once without seeming to be burdened down, led us into the dormitory. There were two rows of bunks lining each wall with lockers in between.

  Nathan dropped Jason’s luggage onto the first bunk and said, “Welcome home. This will be your palace for the next thirty days. Mr. Hamilton and Miss Hastings will be staying in the private apartments connected to the administration building.”

  Nathan turned back to Jason and said, “I would suggest you get unpacked and settled in. You have a lot of catching up to do.”

  We all agreed to meet in the dining room in approximately twenty minutes. Nathan showed Miss Hastings and me to the two comfortable apartments adjoining the administration building.

  At the agreed upon time, we were all seated at the end of a long table in the dining room. Several dozen boys streamed in and sat at what appeared to be assigned places. They were talking excitedly and seemed to be curious about us as a group of outsiders gathered at the end of their table.

  After several moments, Nathan stood to his full height, which was, indeed, impressive. I estimated at least 6 feet, 8 inches. At that point, the boys went silent, and Nathan spoke.

  “Boys, as you know, your regular houseparent, Brad, will be on vacation for the next month. Jason Stevens will be filling in for him.”

  Nathan turned to Jason and said, “Stand up, Ja
son.”

  Jason stood slowly, and a chorus of young boys called out in ragged unison, “Hi, Jason.”

  Jason cleared his throat and stammered, “Hi.” Jason sat back down quickly.

  Nathan resumed his address to the young boys. “Also, Mr. Hamilton and Miss Hastings will be with us for the next month as well. Some of you will remember them being here during our board of director visits with Mr. Stevens. They are very fine people that we are lucky to have here.”

  Then Nathan bowed his head and gave thanks for the food. All of the boys followed suit and were polite and respectful throughout the meal.

  As we enjoyed our lunch, Jason asked Nathan, “Have you been here before?”

  Nathan laughed and responded, “You better believe it. The first time I came here, I was smaller than the smallest kid at this table. I was in and out of a few foster homes, but when I think of the good things from my childhood, they all happened here.”

  “Do you work here now or something?” Jason asked.

  Nathan laughed, which sounded like a low rumble of thunder. “Yes and no,” he said. “I guess people would think of my main job as being the tight end for the New England Patriots, but as soon as the season’s over, I do whatever I can to be useful around here.”

  Jason seemed shocked and said, “I’m sorry. I thought you were just a limo driver.”

  “Well, today I am, and proud to do it,” Nathan responded. “Tomorrow I may be the head maintenance man or disciplinarian here. One of the things we learned from Red Stevens when I was growing up is that we all do what needs to be done because it’s the right thing to do.”