A Treasure Map for Mother’s Day
“Travelin’ Rick!” cried Mother, seeing her son at the front door. “What a wonderful surprise!”
“Happy Mother’s Day,” Travelin’ Rick said, bending over to give his mother a warm kiss on her cheek.
“Come in, my boy,” said Mother, immediately going to the refrigerator and making Travelin’ Rick a thickly sliced roast beef sandwich.
“Thank you, Mom,” said Travelin’ Rick, who didn’t realize how hungry he was. “This will hit the spot.”
Travelin’ Rick got up from the table to put his plate on the counter when he noticed what looked like a treasure map.
“What is this?” he asked.
“It was delivered to me this morning,” said Travelin’ Rick’s Mother, handing the map to him.
“This is amazing,” said Travelin’ Rick, admiring the old map, being very careful not to damage it.
“Your cousin, Kyle, thought so too,” said Mother. “He took some pictures of it.”
“If anyone knows about maps, it’s definitely Kyle,” said Travelin’ Rick.
Travelin’ Rick’s only cousin, Kyle just happened to be a cartographer.
“He has gone to the library to see what he could find out about it,” said Mother. “He will be back later.”
Travelin’ Rick took a good look at the map; he was amazed at what he saw.
“Mother,” Travelin’ Rick said with surprise. “This is a map of our old house. It shows something in the garden, a hidden treasure.”
“Yes,” Kyle interrupted, entering the kitchen. “That is what I found out at the library.”
Mother put her glasses on and took a good look at the map. She could see that Travelin’ Rick and Kyle were correct. It was a map of their old house.
“Oh my!” exclaimed Mother. “I remember this map! It belonged to your father. He said there was a treasure buried, and he misplaced the map. He never did find the treasure before he passed away.”
“We are going to find it,” said Travelin’ Rick. “Come on, Kyle!”
“I am coming too,” said Mother.
Travelin’ Rick and Mother hopped into Kyle’s car and drove to the old house. Travelin’ Rick knew where the garden was.
“Look!” exclaimed Mother, seeing an “X” marked into a stone on the back wall of the garden.
Travelin’ Rick and Kyle carefully took the stone out and were shocked to see a note in the wall. Travelin’ Rick took out the note and very carefully read it.
“To my beautiful wife and son,” read Travelin’ Rick. “By the time you find this note, you know that I am no longer here.”
Travelin’ Rick’s hands trembled as he held the aged paper. The ink was faded but still legible, each word echoing the voice of a father he barely remembered. Mother stood beside him, her eyes welling with tears as memories flooded back.
The note continued, “I have left something for you both – a token of my love that transcends time.” Their breaths hitched as they read on, “In this garden where flowers bloomed and laughter echoed, beneath the soil lies a treasure.”
Travelin’ Rick’s excitement was palpable; his eyes sparkled with anticipation. Armed with shovels and determination, they began to dig beneath where the stone had been placed. Hours turned into moments as their hands worked tirelessly until finally, Kyle’s shovel hit something solid.
A small wooden chest lay buried in the earth; its wood was aged but sturdy. They pulled it out and dusted off years of soil revealing intricate carvings that told tales of love and family bonds.
Inside were mementos – photographs capturing moments frozen in time; letters filled with words of love and hope; jewelry that once adorned Mother’s graceful neck; and an old compass – Father’s trusted companion during his travels.
Tears flowed freely now – not just from Mother’s eyes but also from those of Travelin’ Rick and Kyle. In this moment they weren’t just holding artifacts but pieces of a man who lived fiercely and loved deeply.
Mother clutched the items close to her heart while Travelin’ Rick held onto the compass – it wasn’t just pointing north but towards memories yet to be made.
They realized then that treasures weren’t always made of gold or jewels – sometimes they were moments captured in time waiting to be rediscovered by hearts willing to journey through layers of earth…and memory.
As they drove back home under starlit skies – treasures safely tucked away – silence spoke volumes. They were richer not because they found objects long buried but because through them they unearthed stories untold…of Father…of family…of love eternal.
And every year hence on Mother’s Day – when blossoms fill the air and the past feels close enough to touch – they remember the greatest journey wasn’t to far-off lands, but to the depths of the heart, where the truest treasures lie. On this special day, dedicated to honoring mothers, Travelin’ Rick and his family celebrate the enduring love and the unbreakable bond they share, a bond that is their most cherished treasure.
Moral of this Story:
|
