Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

The Movers and the Gentleman

By Barbara Chase-Pace

The day began like any other moving job in the city. The moving crew

was

on the job at the agreed upon time, 8:30 a.m.

After introducing themselves to the customer and a brief tour of the

residence to assess that plan for loading, the old gentleman asked them if

they

would like some coffee. The men, being charged by the hour, declined his

offer.

He smiled at their honesty and gestured to them to continue.

The old house had a redolent fragrance of musty rose petals. The

bereaved

seventy-nine-year old husband merely watched and quietly chatted and quipped

with the young-strong men as they went about their work. It was obvious he

was

lonely and welcomed the rather captive audience into his home. Even under

the

albeit necessary circumstances of having to move to the nursing care

facility,

their presence heartened him.

The young men were kind to the old gentleman, tolerating his rather one-

sided conversation. Occasionally, they had to ask him to 'move to one side'

while they removed furniture and memories all at one time right before him.

In a way he was as glad to be leaving the house which really had no

relevant significance for him anymore since his partner of sixty-two-years

had

died two years ago. He found peace each day in prayer. The

responsibilities

for his care would be a welcomed solace.

The hours sped by and the house became but a shell of past occupancy.

Upon

near completion of the job one of the movers went through the house to check

each room to make sure nothing had been left behind. In the upstairs

bedroom

under a small alcove there was a chest almost imperceptible because it was

the

same wood hue as the paneling on the wall behind it. When he started to

remove

it, the entire contents fell through the bottom of the chest. Papers were

strewn all over the floor, along with photos. He began to collect

everything

into some semblance of order when a yellowed newspaper clipping caught his

eye:

TWIN BOYS DIE IN BOATING ACCIDENT. After quickly scanning the article, he

learned that they were indeed the old gentleman's sons, lost to him and his

wife

forever over three decades ago.

When the movers had completed the move, the man thanked them for their

diligence and careful concern for his precious belongings. He told them

that

their kindness to him was more appreciated than they could ever realize.

Six months later, almost to the day of the move, the gentleman died.

In

his will, he left his entire fortune of one and a half million dollars to

the

" Two movers who were so kind and reminded me of my own sons. "