Little Black Notebook

A Hidden Inheritance Lee Ann Li

“You’ve grown up to be a different man than me”, said his father.

The son looked at his reflection in the mirror and only saw a younger version of his father in his eyes, they both shared similar features including the same height.

“Well today I graduate like you did over twenty-five years ago so don’t start getting sentimental, it’s a little too late for that”, said the son taking one last look at his appearance before turning around and looking solemnly at his father.

“Like father like son”, he said walking over and straightening his only son’s tie even though it was already perfectly positioned. “I just want you to know how proud I am of you, truth be told you’re a lot more like my father”, he said looking at his hands as they let go of his son’s tie to look at his wedding ring.

“Let’s get going then”, the son said putting a stop to his own father’s thoughts, seeing him get all emotional again like he had earlier.

“I’m driving …” said the father changing the subject “… but first let me pass on a tradition”.

Sighing heavily the son followed his father and walked out of his bedroom and through their comfortable home to the main living room where his father’s precious collection of books were kept.

His father had chosen to pursue Literature at University having collected an amazing array of masterpieces over the years, all kept at home and stored with perfect precision side by side. Each books condition, appearance and value seemed so insignificant in comparison to the appreciation the father had being their owner.

“Dad, I’d prefer to be early than on time”, said the son standing in the doorway, not wanting to enter the living room any further.

“Just let me give you this”, said his father unlocking the glass cabinet that kept his most precious collected works. “It was your grandfather’s most precious book but one I could never relate to”, said his father pulling out the old leather bound bible. “You are more like my dad than I ever was”, he said walking over and handing the heavy book to his son.

The young man looked at what his father had given him, carefully holding the book with the golden leaf pages in one hand and opening the front cover with the other. There was an envelope that had been placed in there which the son flipped over purposefully so he could read the inscription, noticing the colour difference between the old book and the new white envelope.

‘this book is from a Father who loves your existence to the end, as I have loved you to the end’

Strange words thought the son as he closed the book and looked at his father who had returned to relock the glass cabinet.

“Of all days dad, why give me this today?” asked the son trying to sound appreciative.

“Because son, when I graduated my father gave that to me. I could never understand why he placed so much value in those words but I am passing on his own wishes”, he said placing his older hand on his young son’s shoulder.

The son never knew his grandfather who had emigrated from another country as a young man, often hearing of his hardships but always remembering his strength of character as told by his own father.

“I remember his face, just”, said the son trying to recall what he could knowing his Grandfather had passed away a few years after he was born. There were vague memories, the fondest being held in his arms and rocked to sleep while hearing words spoken from another country.

“I never knew a lot, only that he had a hard life and wanted something better for his own family”, said his father. “I could never relate to him but he loved speaking over you and loved that book you are holding”, he added smiling thoughtfully.

“And this?” asked the son lifting up the white envelope with his other hand.

“Some money to help you on your way like I was …” he said winking at his son “… taking inflation into account twenty thousand for a graduating student isn’t bad”, he said with sarcasm.

“Thanks dad”, he said replacing the envelope between the sheets and absentmindedly flicking the pages of the soft covered book, noticing the thickness on the back page. “Of all the books you have acquired why did you keep this one locked away?” the son asked out of interest while flicking through the pages again and noticing the same thickness in the leather cover.

“Its value comes from being my father’s, his hands touched every page many times. Every day of my life I heard about those chapters”, said the father running his fingers through his greying hair. “After a while you want companionship not content from that book”, he said sounding angry.

“Maybe that was all he knew”, said the son noticing his father’s changed mood. “I’m curious what this is though”, he said flicking through the pages for the third time and again noticing the different feel from the front cover.

Handing the leather bound bible back to his father he asked if he’d ever noticed the inconsistency from the front and back covers before.

Intrigued the father walked back to his desk and pulled out some instruments, pulling his chair out without looking so he could sit down and examine further. ‘Why had I never noticed this before’, thought the father looking up from the magnifier to look at his son.

“There’s something in between here”, he said disbelievingly.

The son stood silently watching over his father who expertly separated the thin sheet of paper from the leather binding, both realising what lay beneath had been preserved and untouched for over twenty years.

Peeling the paper thin sheet from its cover the father revealed what had laid hidden for so long, a little black notebook…….