The Box

The funeral had been exhausting but was over. Gerald Calloway Jr. had sat by his mother pretending not to care, as people all around had given him “the look”. The look of a son that had been gone for years, only to return to see what his inheritance would be.

Now back at home, everyone walked around eating funeral food and pretending they cared with small “remember when” conversations about the late Mr. Calloway Sr. His father had been placed in the cold black soil only a few hours before and it was no secret what kind of man he had been.

Gerald Jr. had chewed his food nervously, while drinking too much as he offered fake smiles with cold, sweaty handshakes. Now he lay awake in his childhood bedroom, which had not changed since he was a little boy. He lay with thoughts only a benefactor could ponder. What would he inherit?

An only child, Gerald Jr. had borrowed and borrowed from his mother and father over the years until the wise Gerald Sr. finally put his foot down and began to shout “No More!” Gerald Jr. had failed business after failed business and owed more people than he could remember. Rumor had it that he had even made a deal with the devil, and now he was anxious to find out just how much dear old dad had left him.

Morning arrived with the smell of breakfast in the air. In the kitchen, small talk was made as he and his mother ate. After breakfast, he waited as patiently as he could while his mother dressed and made her way to the car so they could go to the lawyer’s office and hear the final orders of the late Mr. Gerald Calloway Sr.

The office smelled like an old, about to retire lawyer’s office should, like wet, stored paperwork. They sat in the compact waiting room until the secretary finally showed them into the meeting room, offering the two of them coffee they refused.

Gerald and his mother sat around a large redwood table as the lawyer slowly, methodically, removed papers from a small folder. The lawyer looked at Mrs. Calloway, cleared his throat and began to speak:

“Mr. Calloway ordered the liquidation of his businesses and investments and the money put into a trust in the name of Mrs. Calloway. The trust payable in monthly installments until her demise. I have seen thusly to all paperwork, and everything will be liquidated with exception of the home, which also goes to go to Mrs. Calloway, wife and sole benefactor of all Mr. Calloway Sr. owned.”

Gerald began to shift and move uncomfortably in his chair, finally “So that is everything? Is there ANYTHING else?”

The lawyer looked up from his paperwork, lowered his glasses as he said “Yes Mr. Calloway. Everything except for the contents of a safety deposit box in the bank downtown.”

Gerald Jr. “What’s in the safety deposit box?” as his knee began to bounce and his foot tapping the floor nervously. “Why a safety box? Why not give it to you, to give to me?”

“I am not quite sure, but he did leave this key, and appropriate paperwork for you to have immediate access” the lawyer replied, handing a small skeleton key with a sterling silver key ring which glistened even in the dimly lit office.

With his mother safely at home, all small talk finally over, Gerald drove quickly to the Bank. Thinking of cash, gold, diamonds, or whatever; he was excited. He had made mistakes but who doesn’t right? His cell beeped, call coming in but whomever it was could wait, Gerald had business to attend.

He pulled into the bank, his tires making a small screech as he halted directly in front of the main entrance. Once inside he quickly found the area of the bank with the large Vault door where the safety deposit boxes were located. A short elderly woman with green eyes and white hair greeted him, asked him for his identification and key. He gave the paperwork, I.D. and the key to her; and she led him through the large vault door, into a smaller room filled with Safety Deposit boxes all the way around. The air was crisp and filled with electricity.

She stopped “This is your box Mr. Calloway, #893.” He smiled, she inserted his key, and pulled another key from her pocket and inserted it alongside his, and with each of her hands, turned them both. There was a faint click; as the box opened.

She left the door slightly ajar, removed her key and looked up at him saying “You can take your box to one of the private rooms” pointing. “When you are finished, replace the box, lock and remove your key, and you are done” she said like a who had used the words a thousand times before, and finished with a smile.

He quickly opened the door, and seized the box inside, taking it to the little room. Once inside he sat, looking at the small eight by ten metal box and lid. His mind racing again; his hands sweaty with anticipation, his heart racing. He reached slowly, touching the icy cold metal of the lid, slowly lifting the top. One inch, two, three, finally flipping it all the way open.

The top banged as it landed open on the table; he looked inside and to his horror saw the small black notebook, and beside it $20,000 in cash in neatly stacked beside it. The book was leather, and the cover was ragged; just as he remembered. He began to shake as he reached for the lid and slammed it shut, starting to sweat now.

“How could you do this?” he whispered to himself. Reaching for the lid again, opening and sitting, staring at the little black book. His brow furrowed, his hands shook, his mind raced. What would he do? His mother deserved everything she got, but did HE really deserve THIS?

He had only actually seen the little black book once before, but he knew the meaning of it. And he also knew there was only one thing he could do as he removed the little black notebook and the cash.

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He stood at the front door of his mother’s new home; kissed and hugged her goodbye as only a son that loves his mother could and lied to her about the contents of the safety deposit box with a smile. Gerald Calloway Jr., now just Gerald Calloway, got into his car and drove. He knew he would never see her again. Knew the outcome of his actions, justifiably so. He had run so long, and now, just a little longer.

His phone began to beep again, he looked at the screen, knew who was on the other end. He turned the phone off and tossed it out the window and drove into darkness.