The Gift Of Giving

Ellis Grover was doing his best not to fall asleep as the train rocked him slowly back and forth. It was mesmerizing and oh so relaxing and he fought closing his eyes. The clickity-clack of the metal wheels on the track only added to the hypnotizing effect. Only one stop to go and he'd be at his station and only four blocks from home. He needed home.

Ellis was jolted as the train wheels began to screech signaling it was pulling into a station and beginning to slow. "Thank God" he whispered to himself . He was chilled to the bone and stiff and sore from his shift at The Goblin, the bar and grill where he regularly put in 50 or more hours a week. He liked his job but it was brutal and demanding. He was a cook ( he preferred "Chef" but was laughed at for suggesting the formal title at work) and he hustled from clock in to clock out of a ten hour shift. The money was good and he had even been able to save a bit hoping to buy his own car soon.

The train came to a jerky stop and people around him rose as he did, heading towards the sliding door, eager to exit the cramped stuffy car. He stepped onto the platform jostled by the other passengers surrounding him, when a woman in a soft pink coat and even brighter pink hat, stopped in front of him and looked him in the eyes. She gave him a small smile and said " I think you dropped this." and pushed something into his hands. Ellis looked down at the small brown package confused. It wasn't his and he looked up to tell the woman but she was gone. He looked from side to side but there was no pink coat to be seen. The swishing of the train doors closing behind him caught his attention and he turned to see the train pulling away slowly. There in the car he had just vacated was the pink coat. The woman was staring at him, the same small smile on her lips, as he held up the package and pointing at it mouthed the words " It's not mine". But her expression never changed as the train pulled out of the station and out of site.

He exhaled dramatically and still clutching the small package headed home. As he walked he began to wonder what it was and looked closer at it. It was a small, rectangular package wrapped in crinkly thick brown paper and secured with string. That was odd. Sort of old fashioned looking and was it his imagination or did it feel warm?

Ellis continued to examine the package as he walked the four blocks to his apartment. It was a very chilly late fall evening and his breath showed up in bursts of mist but he was sure now that the small bundle he carried was radiating a warmth from within. His curiosity was definitely peaked now as he unlocked his door and pushed his way inside. He removed his coat and shoes at the same time, sighing as his feet gave a pleasurable throb at being released from their bindings after such a long day. He rounded into the small living room and clicked on the lamp, collapsing onto his old but comfy sofa. He then turned his attention to the warm package he still held. He untied the coarse white string that bound it and pulled away the old brown paper. Inside was a small black leather bound book with delicate gold trim. It looked very old. There was an embossed design on the cover showing two hands reaching to the center. One hand was reaching from the left facing down, the other reaching in from the right facing up. Between the two hands was a small glowing light. Somehow he knew this was where the warmth was coming from and he ran his fingers lightly over the soft glow. It was indeed warm to his touch.

He opened the book and on the first page saw a beautiful flowing script that shimmered as he gazed at it. It was mesmerizing and he felt his body melt into the cushions. He began to read...

This little book, Contains a charm, That blesses all who read it.

This little book, Can do no harm, But gives to those who need it.

Those who hold this little book, Must be genuine and kind. Must wish the best for someone else, And mean it heart and Mind.

Just write your name at the top of a page, And the power belongs to you. Then write the name of a person who needs a hand, Then twenty thousand they will be due.

But you must not tell of your generous gift, No one shall know that you were the one. For if you tell and seek out praise, Then the charm will be undone.

The money will be given anonymously, Within an hour of penning the name. Then you must pass the book to someone else, So they may do the same.

But if in your mind you ask yourself, What is in it for me? Dig deep within your heart and pray, Then read this book and see.

All the names within this book, Have given to someone in need. Without taking credit or a pat on the back, An anonymous beautiful deed.

But do not despair the gift you give, In your soul you will know. It will plant a seed of kindness and grace, And that seed will forever grow.

So be brave my friend and ink in your name and below it write in the one, Who will be blessed by your actions their life will be changed, And your job with me will be done....

Ellis was entranced by the words and he read the poem two more times. Every logical part of him screamed that this could not be true but somehow,,, somehow he knew that this book was the real thing. Just holding it gave him a sense of joy and peace and he smiled. He began to think. Who would he choose? His Mother? His brother Mark? His girlfriend Sophie? But that wasn't right. He felt somehow that would be cheating. And to follow the rules of the book he could never tell. That's too big of a secret to keep from family for sure.

Suddenly he knew. He didn't hesitate to pick up a pen from the small table in front of the couch and open the book. The pages were old and delicate with hundreds, no thousands of names. Each set written in a different handwriting. There must have been millions of dollars given to the receivers of this amazing gift and Ellis was overwhelmed at the enormity of it all.

There was a thin red silk bookmark marking the spot of a fresh page and once again the book felt warm in his hands. He put his pen to the paper and wrote his name. The ink seemed to glow for an instant then turned a deep solid black. The book was pulsing in his hands now and he could feel the magic within it. It wanted another name and Ellis put his pen the the paper once more with a strong and purposeful stroke. He wrote a name and the book shivered a bit and emitted a soft peaceful glow before going still. The deed was done.

Ellis replaced the fine silk bookmark within and closed the book. He couldn't stop smiling as he rewrapped it with the same brown crinkly paper and tied it closed with the string. His sense of warmth and peace stayed with him as he readied for bed and brushed his teeth. He looked in the mirror and saw his smile. It was the same smile he had seen earlier on the woman in the pink coat. He understood now.

Ellis slept better that night than he ever had before. He woke feeling content and got ready for work with a new outlook on life. His mood was pure and full of hope and he knew the book was responsible. He knew it would last and he headed out the door to work.

On his way to the train he stopped at the corner Quick Mart for his usual morning coffee and doughnut. Carla the owner, a recent widow and a mother of an adult son with down syndrome, greeted him as he walked in. Ellis had known the family for eight years and was devastated when David had passed last year from cancer. Carla had kept the business to support herself but mostly for their son Ben. He required frequent doctor appointments and special care that was expensive. Ben liked to help at the store and the entire neighborhood adored him and often took time to chat with him and give him their change. Ben loved change and spent hours counting and sorting the coins at the back counter while his mother worked the store.

Ellis set about making his coffee and grabbing a fresh bear claw to eat on the train. He walked to the counter, pulling out his wallet and dropped a ten on the counter. Carla had been wearing a fake smile for a year now but today was different. Her smile was genuine and deep.

"Good morning Ellis" she beamed and he returned the greeting.

"You look happy this morning" he said and waved to Ben behind her. He was sorting several small stacks of coins and but stopped to wave back. Carla nodded and agreed.

"Oh Ellis you just wont believe what happened last night!" she exclaimed and she radiated a joy he had not seen in a long time. She continued to explain. About the knock on the door.... The large envelope left on the stoop and the documents within that showed an anonymous twenty thousand dollar donation to an account.... For Ben.

She had tears in her eyes as she explained that this would allow Ben to enroll in the local Adults With Disabilities Program and he would now attend classes to teach him new skills and even get a job. He would also be able to secure his own apartment within the center and find his independence. Carla had been so worried about who would care for him if something happened to her and now she was overjoyed he could have this opportunity.

Ellis found his own eyes filled with tears and he held her hands over the counter. "I am so happy for Ben Carla" he said and meant it as he bent and kissed her hand.

Ellis left the shop with his coffee, a bear claw, and a bounce in his step. The seed had been planted within and he had a book to give away.