Felix, a single parent, immediately offered to help his elderly neighbor Mrs. White who was having trouble with her overgrown grass. Mrs. White was grateful and offered him an interesting antique box as a thank-you present, but this gesture had unintended repercussions as her lawyer quickly called Felix for an urgent appointment.
Felix, a thirty-something single father, was somewhat engrossed in a sitcom on television as he reclined in his modest, slightly worn living room recliner. The laughing in the background did little to ease his loneliness after losing his wife in a vehicle accident seven years prior.
Felix’s main comfort came from his work as a janitor and from raising his daughter Alice, whose happiness brought back memories of his previous marriage.
Felix saw something strange coming from outdoors one afternoon. His old neighbor Mrs. White was fumbling with her lawnmower as he peered out the window. Mrs. White, who was renowned for her independence at a young age, appeared to be in need of assistance today.
Felix walked over and offered his help without thinking. He took charge of the uncooperative machine and said, “Let me help you with that, Mrs. White.” Under the midday sun, the two labored together in silence, their mutual effort forging an unsaid relationship.
When they were done, Mrs. White beamingly expressed her appreciation. “Felix, you’ve never asked for anything in return; you’ve always been so kind to me, lending me your time and strength.”
As humble as ever, Felix said, “Mrs. White, it’s not at all trouble.”
Mrs. White was determined to express her gratitude, so she had Felix take a beautifully adorned box. Felix was hesitant to receive such a lavish present since he felt uneasy. “Mrs. White, I can’t accept this,” he murmured, his discomfort evident in his tone.
Mrs. White, sensing his unease, gave him a bag of apples in its place. Then, she begged, “please, take these apples for Alice.”
Felix said “Thank you” politely for the apples and made his way back to his house.
He took Alice inside and gave her the apples, which she gladly received and said, “Thank you, Daddy!”
Alice found the same fancy package concealed in the apple bag as Felix got back into his nightly ritual. She took it to Felix, intrigued, and said, “Daddy! Observe what was within the apple-filled sack!
With the enigmatic box now in Felix’s possession, many questions surfaced. “Alice, we can’t keep it,” he said, holding it. It is not owned by us.
Alice, intrigued, answered, “But what if there’s something amazing inside, Dad? Something we require?
Alice, even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean it’s ours,” Felix firmly retorted. It is not my to have this box. We must honor that.
Alice consented, respecting her father’s choice, and Felix made the choice to give Mrs. White back the box. Felix arrived to her residence and felt a strange quiet.
He yelled, “Mrs. White,” but no one answered. As he looked about the home, the strange silence bore heavily on him until he discovered Mrs. White, who was obviously dead, lying still on her couch.
Felix stood next to her, looking shocked and unsure as the reality of the situation began to set in. The ancient box he was holding made things more difficult, even though he knew he had to alert someone.
Felix eventually took the box and left the house, considering it less of a gift and more of a heavy weight.
The package on his table at home appeared much more sinister. Felix made the decision to look up its worth online later that evening. When he entered “antique box gold diamond inserts” into his computer’s search engine, he saw comparable goods at prices that astounded him, one of which was advertised for $250,000.
The disclosure put his morality to the test while also tempting him with the prospect of financial security for his daughter. His phone rang, interrupting the stillness while he considered his next action.
On the other end, an unidentified speaker identified themselves. Good evening. Is Felix with you? The name Jonathan Pryce is mine. I represent Mrs. White. I think it is essential that we talk about a very important issue. Can we set up a meeting in person?
Felix said, starting to feel nervous, “Yes, we can meet.” Perhaps tomorrow?
“Let’s meet at 10 a.m. at ‘Café Lorraine’ on the main street.” It’s a calm setting, ideal for these kinds of conversations,” Mr. Pryce said.
Felix said, “Okay, I’ll be there,” hanging up the phone with his heart thumping his chest.
Felix learned that Mrs. White had a son named Henry and that she had a lawyer when he arrived at “Café Lorraine” the next morning. This revelation took Felix by surprise because he had no idea that Mrs. White had any relatives.
Henry started, “I know you were at my mother’s house yesterday,” with a sarcastic tone in his voice.
With a sincere defense, Felix said, “I was helping her, as I often did.”
“My mother possessed an old box that has great personal significance for our family. It has existed for many generations. It is no longer there. vanished,” Henry said in an angry tone. “However, such things don’t just disappear, do they?”
Felix, seeing he was surrounded, refused to back down, forcing Henry to lay out his demands. “Listen, I need that box back; I don’t care how it happened. I’ll cover the cost of having it returned. A thousand bucks, without asking any questions.
Felix shot back, “I’m not an idiot,” realizing the full significance of the box. I am aware of the box’s value, which well exceeds what you are proposing. I did not steal it, either. It was given to me by your mother voluntarily.
Henry was taken aback for a while as he heard Felix lay out his plans. “I’ve made the decision to auction the box. You are free to place a bid on it, just like everyone else, if that is how much it means to you.
Felix suddenly exited the café after saying that, feeling both defiant and uneasy about what was happening.
Experts were in awe of the box the day after the sale, asking Felix where it had come from. Felix stumbled under their inspection and said, “It was…it was an inheritance,” which led to even more questions.
As the experts sought evidence of ownership and rumors of engaging the police started to spread, the situation became more heated.
Felix stammered, feeling unprepared and panicked, “I… I don’t have them with me.”
Felix, his thoughts racing with panic and anxiety as the situation got out of hand, decided in desperation to leave the auction house in order to dodge the impending legal issues.
Felix was plagued by thoughts of the box and how it may alter their life as he made his way back home. He knew that he needed Mrs. White’s house to provide verification of the genuineness of the box.
He broke into her home late that night, frantically looking for any papers that might support his claim to the box.
Felix searched frantically but in vain, and just as he was about to lose hope, he was astonished to see Henry standing at the doorway.
Henry remarked, his voice colored with annoyance, “I knew you’d come back.” “I assumed you would come looking for something to support your claim to that box after learning about the auction.”
Felix, taken aback and helpless, listened as Henry calmly and precisely outlined his demands.
Henry went on, “Felix, you’ve made a grave mistake.” Breaking and entering is what this is. It is an illegal act. However, I’ll ignore this if you follow my instructions completely.
Henry used direct yet severe language. “You’ve got until tomorrow,” he said with firmness. “I need the box, or I’ll have to report something to the police,” I said. They’ll be eager to hear about your little nighttime adventure.
Felix grudgingly consented after seeing how dire things were and was led outside. He was overcome with the seriousness of his situation when he got home.
He considered his few options: give Henry the box and stay out of legal problems, but forfeit any possible financial benefit; or take a chance that would jeopardize his and Alice’s future.
Felix, distraught, made the decision to send Alice to live with her grandmother in Virginia, far away from the potential consequences. He put the package in a backpack he was packing for her, just in case.
Alice came, sensing her father’s sadness and said, “Dad, what’s going on? “You seem upset,” she said, her worry genuine.
Felix had no option but to tell her what was going on and to disclose the actual significance of the box as well as the complications it had introduced into their life.
Felix was pacing in his living room, attempting to control his nervousness as he tried to explain, “Alice, this box… it’s our ticket to a better life.” It is valued at $250,000. However, I am unable to get anything from it. It needs to be taken to Grandma in Virginia.
Alice questioned in shock, “But why can’t you come with me, Dad?”
With a sorrowful heart, Felix let out a big sigh and said, “I might not be around for some time, sweetheart.” It’s possible that I’ll have to… disappear for a little spell. But it won’t last forever, I swear. I’ll work hard to get back to you.
Felix comforted Alice as they packed, highlighting the significance of their plan and her courage. After a tearful farewell at the bus station, Felix watched Alice go, feeling a piece of himself go with her.
Felix returned to the stifling solitude of his now-empty home and made a crucial choice.
Accepting his fate, he took up his phone and dialed Henry. Henry, I don’t have the package. I can’t control it,” he said. “I’m prepared to surrender myself. The cops can be called.
Felix’s thoughts were focused on Alice’s safety and their future when the cops soon arrived to take him away without any fight.
Months later, a guard’s abrupt order broke Felix’s humdrum life in jail. “Stow your belongings and follow me!” Felix followed, confused but optimistic, to see Alice’s happy face.
“Dad,” she said, suddenly bringing him up to speed.
Alice disclosed that upon opening the box, she had found records and a correspondence from Mrs. White verifying her desire for Felix to inherit the box. His release had been made possible in large part by these documents.
“Even I was shocked by it, Dad. I couldn’t stop thinking about the box and the code after you sent me away. And then I finally succeeded in opening it one day!
Felix was listening carefully, his attention captured by Alice’s resolve and Mrs. White’s last gesture of compassion.
“I found a buyer, someone who collects antiques like that, after taking the papers. Dad, they paid for more than just the box. They gave me legal advice, clarified bail procedures, and discussed our options for pursuing the case.
They hugged each other again, eager to begin again. “We are no longer in need of concern. Not only do we have each other, but we also have enough to start afresh. Felix was comforted by Alice’s words, “And we’re going to get through this, one step at a time,” as she spoke to him.