Albert’s Resolution

Albert plopped down on a park bench to rest for just a moment. He had just finished one lap around the park jogging path and was exhausted. His new year’s resolution in full force; however, he was already having doubts. Albert gazed over his right shoulder to survey his surroundings and as his head periscoped back towards the path he was to endure; I don’t want to, I really don’t want to, he thought, he caught a glimpse of It, from his periphery vision. It was just sitting there, on the other side of the bench, dusty, and slightly stained in the corners where the original luster of the cover material had been worn away from use. A notebook. A black note book, just the right size to fit snuggly between curled fingers and the palm of its owner. Albert was delightfully distracted from his New Years desolation, err, resolution.

Albert looked up and looked around. He wondered if anyone was watching him. Confident he was free of probing eyes, Albert reached over to pick up the the black notebook. His heart briefly fluttered with excitement.

He opened randomly to a page filled with notes and recorded thoughts. As he flipped through the pages, he saw poems and sketches, nothing extraordinary, he thought. Although, Albert did take note of the exquisite handwriting.

On the inside cover there was was a name and address. Agnes Merryweather, 221 Walnut Street. Albert knew where that address was. It wasn’t too far from the park, perhaps a 10-minute walk at most. He resolved to return the notebook rather than continue fulfilling his New Years mutilation. Again, a pleasant distraction for Albert.

Albert arrived at 221 Walnut street and approached the front door. The yard was well manicured. The pathway to the porch was cobble stoned. Potted flowers hanging from the front porch ceiling provided a pleasant pallets for the eyes. Albert rang the door bell which sounded the familiar Westminster chime. After a few moments, the door opened and an elderly woman, neatly dressed, answered the door. Albert presented the notebook to woman a the door and immediately tears welled in her eyes.

She told Albert that the black notebook was precious to her and that it contained memories and ideas from over half her lifetime. A lifetime captured on the pages of her notebook. She had misplaced it and couldn’t remember where. Filled with joy she told Albert wait a moment at the door. The woman and Albert chatted a while and Ms Merryweather thanked Albert for his kindness. Albert returned home, thanking Ms Merryweather for the interesting afternoon.

A few days later, while thumbing through his mail, Albert came across a personal letter, not the usual phony deliveries of businesses vying for your attention. Albert instantly recognized the handwriting. Agnes Merryweather. He opened the envelope, pulled the letter from within and gently opened a trifold document. It was a handwritten thank note from Ms Merryweather and in the fold of the letter was a ticket, “State Lottery - $20,000 and a newspaper clipping with w winning numbers. In the letter, Ms Merryweather stated that she was old and had no need for the money. Having her black notebook full of thoughts and memories was priceless. She was given the lottery ticket from her son-in-law and now she was giving it to Albert.

Albert sat for a a good while, dumbfounded at the generosity of Ms. Merryweather and pondered over how important that little black notebook was to her. Albert suddenly had renewed vigor for his New year’s abomination, err, resolution.