Henry's Chest

His hands were tired and shaking, skin cracked and full of dirt. He slowly turned the door knob and the door creaked open. All that was sitting in the cold dark room was a book - a little black book resting perfectly in the centre of the room, it's old creased leather skin covered in dust like a layer of fresh snow. One single ray of sunlight coming in from the window - illuminating the old book like a spotlight on stage. He carefully picked the book up. With a racing heart, he blew off the dust and turned the first page...

"My Dearest Henry,

By now you have made it across Skipping Stone Stream, climbed through the Jigsaw Jungle and sung with the Great Souls of Serenade. You have shown the strongest resilience, the most courageous character and unparalleled perseverance. I am certain I would be proud of the young man you have become and I wish I could hold you once more like I did when you were a boy... Your hands enveloped in mine, your head resting so peacefully on my chest - far simpler times my dear grandson, far simpler times."

With a loud exhale and his mind racing he read on...

"Now my sweet Henry, the reason you are here... I have drawn a map in the back of this book. You must follow it, you must do exactly what it says and if you hurry, you will find a hidden chest. Inside this chest is my life's work written down on a single piece of paper - the most important piece of paper in the world. Along side that you will find twenty thousand dollars in rare and precious notes and lastly you will see a priceless gemstone. This is all yours, Henry.. and yours alone. Keep it safe and tell noone. I'm counting on you, Henry. If that paper falls into the wrong hands, life as you know it could never be the same again. Follow the map exactly and when you break through the last of the broken branches of the Buzzsaw Bush you will find the chest and realise your purpose.

I love you, my dear Henry.

God speed."

He took just a moment to process what he had just read before 'thump' He slammed the book shut, and with dust still falling through the sunlight to the floor... He was gone.

'Crack' 'Snap' 'Crunch'... The sound of the final branch of the Buzzsaw Bush breaking. He had done it. Face bloodied, arms scratched, feet blistered and numb. Thirsty and hungry but he had done it. As he raised his eye line, wiped the sweat from his brow and focused his gaze, he saw it - A gold chest sitting calmly and untouched like the glistening crown of a King. As he climbed to his feet and walked towards it, his heart beating like a tribal drum he saw the word "Henry"engraved on the side. This was it. This was the chest he had been searching for.

As he opened the heavy lid with his sweaty frail hands all of the visions of the great journey he had been on flashed before his eyes, and when he saw what was inside, it all felt worth it. An incredibly beautiful gemstone, the likes of which he had never seen - blues and greens and deep purple colours shinning through the stone like the most beautiful spring flower garden. Beside that lay a bundle of old, beautiful notes. Rare one hundred dollar notes, creased and musky but he could tell they were worth a fortune. More money than he had ever seen before. He was so happy, beaming from ear to ear, this would change his life forever. Lastly he reached down under the bundle of notes, pushed aside the priceless gemstone and carefully pulled out the sheet of paper. He turned it over and it read...

"My dear Henry, I am so proud of..."

That's all Larry could handle reading before - with a rye smile - he scrunched up the piece of paper, threw it over his shoulder and thought... "Well.. my name's not Henry and I never knew my grandfather, but I followed that stinking map through thick and thin so this chest is mine now. That 20k is definitely going to help me start up that home brew craft beer label I've always wanted. Might even be able to build a bar in my basement for the boys too!"

"Sorry Henry. Cheers Gramps!" He laughed.

And with a chuffed chuckle, Larry strolled off into the sunset with a spring in his step and a pocket full of dreams. Tossing the gemstone up and down, whistling his favourite tune. Today was a good day for Larry. A bloody good day.

The end.

;)