Fork in the Road

The package contents held the power to change the course of my life.

It had arrived wrapped simply in brown paper tied up with plain string and tape. The return address was clearly written on the outside of the parcel. That was not really necessary though. He had left his contact information on the note inside.

Such a simple thing…a note.

I stayed awake all night thinking about it.

The note read

I recently purchased a truck in Bakersfield, California. While I was cleaning it out, I found this hidden under some junk behind the seat. If you would like more information about who I bought this from, please give me a call.

There was a number alright. It would be so easy to call. He wanted me to call.

I picked up the package again and reached inside, taking out the wallet that had been stolen from me at a campground some fifteen years earlier. I hadn't discovered the theft until the next day and by then it was too late.

I had actually caught someone in the area of my tent the night before. He claimed to be lost and had thought my tent was his. I let it go. The next day I found all of my stuff had been ransacked.

I went looking for him. Had I caught him, it would have cost him his left nut. No trial or jury. The verdict was already in. Guilty!

I lived with that for months. Time passed and the anger went out of me.

Resentments…I don’t give them room in my head anymore.

Or do I?

I looked at the note one last time. Ah temptation…

I got up and tossed it all into the fireplace…and if I may quote Mr. Frost…”that has made all the difference”.

Word count 299