“You preserved the story,” Martin told him.
Dad shrugged.
“I kept notes.”
“I always keep notes.”
Martin smiled.
“My father would have liked you.”
Then he said he wanted to give Dad something.
“A finder’s fee.”
Dad immediately refused.
“That isn’t necessary.”
“It is to me.”
“I was already paid for the pool.”
“This isn’t for the pool.”
Martin explained that Dad had done something valuable simply by choosing not to take advantage of an opportunity.
He had found property worth tens of thousands of dollars and had gone out of his way to reunite it with the correct family.
“I want to give you $5,000.”
Dad frowned.
“That’s too much.”
“It isn’t.”
Martin held his gaze.
“Please take it.”
Eventually Dad agreed.
On the drive home, he remained quiet.
“Five thousand dollars,” I finally said.
“Yes.”
“For finding a box.”
“For doing what I was supposed to do.”
“That’s the point.”
“What is?”
“Maybe doing what you’re supposed to do has become rarer than it should be.”
Dad thought about that.
