A Little Ruler

Trudy and I were in a craft and hobby shop killing time. And I found a ruler.

It was a little metal one with inch marks down one side and centimeters down the other. It was light and shiny and came in a plastic case. Something for Ben as a final goodbye present, I thought, just a little something and nothing more.

But in the end, I didn't get it. You see, the day before I had put a little wooden ruler onto his pile of things to take, so why buy another one where the wooden one would do?

Later that night, after he had packed up all his stuff, I walked into the study. There on the desk where the pile of things had been was that little wooden ruler.

"You aren't taking this?"

"It only has inches."

And so it did. So I walked over to my art supplies and reached into my ruler drawer and pulled out a short wooden ruler with inches on one side and centimeters down the other. The tick marks were printed in dark shiny ink. The wood was hard and had a glossy finish. Each side of the ruler had a projecting metal edge so that it would last a long time. Indeed, it already had. To my recollection, it was one that my father gave me years and years ago.

"Take this," I said, "but take care of it. Dada gave it to me."

"No, I can't take that from you."

"But it has centimeters."

He shook his head.

"I might lose it," he said.

"Well just keep track of your stuff."

I held it out to him.

"Take it, it's ok."

And he took it.

5:47:54 PM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []  

Goodbye Words

Trudy and I stood in the front yard beside the curb. Ben and his mom were in her van. He was looking out the window in stoic silence. Or maybe he was just watching for tears.

"Have fun," I said as they rolled off. "Work hard. Make us proud."

"I will!"

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