"I'm dying son," my father stated rather flatly. "I don't know how much time I have left," he added. I started to say the usual placatory things about him being around for a lot longer yet, etc, but he cut me off. "We've always been honest with each other and now is not the time to change that. I have a few things to say while I have the chance. I am proud of you Jim. I always have been. I'm proud of the man you have become. You are a decent, hard-working man with your eyes firmly set on your future. When you eventually marry, I hope you have the type of marriage relationship which your mother and I had, bless her soul. I see in you the type of man that any woman would be stupid not to latch on to. I hope, but I am sure, your family will bring forth more decent people."
We sat in silence on the back porch of his home, gazing at the setting sun as it made the stationery clouds light up with golden streaks. The beers we were sipping only added to the sombre mood. "Hmm," he harrumphed. "This time of night matches my mood as well as the state of my health. Jim, there's something I need to give you now." He abruptly strode inside and brought out a worn old suitcase. "I have had this for the last twenty-three years, ever since you were born. I want you to have it. I won't be needing it any longer." Without any fanfare, he handed me the case and asked me to open it. I was speechless at that point. This scenario was very serious. It almost seemed as if my father was giving up. I opened the case and almost choked on the beer. The case was full of cash! Serious cash, not the one and five dollar bills, but stacks of hundred dollar bills. They were all neatly bundled and filled the case to its maximum.
"Dad! What the fuck! Where did this come from? Please don't tell me my dad had a secret life of some sort!" I stammered. My heart filled with dread at the revelations that this suitcase might reveal.
"No son! Don't get the wrong idea. All of that cash is legit. I didn't steal it if that is what you are implying." Almost as soon as he said that, I was filled with remorse. Here I was questioning the integrity of a man who was my father, my mentor and my confidant.
"Sorry dad. Maybe you could explain."
He took a slow drag on his beer and looked directly at me. I knew better than to try to interrupt. Patience was a virtue that both of my parents had instilled in me long ago, not by force, but by steadfast example in the way they went about their lives. Patience with each other's foibles, patience with the moods and tempers of growing children, patience with the ups and downs of the rollercoaster of the job market. "That money is a continuation of a similar stash which my father gave me, much the same way that I am giving it to you. Mind you," he added ruefully, a cheeky smile moving his lips, "My dad didn't give me quite that much!" At this point he laughed with that sound that seemed to come directly from his soul. My dad's laugh was always like that. Loud, infectious and sincere. "I just kept adding to it every chance I got. There weren't many chances while you were young you know. There were bills to pay. You know how it was."
I did remember how it was. We weren't rich in the usual sense. Our house was always moderate, not large and pretentious. We always went on holidays together, but not in an extravagant loud way. We ate out on special occasions, but never in the most flamboyantly-priced restaurants. We had money. We never had want of anything. Everything we needed, we had. Our clothes were comfortable and good quality, but never the most recent fashion. My mother always looked good with what I would always describe as 'normal' attire.
"Well, since your mother died," he paused in reflection, "I have been able to substantially add to the pile. Her insurance payout amounted to almost half of what is in there. No need to count it. I already have. There is $750,700 in there." This time I did choke on my beer. As I spluttered and heaved to get breath back into my alarmed lungs, Dad added, "I want you to have it. No one knows it exists, especially not the government. No damn taxes due on this lot! I trust you and I know in my heart the man you have become. I know that you will put this to good use when the need arises, just as I have done. I didn't splurge it on luxuries, I didn't give in to base desires for expensive things. I didn't feel the need to make myself high and mighty by splashing money around to buy friends. It was always there, patiently waiting until and if we ever needed it. Well, now I don't need it, so it's yours. Do with it as you will." He finished his beer. "Your mouth is still open. Do you want another beer?" he added as he handed me another.
"Dad, I don't know what to say. This is astounding, not only because of it's generosity, but because of the fact that it even exists in the first place. I can't accept this. If your health is as bad as you're telling me, you're going to need it to take care of the medical bills. This money could make your days extremely comfortable. Please don't give it to me!" I pleaded.
He just continued to stare at me and stated, "That's already taken care of. I leave tomorrow to go into the retirement village. The one that has high care units attached. Take it. As I said I trust you with it. Whatever you do, don't put it into a bank. The taxation department, the investment hounds and the dogs of the financial world will, sure as eggs, leach away the total. Those pricks have a way of getting fat off decent hard-working people's savings. Promise me that son!" As speechless as I was, I nodded ascent and we finished our beer. Plus another!
Dad did go into his unit, and true to his prediction, he died a short time later. He seemed to give up in those last weeks, not in the sense of despair, but more in the calm patient realisation that his time was at an end. He went to his rest peacefully and in a dignified manner.