To say Ms. Clark had a question expression would be an understatement. I see there’s really no way around it, without me Sam sounds crazy, and what four-year-old is crazy, the only repeat the craziness the grown-ups around them have. So I begin to tell Ms. Clark the entire story, about finding the treasure this morning in the roots of the hundred year old oak tree. We go to the dining room and Ms. Clark’s eyes widen as seen all the gold and silver spread out on the dining table.
Ms. Clark has her own story she shares with us. She begins, “Back when my grandfather was a young man he actually worked for John Thurgood. He talked about how good of men he was, how he kept most the county from starving to death during the depression. He said it didn’t matter to him who you were he treated everyone well. It always seemed he had enough to help someone, and everyone he helped truly needed it. Grandpa remark the more John helped the happier the man was. It seemed like money fell out of the sky for him to give away. He handed my grandpa double Eagle one day. Your ancestor said it was a bonus for such good work he had done. This was back in the day when you work an entire month for a dollar in wages. Your great grandpa may only have run the grocery store, but he financed most of Main Street including that old movie theater your Mom is renovating. When that mob from out of town held up his grocery, John and his wife lost their life protecting the children that were in the store. The whole County came to the funeral. His son George carried on for him, until World War II. The Thurgoods have been a major influence in this county for over a hundred years.”
Ms. Clark says, “As for you and Kathryn being fourth cousins I don’t see that as a problem, and Sam is your fourth cousin as well. That isn’t anything to consider in the adoption. Although we just found out Sam has a godfather. He’s Capt. Ron Davis just returned from Afghanistan. He said he would like to meet you. I told him how much Sam loves you and Kathryn. All Ron wants is Sam’s wellbeing. I assured him that was my goal as well.”
I smile before I say, “It looks like were on the same page then.”
Sam asks, “Ms. Clark if you don’t need me I want to go swimming. I haven’t had a chance today.”
Taking the package Ms. Clark is handing me it has the first and second grade materials for homeschooling. Sam will be old enough to attend kindergarten this fall. I don’t see that happening especially since the division of the treasure will make Sam multimillionaire. It would be too dangerous for Sam and anyone around her. I’m not sending her off to a private school that specializes in teaching children of the ultra-rich. If I have to I will hire teachers to instruct Sam here at home.
Showing the books to Sam before she goes I tell her, “Sam I was homeschooled when I was a little older than you. Ms. Clark has brought you the materials so you can start homeschooling too. Mommy and I will teach you Sam, or we can hire a nice teacher to help us.”
Sam asks, “Is it like stuff like reading?”
I tell Sam, “Yes, and a lot more things, like math, science, geography and a lot of subjects.”
Sam asked, “What is science?”
That’s actually a bigger question then Sam realized, it made me think before I say, “Science is the study of how things work. Like light moves faster than sound, we know that because a scientist figured it out for us.”
Sam giggles, “Am I a scientist? Because I figured that one out, because lightning you see it before you hear the boom it makes.”
I answer Sam, “Yes you are, but there are a lot of things to discover yet. We study science, so we don’t have to rediscover everything someone else had done before. It makes the new discoveries easier if you know what someone has done before.”
Sam giggles, “I see Daddy. I don’t know how fast light moves, I know it’s faster than sound.”
Ms. Clark smiling says, “Sam you’re such a smart young lady school isn’t going to be hard for you at all.”
Sam giggles and says, “I like learning new things. Like if you see lightning and hear the thunder less than five seconds later, you need to get inside a house or a car.”
Smiling Ms. Clark says, “That’s a very important safety rule Sam. Who taught you that?”
Sam says, “Mommy and Daddy did last night. Mommy also said never stay under a tree during a thunderstorm.”
Ms. Clark sent Sam off to go swimming after that, she needed to talk about the captain privately. Once we are alone Ms. Clark says, “I don’t know about this Capt. Davis. He’s not someone with a legal claim to Sam. You being Sam’s fourth cousin that would make you and your family Sam’s closest living relatives. Because of fourth cousins it doesn’t really strengthen your case, or hurt it either way. The captain had a bunch of questions. He wanted to know a lot of private information about you. A lot of information I was not at liberty to give him. It may be just concerned that you maybe someone trying to you Sam’s wealth. After all she is a multimillionaire with the life insurance policies that went to her trust fund.”
I tell Ms. Clark, “Just have him Google me. What I’m going to tell you is just between the two of us. Sam is a multi-millionaire maybe even a billionaire, some the treasure we found was old stocks. The companies are still around and worth billions. The stock is going to be divided among the family and Sam is one of the branches that will be getting a large share.”
Ms. Clark asks, “Will you?”
I tell Ms. Clark, “My mother will. I already have more money than I will ever spend. I keep making more of it without trying to. Kathryn and I are over two billion and I thought I was not going to make that much until this December.”
Ms. Clark asks, “Did you just say Sam could have more money than you?”
I say, “I wouldn’t mind, but it will be locked in a trust fund for Sam. Kathryn and I will not need it. It will be there for Sam when she is older. When Sam is grown and leaves to make her life of her own. We’ll do what we’re going to do for all our children and give her a hundred million to start life with.”
Ms. Clark says, “You know you don’t act like the typical rich person I keep hearing about. Until you say something like that I forget you are. The best my parents could do for me was help a little with my college expenses.”
I tell Ms. Clark, “If your parents are like most should really think them. It might have not been a hundred million dollars, but they didn’t have that to give you. They gave you what they could, even if it meant they went without. I’ve been luckier than most people when it comes to money. But I would give it up a hundred times over to not have lost my father.”
A thoughtful Miss Clark says, “Like the story of the two pennies. It’s all relative to what you have. I see your point JJ. I’m really lucky to still have both my parents. I should thank them more often.”
I say, “Sometimes we all neglect to remember how much our loved ones do for us. They only expect us to pass it on to our children. Hopefully we’ll make their grandchildren’s lives better in the process.”
Ms. Clark gives me a hug and says, “After work today I guess I should see about taking my Mom and Dad out to dinner just to think them.”
With a smile I say, “I’m sure that will make them happy.”
Ms. Clark has not seen Sam doing laps before. The last time she was here and saw Sam’s swimming she wore her lifejacket continuously. Now Sam gets out of the pool taking off her lifejacket Sam runs and dives into the pool. Ms. Clark is watching. I have my back to the pool. Ms. Clark’s expression shows her surprise and concern at Sam’s actions.
I chuckle before I say, “It is the first time you seen Sam doing her laps, I had to stop Daniel from diving in after her. I swear Sam must be part mermaid the way the girl can swim. She’s up to around twenty laps now.”
Ms. Clark finally giggles, “I forgot the Coach had been training her. It’s not normal for a four-year-old to be swimming like that, but Sam definitely is not your normal four-year-old.”
Continuing my chuckling I agree, “Sam has no idea what her potential is, and neither do I. We always let her go as quickly as she likes. We’re trying not to push but only encourage Sam to go as fast as she wants. I’m fortunate that I don’t have anything that would hold me back from helping her.”
Ms. Clark shakes her head smiling she says, “By the time that girl is ten years old she probably will have finished high school. Training to swim the English Channel already is that right?”
I shake my head yes, “The Coach is especially goal oriented. He wanted to give Sam a goal more than just learning how to swim. Sam seems to like the idea. Even though we told her if she doesn’t want to it’s not something we would require of her. We did tell her, we would support her if that’s what she desired.”
Ms. Clark gives me a date for her next visit, she says she’ll talk to Capt. Davis and give him our number so he can arrange his visit. I think her and she gives me a smile as she leaves.
That evening we celebrated our good fortune with good friends who actually share the meal with us. It feels odd having the restaurant all to ourselves, but its Bobby’s and Mary’s dinner and their celebration were sharing.
I give a toast to us, “Our fortune is only truly good when it is shared, and may it always be shared with family and friends.”
Everyone answers, “To family and friends.”
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