Thenarrator’sfamilywasnotwell-off.Yeteversincehewasyoung,hisfatherwasdeterminedthathewoldgotocollege.Howdidthefathermanagetoprovidethesonwithacollegeeducation?Whatwasitaboutthepicklejarthatleftthenarratorandhiswifesomoved?
AsfarbackasIcanremember,thelargepicklejarsatonthefloorbesidethedresserinmyparents’bedroom.
Whenhegotreadyforbed,Dadwouldemptyhispocketandtosshiscoinsintothejar.AsasmallboyIwasalwaysfascinatedatthesoundsthecoinsmadeastheyweredroppedintothejar.Theylandedwithamerryjinglewhenthejarwasalmostempty.Thenthetonesgraduallymutedtodullthudasthejarwasfilled.Iusedtosquatonthefloorinthefrontofthejarandadmirethecopperandsilvercirclesthatglintedlikeapiratetreasurewhenthesunpouredthroughthebedroomwindow.
Whenthejarwasfilled,Dadwouldsitatthekitchentableandrollthecoinsbeforetakingthemtothebank.Takingthecoinstothebankwasabigproductions.Stackedneatlyinthecardboardbox,thecoinswasplacedbetweenDadandmeontheseatofhisoldtruck.Eachandeverytime,aswedrovetothebank,Dadwouldlookatmehopefully.“Thosecoinsaregoingtokeepyououtofthetextilemill,son.Youaregoingtodobetterthanme.Thisoldmilltownisnotgoingtoholdyouback.”Also,eachandeverytime,asDadslidtheboxofrolledcoinsacrossthecounteratthebanktowardcashier,hewouldgrinproudly.“Thesearemyson’scollegefund.He’llnever
workatthemillallhislifelikeme.”
Wewouldcelebrateeachdepositbystoppingforanicecreamcone.Ialwaysgotchocolate.Dadalwaysgotvanilla.WhentheclerkattheicecreamparlorhandedDadhischarge,hewouldshowmethefewcoinsnestledinhispalm.“Whenwegethome,wewillstartfillingthejaragain.”
Healwaysletmedropthefirstcoinsintotheemptyjar.Astheyrattledaroundwithabrief,happyjingle,wegrinnedateachother.“Youwillgettothecollegeonpennies,nickles,dimes,andquarters.”hesaid.“Butyouwillgetthere.Iwillseetothat.”
Theyearspassed,andIfinishedcollegeandtookajobinanothertown.Whilevisitingmyparents,Iusedthephoneinmyparents’bedroom,andnoticedthatthepicklejarwasgone.Ithadserveditspurposeandhadbeenremoved.AlumproseinmythroatasIstaredatthepotwherethepicklejarhadalwaysstood.MyDadwasamanoffewwords,andneverlecturedmeonthevalueofdetermination,perseverance,andfaith.Thepicklejarhadtaughtmeallthevirtuesfarmoreeloquentlythanthemostflowerywordscouldhavedone.
WhenImarried,ItoldmywifeSusanaboutthesignificantpartthepicklejarhadplayedinmylifeasaboy.Inmymind,itdefinedmorethananythingelse,howmuchmyDadhadlovedme.Nomatterhowroughthingsgotathome,Dadcontinuedtodoggedlydropthecoinsintothejar.EventhesummerwhenDadgotlaidofffromthemill,andMomhadtoservedriedbeansseveraltimesaweek,notasingledimewastakenfromthejar.Tothecontrary,asDadlookedacrossthetableatme,pouringthe
catsupovermybeanstomakethemmorepalatable,hebecomemoredeterminedthanevertomakeawayoutforme.“Whenyoufinishcollege,son.”hetoldme,hiseyesglistening.“Youwillneverhavetoeatbeansunlessyouwantto.”
ThefirstChristmasafterourdaughterJessicawasborn,wasspenttheholidaywithmyparents.Afterdinner,MomandDadsatnexttoeachotheronthesofa,takingturnscuddlingtheirfirstgrandchild.JessicabegantowhimpersoftlyandSusantookherfrommyDad’sarms.“Sheprobablyneedtobechanged.”shesaid,carryingthebabyintomyparents’bedroomtodiaperher.
WhenSusancamebackintothelivingroom,therewasastrangemistinhereyes.ShehandedJessicabacktomyDadbeforetakingmyhandandleadingmeintotheroom.“Look,”shesaid,hereyesdirectingmetoaspotbesidethedresser.Tomyamazement,there,asifithadneverbeenremoved,stoodtheoldpicklejar,thebottomalreadycoveredwithcoins.
Iwalkedovertothepicklejar,dugdownintomypocket,andpulledoutafistfulofcoins.Withagamutofemotionschockingme,Idroppedthecoinsintothejar.IlookedupandsawthatDad,carryingJessica,hadslippedquietlyintotheroom.Oureyelocked,andIknewhewasfeelingthesameemotionsIfelt.Neitheroneofuscouldspeak.
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