The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

a toy store. Each of the children repeatedly asked for various toys, but their parents regrettably told them that Santa Claus probably wouldn’t come this year since their father had lost his job. While the children were at the end of another aisle looking at some stuffed animals, I handed the mother $300 and asked her to be sure that Santa made it to their house this year.
    “As I was leaving the mall, I noticed an old woman sitting on a bench. As I passed, she dropped her purse, and when I picked it up to hand it back to her, I noticed that she had been crying. When I asked her what the problem was, she told me that her husband, Harold, and she had been married fifty-seven years and, for the first time in their lives, they just couldn’t make it. His heart pills cost over $60 a month, and the pharmacy in the mall wouldn’t take her food stamps for the medicine. I spent $200 buying a three-month supply of Harold’s heart medication and leaving her $20 to take him out for his favorite lunch.”
    Jason looked at me expectantly, and I smiled at him and said, “It sounds good so far, but you were instructed to find five examples.”
    Jason appeared more nervous than ever as he explained, “While driving one day, I discovered a car broken down at the side of the road. I got out and met a young man named Brian. He’s about my age, and we found we have a lot in common. I used my cell phone to call a tow truck, and they towed him into a garage. The mechanic said the engine in the car was really shot and needed to be replaced.
    “Brian was totally panicked because he needed the car to get back and forth to school and work. The mechanic said it would cost $700. Brian nearly went into shock because he didn’t have any money, so I gave him the $700 he needed to get a new engine.”
    Ever efficient Miss Hastings seemed to have an emotional quiver in her voice as she said, “Sir, that seems to add up to $1,800. I believe the original document called for only $1,500.”
    Jason seemed alarmed as he leaned forward in his chair and said, “Well, I put in $300 of my own money. Is that okay?”
    Miss Hastings beat me to the punch and replied, “Of course, it’s okay. Mr. Hamilton is a fair and reasonable man.”
    She glared at me and said, “Aren’t you, Mr. Hamilton?”
    I assured both Jason and the indomitable Miss Hastings that I was fair and reasonable, and Jason had learned an important lesson in the value of money. I hoped he would never forget his lesson. I knew I never would.

FIVE
     
    THE GIFT OF FRIENDS
     
    It is a wealthy person, indeed,
who calculates riches
not in gold but in friends.
    The next morning, Miss Hastings let me know that Jason Stevens had arrived and would be waiting in the conference room. After his successful journey into the realm of work and money, I had hoped that his sullen attitude would have improved; however, upon entering the conference room, I rapidly discovered this was not the case. Before I could even sit down, he started in on me.
    “Look. Why do I have to go through all this stuff? This is ridiculous. You have a copy of the will. You must know what it is that I’m going to inherit. Why don’t we just cut through all the garbage and get down to the bottom line?”
    I smiled at him and said, “Good morning, Jason. It’s nice to see you, too. I had hoped after your great-uncle’s lesson in money, you would be more understanding of this process.”
    I rose to my feet slowly—which is not unusual when you’re eighty years old. I gave him a stare that I had used successfully during my years as a judge. “Young man,” I said, “you have two—and only two—options. You can go through this process the way Red Stevens laid it out for you, or you can quit right now; but I will tell you one thing, your attitude is putting you dangerously close to losing the ultimate gift that your great-uncle planned for you.”
    Jason leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Okay, let’s get on with