温馨夜读II PART3 3.The Importance of Time（在线收听）

[00:00.51]3.The Importance of Time

[00:06.28]There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son.

[00:15.10]He was working on his future and nothing could stop him.

[00:19.13]Over the phone his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night.

[00:24.15]The funeral is Wednesday.”

[00:25.99]Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel.

[00:29.48]“Jack, did you hear me?”

[00:31.87]“Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him.” Jack said.

[00:38.41]“Well, he didn’t forget you.

[00:41.24]Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing.

[00:44.18]He’d reminisce about the many days you spent with him,” Mom told him.

[00:48.21]“He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

[00:56.48]Jack kept his word and attended Mr. Belser’s funeral.

[01:00.30]The night before he returned home Jack and his Mom went to see Mr. Belser’s old house one more time.

[01:07.05]Standing in the doorway Jack paused for a moment.

[01:10.86]It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.

[01:15.54]Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture...Jack stopped suddenly.

[01:22.95]“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

[01:26.54]“The box is gone,” he said.

[01:29.26]“What box?” Mom asked.

[01:32.09]“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.

[01:37.10]I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.

[01:40.59]All he’d ever tell me was, ‘The thing I value most.’

[01:44.29]Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said.

[01:48.21]It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died.

[01:51.91]One day Jack discovered a parcel list in his mailbox.

[01:56.26]Early the next day Jack retrieved the package.

[01:59.86]The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

[02:04.54]“Mr. Harold Belser,” it read.

[02:07.59]Jack tore it open. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.

[02:12.93]Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.

[02:15.76]“Upon my death please forward this box to Jack Bennett.

[02:20.99]It’s the thing I value most in my life.”

[02:23.70]His heart raced as tears filled his eyes.

[02:27.73]Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

[02:33.95]He opened the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! — Harold Belser.”

[02:42.82]“The thing he valued most...was...my time.”

[02:48.28]Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days

[02:54.84]…he needed some time to spend with his wife and son.