He lived in a small town, called “Abner Hill”. Everyone was related. There was a small population of 500 people in the town. The opportunities were very limited, as you can imagine. The post office had a few jobs, as did the shoe shop, that was attached to the shoe factory. The two grocery stores, were owned and managed by the local families. There was no library, so the small bookshop, that was owned by Jack’s parents, shared a space, as a reading room, at the back of the shop. A number of the residents worked in the local hospital and in the school. There were a few places of worship, which were always well attended.
Jack had been online and found a job in the city. He was going to work at a newspaper office, as he had some experience of having worked in the small local newspaper. Jack was in his late teens, and he was ready for this big new adventure. He was looking forward to the big change in his life. He was ready to say goodbye to his parents and to his younger brother, Ryan.
It was a Friday, night when Jack took a bus to the city. It was an eight-hour journey. He had packed his bags. His mother, Eloise and father Raymond, were sad to let him go. They knew that Jack was very excited about his new job, so they did not stop him.
Ten years later, Jack went back home to the small town of “Abner Hill”. Things had changed for him over the past decade. His parents, Eloise and Raymond, had passed away. His brother, Ryan, had moved to Canada, and was working as an aircraft engineer. The small bookshop was sold, to the butcher’s daughter, Jane.
Jack’s life had taken a different path. When he went to the city, he got the job as a sub-Editor for the newspaper. One year later, the newspaper office shut down. Jack was unemployed. He met a few of the wrong people, and they took him on a very different path. Jack was released from prison, after eight years. He was arrested on charges of armed robbery and several bank heists.
He was glad to be back home in his small town of “Abner Hill”. Furthermore, he looked around the town, as he and a small boy stepped out of the bus. A familiar face greeted him.
“Hi, Jack, is that you?”, said a pretty young woman, with a large shopping trolley, followed by two young children, a boy and a girl.
“Hi, Susie”, said Jack, with a broad smile on his face. He remembered his college crush, and she looked the same.
“Who is this young man?”
“My son, Raymond. Named after his granddad”.
The young nine-year-old smiled at the young woman.
“Will you be staying?”
Jack looked around the small town, at the three banks on the main street, and said confidently, “I sure will. I am looking forward to living here again.”
“Aren’t you going back to the city?”
“Nothing to go back to. I plan to visit the newspaper office, to see if they have any jobs”
“You’re just in time. My Dad, has a job going in the newspaper office, they need a new Editor.”
“Thanks, Susie, I will meet him and put in my application. Thank you for telling me.”
“We can go for coffee later,” said Susie with a smile.
“Yes, that would be great.”
In life, we make plans for the future, yet things happen, and our lives can change. Life is a thrilling journey, so make the most of every day. There are always decisions and choices we must make. Make the right choices in life.