The Box

He�d kept it all through childhood, safely underneath his bed in the small chest of treasures.

Inside his battered, inappropriately floral, suitcase accompanying his teen-aged self between parents� houses, it remained.

It had survived college, in his dorm-room, equipped with a door locking out unappealing parties.

But �She� had proven too dangerous. He sat, studying the appraiser�s face, awaiting the final figure, hoping for at least enough to cover the divorce from the wife who�d forced him to toss out so many things.

�It�s a shame. You�d have enough to retire off this - if only you�d kept the box.�