What is your legacy story?

Billy’s Seed Story

Frank and Billy sat on the end of the cliff watching the sunset. Their skinny, scuffed legs dangled over the side, unhindered by a strong footing. Had their mothers been close by, they would have both been dragged by their ears back down the path towards the cottage. The lifelong friends knew every crevice, every pocketed surface of the granite climbs. Climbs they were sure to never boast about to their mothers.

“You see all those trees over there by the dam?” Frank pointed towards their favourite swimming spot. I am going to grow a bunch of money trees. Enough to buy this whole resort.

“Money trees?” scoffed Billy. “Now I know you have had too much sun.”

“You could do it too,” said Frank as he reached for his backpack. “Take this avocado pit. Put two match sticks in it and suspend it in some water.”

“Yeah, but this is an avocado pit. It won’t grow money.”

“It will if you have a whole bunch of them and you sell the avocados. The harvest will make money.”

“So you want us to be farmers?” Billy frowned and turned the pit over in his hand.

“Sort of…” Frank stared back out towards the tree tops glowing under the soft orange light of the setting sun.

“Hey!” Billy punched Frank on the shoulder. “What do you mean, sort of? Have you seen our garden? It is the size of a dingy garage stop bathroom.”

“It’s not your garden that is small. It is your soggy brain,” groaned Frank. “The avocado is a symbol. Just plant it and when you do, for each day you take care of it, put a single coin in a jar.”

“A coin every day? What kind of coin?”

“Whatever you can find? People are always dropping coins somewhere. On the street, outside the store. Only you can’t steal it, or borrow it. You must find it. Then have another jar and write one dream every day and put it into that jar.”

“We are going to high school next year. That is hard work, man,” protested Billy. “Sipho says he hardly gets to play soccer anymore. Now you want me to be a farmer.”

“Then do it for my dad, Billy. You know how much he loves plants. You can show him a photo of it when you come to say goodbye.”

“That’s low man. Even for you,” Billy looked away. He had cried just as much as Frank when the lab report had arrived. They both knew that they had months, maybe a year, at best left with Frank’s dad.

Old Man Walter was the only father Billy had ever known. Every year, he booked this place and invited Billy and his mother. When Frank got new hiking boots for the trip, so did Billy. When Frank got a new parker jacket, so did Billy. These holidays were Billy’s only escape from the tiny apartment he and his mother called home. Frank was Old Man Walter’s only child and one who had come to him late in life. He cherished the years he had with this gift, but the old man was running out of time. The now frail man’s body had betrayed him, but his mind was as sharp as a tiger’s tooth. He had tried to teach Billy to grow vegetables in one of those vertical gardens, but Billy never had the patience.

“Fine!” Billy yanked the avocado pit out of Frank’s hand.

“And here is something else.” Frank handed Billy a notebook.

“What’s this?” Billy stared at the notebook.

“Write one story a day,” said Frank.

“No way. I am not doing that.”

“Billy, please! You tell stories all the time. Crazy, bad ass stories. You make my father laugh. Soon the doctors will only allow immediate family to see him and then I can read your stories to him.”

Billy angrily wiped away a tear and turned away from Frank. ”Fine, I will do it. Can we just leave now?”

Billy slammed the door when they got back into the cottage, and Frank trudged towards his father’s room to relieve the nurse.

“I did what you asked.” Frank told his father, as he turned over the loose wedding ring on his father’s finger.

Old Man Walter nodded and squeezed his son’s hand. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“What is going on in that scheming brain of yours, dad?”

“Billy’s life is still small,” wheezed the old man. “He thinks it is always going to remain that way… But that one seed has power. We could have given him another smaller seed…” He pointed to the glass of water on the table and Frank held it to his father’s lips.

“… but…” the old man continued. “The avocado seed can grow without being in soil, and he needs to see it grow as a reminder. Just like that… seed will grow into a tree that will yield more avos in the future. His stories will grow from delighting one old dying man to touching the hearts of many.”

Old Man Walter closed his eyes for a moment and gestured towards the oxygen mask. Frank held it in place until his father waved his hand.

“…The coins he finds represent all the individual sales his books will have. Over time, they will spill out of that jar and then he can invest in a publisher, a cover artist and an editor. Billy has the gift of storytelling in his heart. I won’t be around to watch it grow. But I can see the gift of leadership flourish in you as you guide him through this process. This is your gift. You help others to grow their gifts.

“Dad… Can’t I just be a boy? A boy who has to say goodbye to his father.”

“Ah, my son. I would do anything to watch you grow into a man.” The old man closed his eyes again. “But there is a saying. ‘To those whom much has been given, much will be asked.’ I was granted you in a time of my life where I had almost given up hope. Now I have to teach you to be a man in so little time. Do not deny me the gift of watching your gift grow and flourish in my lifetime. Grant me my legacy.”

Frank kissed his father’s hand and lowered his head to weep. Old Man Walter heaved his ailing body up and kissed his son on the top of the head.

“You will become the man I see inside your eyes. I am proud of you, my son.”

______

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Kim is a multi-talented South African author, speaker, trainer, coach and publisher who has been helping authors, entrepreneurs and knowledge workers build their brands for over 20 years.

With a passion for bringing wisdom back into the art of storytelling, Kim has touched the hearts of many with her medieval fantasy series, while also empowering aspiring authors to turn their dreams into reality.

Kim's super power lies in using crushing events to transform not only herself but also the hearts and minds of others.

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