The Uncashed Bank Deposit

Amidst intermittent sobs, Eunice (in her late thirties) gently fixed her old and rusty 6-year-old, pair of eyeglasses firmly on her face. It was her duty to tidy up her late father's room, and she's been on this task all day when her eyes caught an old greeting card. Her father has always fondly talked about a particular "thank you" greeting card but she had never paid any attention to it. "This must be the card father has always spoken of", she said to herself.

Observing her very closely, one could tell that she hasn't fully recovered from the grief of her father's loss just three days ago. She knows so well she can never recover from it in a long time. To her, Mr. Francis Edet, her late father, was the most wonderful man to ever walk this earth. In fact, she almost can't find any adjective suitable enough to describe how precious he was, and what he meant to her.

But now, what could have prompted the need for her pair of eyeglasses? Well, she's simply interested in the contents of this "greeting card" neatly tucked in a pile of some of her father's old dusty books. She was so curious, knowing full well it must be the same card that her father had always spoken to her about and kept jealously all his life.

In that same spirit of curiosity, she adjusted the left arm of her eyeglasses when she noticed stylish, well-crafted handwriting on the card, which reads:

... a token of my appreciation for saving my son's life four days ago. You are indeed one of the few bravest policemen that remains in your nation. - Orville C. Prasky

Cold tears are now beginning to stream down her face. As the deceased's only child, old memories are now filling up her mind. She vividly recalled how her father served his nation selflessly before he retired 9years ago as a secret service detective with the nation's police force.

This 'greeting card' was a reward for his efforts when he bravely and single-handedly rescued an expatriate's son from the den of very deadly kidnappers many years ago. He got the parcel as presented to him by the state's commissioner of police himself.

But the sad irony is that, in spite of Lt. Francis' selflessness and patriotism during active service, he died struggling to make ends meet. Mrs. Eunice however, would not stop being proud of her late father who was known all over his neighborhood for impeccable honesty, wisdom, and contentment. Everyone in the neighborhood testifies of his kindness and jovial nature as well.

Suddenly, as she was about to drop the card, she noticed that the card has a thin nylon film behind it. And in between the film and the paper part of the card, she could feel another paper sheet. To satisfy her curiosity she peeped in and noticed that there was actually a medium-sized paper sheet. 

Certainly, not even her father has ever scrutinized the card this much...

"What could this be?" She got curious. She carefully peeled the thin nylon film and alas! what she found was amazing! It was a page from a checkbook. The Bank of America cheque reads.

"kindly pay Mr. Edet Francis a sum of 4.5 million dollars."

Then, directly behind the card was written:

"Dear Francis, attached to this parcel is a token of my appreciation for the efforts you made to rescue my kidnapped son. I count my son more important than every dollar bill I've ever worked for. All my savings domiciled with the Bank of America, I hereby pass on to you. I've asked the state commissioner to communicate this parcel to you, as I must have been on my flight back to Finland by the time you get to read this. Do make sure you cash the cheque within 1 week as I wish you the very best in your policing career."

Regards,

-Orville C. Prasky

To be continued ...