Sadness, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life

Here’s the thing about my life, I’m a guy who has everything and nothing. My parents died before I was six and I was raised in the care of my  dreadful uncle. A stubborn man as he may be he posses  the title “multimillionaire”. Living with a person who has money to burn would be a dream come true for most people. For me this is a prison without bars. My uncle has never been fond of me. Taking me in after my parents died he warped me to be his slave.

“Get up boy!” he snarled, “Get up and get my coffee!”

Clumsily and wearily Will got up and tumbled out his room and down the main staircase. He reached the kitchen and started his morning routine.

“Hurry it up now boy, I ain’t got all mornin’!”

“Yes, uncle.” Will grunted in reply.

Will reluctantly handed the mug over to his uncle, who merely grunted in reply. He was about the leave and get prepared for school and wake up the chauffeur, Jay, when his uncle called him back over.

“Go get ready for school and tell Jay to take the day off, you can walk through the rain.”

Will stood there paralyzed, partly because of fear and partly because of anger. It would be a nearly seven mile walk in the midst of a thunderstorm. He was about to unleash a frenzy of complaints and then shrugged off the urge to do so. It was a miserable journey for a miserable life he thought.

Only 2 miles out Will was already chilled to the bone and soaking wet. As raindrops danced on the top of his head he thought about his life. He recalled the precious few times he had smiled, the precious few times he had laughed, the precious few times he had enjoyed life. The more he considered this the slower he walked and eventually Will stopped. He fell to his knees and prayed, he prayed for a sign. A sign that would reassure him his life would get better. Suddenly he felt warmth on his face. Will opened his eyes to see a crack of light in the wall of death that ruled the sky.

It lit up what seemed to be a pathway starting at Will and ending at the doors of the BP on the side of the street. Without questioning or thinking Will got up and walked on a new path of hope. He opened the door and walked up to the counter.

“Can I help you lad?” The man behind the counter asked.

Author's Note: Some people are very ungrateful for the basic essentials in life. They mistake food, water, family, and shelter for essentials that will always be there. However, some people actually understand it.

Will shook his head. “Just looking.” He stated.

The man nodded several times and went back to restocking lottery tickets.

“Wait, would it be alright if I bought a scratch-off?”

“Umm… if you can pay for it I guess.”

Will gave the man money for the ticket and started scratching. His first symbol was a pineapple, one of the jackpot symbols. The second was also a pineapple, as well as the third, fourth, and fifth. Will stared at this ticket. He stared at it until his head hurt. With the money from the jackpot he could get away from his uncle and set up a new life for himself. No more pain or slavery to his cruel uncle. No more sorrow or suffering. Will let a smile escape from his lips. These thoughts could soon be his future. He felt awkward as if he were committing a crime. Then he realized he was. He took the ticket and ripped it into several pieces. After he cast the pieces to the ground he started to laugh. He just kept laughing harder and harder, so hard he almost lost his balance.

“You OK over there, lad?” The man behind the counter asked.

Will recovered from his laughter and said “Yes sir I’m alright.”

He realized that he was fortunate to live with a wealthy man, fortunate to have a wealthy uncle who can give him food, shelter, and pay for his education. The way his uncle acts towards him was just the weight on the other side of the scale to make sure his life was balanced with happiness and despair.