A short story from my notes:
Let me tell you a heartbreaking story:
There once lived a Man who died.
Yet while this Man lived he owned many things.
Once, before he died, the Man prepared a feast.
At this feast, gathered many people.
Now some where only there for the food;
Fewer came as acquaintances of the Man.
But all came with one thing in common: curiosity.
For the Man had claimed to be the richest man around.
That no person, lord, king or emperor was richer than He.
So confident was he, that he issued a challenge:
Anyone who could match his wealth would be granted a gift.
Naturally, every person wondered at this.
For what single gift could one rich Man grant one richer than He?
And so the mystery of the land was to be settled.
So the feast began and all were merry in the court of the Man.
There was of course plenty of food, wine, and entertainment.
Near the end of the evening, the Man stood and smiled to himself.
He raised a gold-rimmed glass of blood red wine; the crowd hushed.
And He asked His audience aloud, if any claimed riches beyond His.
Behind his smiling eyes, he silently prayed in his heart.
Then suddenly a chair scraping broke the silence.
Another man stood, far Younger and more attractive than the his host.
He raised his voice and answered with a proud tone: he was richer.
Twice times wealthier, in fact, than all the holdings of the Man.
The Young man made his way to the head table to claim his gift.
At his answer, the Man had straightened, eyes shining.
His smile grew wider and a joyful peel of laughter touched His lips.
He stepped down to meet the Young man, bowing before him.
Taking His finest goblet, He called a toast to the Young man and his health.
They all drank and the Young man said he would receive his promised gift.
Beaming with a jubilant grin, the Man took the Younger by the arm.
He guided the Younger up to the highest balcony of his manor.
From here every eye below could see them, and all the Man’s land lay before them.
The Man took the Younger by the shoulders, embracing him tightly.
Then with a ghastly rasp, he seized the Young man, gripping his arm.
His eyes suddenly darting this way and that, as a cornered rabbit on a hunt.
Dragging the Young man close, he whispered his gift near his ear.
The Younger man cried out in disbelief and horror as he beheld the Man’s face.
The color of the evening was gone in his countenance; his lips drained of blood.
There was a dark hollowness behind his eyes now the gift was revealed.
In the Younger man’s hand He pressed His ring, the seal of his family and titles.
What happened next does frighten the soul:
Then with another labored breath, He wrenched himself away from the Younger man.
In the blink of an eye and with a blood-chilling scream,
He hurled Himself off the highest balcony to meet the cold stone far below.
His gift was his wealth, and all that he owned.
His gift was the life he longer could hold.
UWC 