The Man And His Burlap Sack
"How could such a small thing weigh so much?", Johnny asked himself.
It was hot and the sweat was dripping from Johnny's brow. He had been walking all day and needed to rest.
A proud sycamore tree perched on a hill in the distance was a welcome sight for the tired traveler.
As Johnny inched closer to the welcoming shadow under the tree, he couldn't help notice how much heavier his burlap sack had become. The brown sack swung ever so slightly between each stride.
When Johnny reached the shade of the great sycamore, he swung the sack in front of him and propped it up against the tree. He let out a sigh and took a moment to gaze across the landscape. He noticed some cows grazing on long green grass in the adjacent field. It was quiet.
Johnny sat against the thick trunk of the sycamore and stared at his burlap sack. He tried to remember the exact moment he had first laid eyes on it, but he couldn't remember. Could it have been when he visited the farmer's market with his mother all those years ago? His memory failed him and he quickly gave up.
Johnny closed his eyes and rested his head against the tree. He thought back to the moment he had decided to leave California and never return. He felt angry... and then depressed. He felt alone.
He then looked back at his burlap sack and thought to himself, "when last did I open that god-forsaken sack?".
It had been a long time since Johnny had opened his burlap sack. It had been so long he couldn't even list its contents.
He opened the sack and stuck in his hand. His hand searched the sack for a few seconds before panic set in. He lifted himself onto his knees so he could lean over the sack and look inside. He spread open the mouth of the sack and peered in.
The sack was empty except for a small mirror. He picked up the mirror and looked at it. His tired eyes and dusty face looked right back at him.
"How could such a small thing weigh so much?", Johnny asked himself.