Investing in memories

Damien waved at me as he entered the restaurant. “Yo! Father! Sorry I’m a bit late. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”

I stood up and pulled a chair for him. “Not at all, I was busy jotting down some ideas for this Sunday’s homily. How have things been with you and the fam?”

“Oh, pretty well, thanks to God and your constant prayer for us.” He motioned to the waitress to order something for lunch. “Anything special you want to order?”

“Not really.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I can eat anything you order.”

“Anything?” Damien winked at me. “Is that synonymous to the size of your hunger?”

“Well, if you say so, then it’s anything!” I chuckled.

“Okay, if you’re ready, Father, then I am! Waiter!”

* * *

“So how’s business doing these days? I read in the papers that competition has gotten quite tough.”

“Yeah, tough it is, but ain’t tough enough for me.” He balled his hand into a fist.

“Still the optimist I’ve known you to be, Damien. Any interesting investments lately?”

“Investments?” He started cutting into his roasted chicken. “Not much….”

“So things are pretty much the same, then?”

“Now that you ask me, I could say I’ve made the greatest investment of all times.” He propped himself proudly and distanced himself a little from the table. Damien usually did this when he was about to declare something important.

“What would that be?” I laid my utensils down and focused on what he was about to say.

“Memories!”

“Memories? Hey, unless you’re into some sci-fi investment you haven’t told me about, then I’m really interested. I’m not exactly getting any younger, you know,” I joked.

“Nope, not sci-fi, Father. Hard-core reality!” THUD! He slammed his hand on the table.

“Hey, sorry for my ignorance, but that’s kind of hard to understand. Who would even think of buying or investing on memories?”

“ME!” he exclaimed.

“Okay, you got me there. Let’s change the topic for now and enjoy the food.”

“Let’s not, Father!”

“Then could you explain how this thing works? But you’re not going to get me as your partner.”

“Well, my brother called me up yesterday. He told me how things were in the U.S. Then when there was not much to talk about, he thanked me for something I didn’t expect.”

“I get it, he owed you money?”

“Nope, guess again. You have two chances left, Father.”

“Sorry, I prefer not to take them. Let’s cut the suspense about such an intriguing thing as investing on memories.”

“Well, many years back I used to surprise him by treating him to take some snacks and treats to a mall.”

“So?”

“Well, the surprises became more frequent, and every weekend he would ask me if I was going to take him out.”

“Then … ?”

“That was my investment in the past.”

“Investment in the past …” I repeated.

“You remember good old Fr. Schuster?”

“Yeah, did he invest too?”

“No, he taught me how to invest in future memories. In our conversations, he encouraged me to make certain unseen sacrifices. Such intangible offerings, he said, ‘would one day be tangible in the form of memory returns.’”

“I think I’m beginning to get it.”

“And Fr. Schuster was right! My brother confided yesterday that he missed those surprises. Now, every time he would take a stroll with his son, he would tell him all about those treats I took him to. He said, ‘Thanks for being the best brother!’”

“Wow! That’s really an investment, something that can never be lost or stolen.”

“And something even better, Father.” His eyes twinkled with pride.

“What could be better?”

“A heavenly investment with these memories.”

“Heavenly?”

“Well, I never told my brother that all those surprises were possible since I spent my allowances on them. After what Fr. Schuster told me, I decided that instead of spending the money on myself, I would spend it to make my little bro happy! But at the same time, I felt that was investing on the future, with memories of the past to earn my way to Heaven!”

“Amen! But let’s not forget the present too!” I said as I dug my fork into the grilled steak that was getting cold.

“Agreed!” he laughed.