Original Holiday-Themed Short Story: Witness James Goodman

Excerpt from "Witness James Goodman:"

"When I was eighteen, I was apprenticing to be a stone mason. I liked the work, and I had some talent. My older brother was twenty-two at the time, and he was learning a different trade. One day our father told my brother he’d like him to put down his tools and tool belt, and become a teacher.”
“Was that because he wasn’t very good?”
James laughed. “Funny you should say that, because actually, he wasn’t very good. But that wasn’t why my father asked him. He had bigger plans for my brother.”
“And your brother went along with that?”
“He did. And with everything he had. And he became a very good teacher.”
“I’m glad it worked out for him. But what does that have to do with you?”
“Because when my father asked my brother to become a teacher, he also had a change of plans for me.”
“Let me guess – he wanted you to devote your life to the service of children.”
“No. I came up with that on my own, actually.” James paused as if for dramatic effect. “My father asked me – and these were his exact words – ‘to bear witness.’”
Sara shot James a perplexed look. “To bear witness?’”
“Yeah. I was confused, too. But my father is a man of few words. He is kind, and gentle, but powerful. And when he asks you to do something, he usually doesn’t have to ask twice.”
“But you eventually figured it out?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“My father meant, ‘to bear witness to everything that happens.’”
Sara was puzzled once again. “That’s your explanation?”
“Yes.”
Sara rolled her eyes. “You’re an interesting man, Mr. Goodman.”

** Read the full story HERE. **