STUDENT ANTHOLOGIES EXCERPTS
 Victor Ly’s “Imagination is Your Greatest Treasure”
in Family Treasures: Stories of Family and Home Life by San Francisco
Youth
Treasures,
treasures, there are all kinds of treasures. But when you know how
to use this treasure wisely, then it will become your greatest treasure…
“Get
over here Raymond!” cried Linda. “Give me my food! I’m
hungry!” she screamed with rage.
Raymond
quickly came running from his cornfield and into the house. Raymond
was a young man who was tall, handsome, helpful, and well mannered.
He owned a cornfield just behind his house. But he planted and took
care of more than just corn. He was a full-time crop farmer…He
would’ve enjoyed his entire life, if it hadn’t been for
one problem—his own wife.
He
regretted marrying his lazy, bossy, unhelpful, and good-for-nothing
wife, Linda. She spent all her time sleeping…Linda also ate
a lot. Raymond worked in the field from when the sun rose until
the sun set and the moon began to appear.
One
hot Saturday evening, Raymond was watering the vegetable section
when an ancient, unknown man came strolling by. He carried a rusty,
wooden cane in his right hand, and in his left hand, he held a book
titled, Ways to Improve Your Life Using Your Imagination. At that
very instant, Raymond thought of a marvelous idea.
“What
if I try to borrow the book from him and let my wife read it!”
he thought with excitement and happiness. He then walked up to the
old man and uttered in a clear voice, “Hello, my name is Raymond.
What’s your name, and where did you come from?”
It
wasn’t the stranger who replied, but there was a slow whisper,
which sounded like a teenager speaking, coming from somewhere in
space.
“Is
it the book you want? Then take it.” It seemed to lift up the
old man’s left hand and hand the book to Raymond.
Raymond
grabbed the book in amazement and astonishment. He stared at the
book, and then slightly lifted his head up to begin to speak, but
to his surprise the man was gone. He guessed that he was daydreaming,
until he discovered that his very hands were holding the book!
He
suddenly ran with all his might to his house and told Linda what
had happened outside. Linda took the book from him and started reading
as if she was hypnotized. Raymond was so frightened he just jumped
into his wooden, homemade bed and tried to sleep. But try as he
might, he dozed off unsatisfied and had a spooky dream, or more
of a nightmare.
He
dreamt that he was once again, face to face with the stranger, and
again, space whispered, “Imagination is some valuable treasure.
Imagination is some valuable treasure.” He leaned forward and
sat up perspiring.
Rising
in the early morning, Raymond and Linda talked about the strange
and mysterious time in their lives.
After
a moment, Linda said, “Raymond, probably that old man you described
to me was real! Let’s try using more of our imaginations. That’s
probably the best explanation about all of this weirdness.”
They
were discussing imagination when the blazing morning sun came out
until the burning afternoon cam in. And for the rest of their lives,
they realized they could do many things with their imaginations.
Linda became a better wife to Raymond, and they spent more time
together doing tons of things.
Quickly,
ten years passed. They became older. One starless, magical night,
while both the husband and the wife were asleep, there came a low
soft whisper from nowhere.
“Imagination
is your greatest treasure. It is the passport to your dreams. Now
that you have learned how to use it, always remember to use it wisely.
Imagination is your greatest treasure. It is the passport to your
dreams.”
They
slept calmly for the rest of the night, each with a smile on their
face.
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