A Penny's Worth

A short story that I've written for my son, based on an actual penny, the 1974 aluminum cent.

One man's contribution of a single penny may have seemed like a rotten, insult to the Salvation Army.

He didn't explain anything to the young boy collecting the donations, but the young boy didn't ignore

the gesture. The man simply praised the boy for his good deeds, and went on his way.

The boy had an innate ability to recognize good people. He was tender hearted and fairly intelligent.

He glanced down at the coin and noticed that it was perfect. He felt embarrassed when he reached into

the collection to pick out the penny. He had hoped that nobody would see and think that he was being

greedy or thievish. He was just curious.

The penny was dated 1974. How can a penny from thirty-nine years ago look so new? It must be an

error. He took a penny from his pocket to substitute the shiny one that the man had donated. On his

way home, he stopped at the local pawn shop. He wasn't looking to sell or pawn the coin, but he knew that some pennies were valuable, and his instincts told him that the penny was worth more than it's face value.  The man behind counter instantly seized the coin and

told him that it was just a useless penny.

The pawn shop clerk gave the young boy the jitters, and he decided to leave. He never saw the penny

again. He was upset that the Salvation Army had lost such a beautiful gift, but he didn't allow himself

to get bent out of shape over it. He didn't understand why the man kept the penny, and it wasn't in his

character to question an adult.

When the boy got home he told his father the story. The father took his son to the pawn shop and

insisted that the penny be returned to the boy. The man strutted past them and said that he had sent it

out as a donation, but the boy knew that the man was being deceitful.

Several weeks later, the man at the pawn shop was arrested for attempting to sell an illegal item. The

boy learned later that he had attempted to sell a 1974 aluminum penny that had been recalled and

deemed to be the property of the secret service.  This particular penny is possibly the most sought after coin by collectors, and the pawn shop clerk was knowledgeable of valuable coins. 

One year later while the boy was collecting donations, he once again saw the man that had donated the

coin. He asked the man if he knew that the coin was forbidden. The man looked the boy straight in the

eyes and emphasized the meaning of wealth and happiness.

He said, “Happiness is a universal ambition. No matter where you go in the world, everyone seeks

happiness. Greed can destroy a man. A penny is worthless without greed, and if a man gives

permission for greed to take charge of his life, he bonds himself to a life of poverty. Not necessarily in

a financial way, but within the heart. ”

The young boy instantly understood.

Years later, he still thinks about the mysterious stranger. A person he had met only twice in his life,

who had taught him more than anyone else in this world.

Reviews

[TLK]

"On his way home, he stopped at the local pawn shop. The man behind counter instantly seized the coin and told him that it was just a useless penny."

I'm not sure why the boy showed the penny at the pawn shop: this part is not explained in the text. I am also not sure why he let someone grab it from him.

[Maya]

Very good point, I guess I need to find a happy medium between being too descriptive and not enough.