I think every family has that one piece of wood, metal, or just something that moves with them from age to age and from one apartment to another. Sometimes even when it is clearly of no use to the entire family, this particular thing still follows them when moving or changing residence and is one of the first things that is moved because it is something that has been passed down from generation to generation and is treasured even though it is of no value to others who do not understand it; the family values it, or one person from the family who understands the history or the origin of that particular thing will always stand to make sure it is not misplaced or lost when moving.
For my family it is a cutlass in an animal skin sheath; every other cutlass in my house is being used regularly and is in good shape, but this particular cutlass in an animal skin sheath has never been used to cut a single thing since I was born but is more valued by my father than every other cutlass in my house. Since it is not being used and is just placed under the bed from age to age, it has caused the cutlass to rust and no longer be in good condition like the others that are being used consistently, but my father still finds it difficult to throw it away and warns us about doing that.
We have moved to about 10 different apartments and about 4 different states in the country, but not once did we have to look for that particular cutlass because he protects it like his life depends on it, and for that reason, it is never misplaced or mixed up with other things in the process of moving. Despite how much we try to convince him to let go of the cutlass, especially considering how much rust is on the cutlass, he keeps telling us when we grow up we will understand better.
After graduation from college last year I visited home, and I saw the same cutlass sitting under the bed like always.
"Dad, why not do away with this ancient of days cutlass?" I asked after seeing the cutlass.
"Haha," my dad laughed. "I kept saying when you grow up you will understand better, and now you are a grown-up and you still don't understand." My dad added.
"How do you want me to understand when I don't even know the story behind the cutlass you value so much?" I asked.
"I think it is time to finally open up how this cutlass came about." My dad responded.
"Exactly, it is time to know the full story so we can see things from your own perspective as well." I said.
"The reason I value this cutlass is because it has been with my family for three generations; it went from my father's father to my father, and after my father passed, I carried it from his room, and it is one of the things that reminds me of him." My dad said with emotions written all over his face.
"No wonder you value it this much; so the few pictures of your father you have are not enough memory for you?" Johnson, my brother, jumped in.
"Like I said, the cutlass has been used by his father, then him. Even though I did not use it, at least it will pass from me to you too," my father said, pointing at me.
"Thank God I don't get to protect a rusty cutlass like my life depends on it, but why him?" Johnson asked
"It is simple, because he is the first son, my father and I had no competition taking the cutlass after our father's demise because we were the only sons." My dad responded.
"But what will I be using a rusted cutlass for?" I asked.
"Preserve a memory my father preserved; I preserved one, and I hope when it gets to your turn, a memory that has been passed down for two generations will not be found missing." My dad said raising his eyes to
I felt what he said deep in my heart, and even though I don't like the idea, I felt the need to preserve the memory if passed down to me when the time comes.
"It is a piece from the past that I am willing to keep safe," I responded, assuring him I will keep the cutlass safe.