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Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] The Leather Jacket
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2001 13:18:32 EST

> The Leather Jacket
>
> The leather jacket, once the proud work of a skillful artisan, now lay
> on a heap in a secondhand store. Once stiff and full of gloss, it lays
> now limp and tattered. Once able to wrap itself around the handsomest of
> men and provide great glory, its life is now at an end. Depressed and
> alone, it could only reminisce about the life it had.
>
> It was first purchased by a rich man for quite a hefty sum. Then passed
> down to a chauffeur, where it graced the most wonderful cars imaginable.
> Then, while it lay lazily across the seat at night in an unlocked car,
> right in the middle of its life, it was stolen. Now keeping company with
> a thief, it was not as happy, as a matter of fact, it was ashamed.
>
> It was horrified at the gun and stolen cash that had been shoved in its
> ample pockets. That's when it began to lose its shine. It did not get
> the proper care and handling as before. It was the beginning of the end.
> The jacket was thrown in corners and walked on, almost never hung up. It
> grew bitter and hard. Now with its pockets torn it still held weapons
> and stolen property.
>
> The leather jacket, never thinking much about its people before now, for
> some unknown reason, began to like its owner. It happened one night when
> its companion was very cold. The owner grasped the jacket and pulled it
> close around his body, as he sat alone in the park.
>
> The jacket realized no one loved the owner and the jacket was all he
> had. For all his crimes he never kept anything, it was all quickly gone.
> All that stayed was the jacket, because in its condition, it was not
> valuable to anyone else. The hardness and the bitterness melted away. It
> now felt sorrow for the person who clung to it so desperately.
>
> One day, as weather permitted, it was taken off and left behind. It was
> found by a woman and child and placed in a paper bag, with other used
> items, for the needy.
>
> Now here it lay.
>
> Finally hands picked it up, assessed its value and hung it up, along
> with other garments. There were cloth jackets, wool jackets, and
> corduroy but none were leather like him. All were in better condition
> and all with tales to tell. Some had been all over the world.
> Some had graced the shoulders of famous people, but none had stories
> quite as exquisite or experiences quite as nasty as Leather. He listened
> quietly, never revealing very much, so his companions had begun to
> believe he'd had quite an unsavory life.
>
> Some associated his color with bad, though it was not possible for a
> color to influence abilities. He didn't care what they thought and
> didn't care when they considered themselves better. Leather could not
> help where he had been and he could not help what he had done.
>
> Many people came by and touched the jackets, taking them out one by one,
> looking them over and placing them back on the rack. Leather was quite
> startled when one such person flung him across his arm. He recognized
> this person.
> He had been in the park offering food to his previous owner. He was a
> minister.
>
> "Oh no, God don't let this person take me. I am sure I would not be
> suitable for whatever he has in mind. I have been in the worst of places
> and done the most despicable things. I am not worthy, let the man see my
> tears and tatters and place me back."
>
> Now God looked down at the little jacket and moved the man to lift
> Leather up and examine it again. As the man's eyes fell on the rips and
> imperfections, like magic, they were restored. Now the jacket hung on
> the hanger like new. All the other jackets were amazed and were placed
> back on the rack.
>
> Leather spoke to God again. "What are you doing?
> I am so unworthy."
>
> "But," God explained, "you are exactly what I am looking for. You will
> be used for the people you loved the most, the people with the most
> need.
> When you have been bad yourself, you can forgive evil. Because you have
> been down in the gutter, you can you understand the people there.
> You will know where the chill is most severe, where the frost bites the
> hardest."
>
> "You were not stolen by accident. You were being prepared. And now, you
> are just what I need."
>
> "One time I came down, to understand the people and someone stole
> something that belonged to me, something I wrapped in leather. It was
> shamed and taken to places it didn't want to go. He ripped and bruised
> it, thinking he had surely destroyed its purpose. Now I'm sure, he must
> realize, he only filled my worst need."
>
>




«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«
Richiele Marie (Missi)
I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too.

»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

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