The Lost Sailboat

I read this story a long time ago. :) So thought I'd share it with you too.

There was a little boy who made a sailboat. It was made out of the finest plywood that the boy could buy, and its beautiful white coat of paint belied its excellent grain. And boy, oh boy, could it float! "Float" was not the word for this boat - it flew, skipping across the waves of the pond. And when its sail unfurled and fluttered in the breeze, all the swans on the pond eyed it curiously, wondering who this graceful newcomer was.

There was no finer sailboat ever made by hand than this.

Then one day, the little boy took his sailboat to a creek. As he stepped into the bubbling creek, he slipped on a wet stone, and the boat flew out of his hands. Before the boy realised what had happened, the boat had quickly disappeared downstream. The boy quickly got up, despite his bleeding chin, and ran down the banks of the creek. He searched, and searched, but he could not find his beloved boat any more.

The little boy wept, but being a wise boy, he quickly wiped away his tears and accepted his loss.

Many weeks went by. One day, the little boy decided to buy a new toy boat. He went to a toy shop nearby, when suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes he saw a little boat that looked just like his lost one.

Eagerly, the little boy went over to it, and he examined it closely. Oh my! It WAS his lost boat after all! Why, it even had that scratch in this corner, that little knot in the stern... and surprisingly, it was none the worse for wear. She was a well-made boat indeed.

Suddenly, the shopkeeper tapped him on his shoulder, and beamed: "For the low, low, low price of $50, she's all YOURS!"

The little boy's jaws dropped. $50? Why, that was his allowance for the entire week!

The shopkeeper's eyebrows arched in mock-surprise. "Wouldn't you agree with me that she's a beautiful, exquisite and well-crafted boat? Isn't she well-worth the price? You won't find a better offer than that!"

Sigh. The little boy nodded slowly. The shopkeeper was so right. So the little boy took out his wallet, and handed his fresh $50 note to the grinning shopkeeper.

As he walked out of the shop, the little boy held up his little boat to the beaming sunshine. "Little boat, you are now twice mine over. I made you, and now, I have bought you."