He Looked Up To Him
Throughout his life, Tommy has always considered his father to be a hero. There was never a time when he let him down, because he was kind and charming. As far as he was concerned, that would never change.
A tragic event would strike too soon, and he would lose his best friend as a result of his close relationship with his father.
Terrible News
Tommy's father was his best friend. Even though he knew it was cliche, he always thought he could turn to him for anything he needed. He never stopped receiving support from his father.
Tommy got a call one day from his siblings. Suddenly, he heard the worst news he had ever heard - his father had passed away.
Bringing Them Together
With the news in hand, Tommy thought any pettiness between him and his brothers would fade away. In the midst of such tragedy, he hoped they would come together.
Tommy, however, only saw the best in his brothers. Until he saw them again, he didn't know what they had planned for him.
Rushing Home
Immediately, they asked him to return home. Their father requested that they live on his property.
As soon as Tommy left work, he was on his way home. A trap was laid for him by his brothers as they already looked at his last will and testament.
Finally
In the end, Tommy finally made it to his neighborhood and slowed down after rushing through traffic for what seemed like an eternity.
Having reached the end of his road, he was approaching his father's house. The passing of time felt like it was going slowly, but he was unaware of what awaited him at home when he returned home.
Their Devious Plan
The brothers were not feeling raw or emotional when he arrived home, but rather smirking and grinning.
When he asked why they were smiling, they told him his father was no longer around to protect him before he was abruptly evicted.
The Car
It didn't help that they wouldn't even tell him the contents of the will. He could take his father's partially finished project in the garage if he wanted something.
In tears, he looked into the garage. Was he the only one who cared about his father? When he saw his father's project car, he knew what he had to do; he would complete it.
Not Feeling Good
It was still his father's death that caused him the most pain in spite of everything his brothers had done to him.
A truck had been arranged to transport his car to a new location. His savings allowed him to find a rental property to rent. As he worked on the car, he continued to trudge forward.
A Good Man
The best man Tommy Hawthorne ever knew was his father. The love he had for his three sons was unbeatable. Even though Tommy's brothers hated him, his father loved him even more after Tommy's birth.
In addition to Tommy's birth, tragedy also struck that day. The experience would never be forgotten by his brothers.
A Terrible Loss
It was a day filled with happiness and darkness at the same time. While Tommy was being delivered, his mother sadly passed away.
It is understandable that his family was devastated. In the midst of his father's grief, Tommy came into his life and brought him joy.
One Final Gift
“At least she gave me one final gift before leaving his earth.” He told Tommy as he grew up. It was clear that he was the favorite. But two contributing factors meant that his siblings never got along with him.
Because Tommy got most of his father’s attention, his older siblings felt scorned and jealous. Even though they were old enough to look after themselves, they were jealous of the baby.
Another Factor
The other factor that made his siblings despise him so much as they blamed him for his mother’s death. It could never have been his fault, yet that was the reason they didn’t like him.
But there were other questions on his mind that weren't even related to his brothers. He wondered why his father left him the car, specifically if the will was to be believed.
Keeping The House
His brothers told him they were keeping the house and most of the assets. They said that Tommy was getting the car in the garage, and that was it.
It really did confuse him. Were they lying, or did his father really leave him so little? Why would his father leave everything else to his siblings? But the truth would have tears streaming down his face.
Growing Up Accomplished
Tommy recalled his childhood with his family growing up. He remembered his brothers always getting into trouble with their school or with their dad. He was the only one that had ambition.
To call his siblings problem children was an understatement. They never seemed to take their education or lives very seriously. Then he remembered the biggest disappointment his brother had made to his father.
Dropping Out
Tommy recalled his brothers dropping out of high school to stay home instead of working hard. They decided to fall back on their father’s money. He was a wealthy writer that begrudgingly provided for them all.
What other choice did he have when they were his sons? But Tommy was different to them.
Higher Education
Not only did Tommy work hard in high school, but he was now studying at a prestigious university. This is why he didn’t rely on his father’s money like his brothers did.
His father admired him for that. It even brought the two closer together while his brothers were slacking off living on his father’s fortune. But why leave him nearly nothing, then?
Nearly Done
Tommy was nearly done with his master’s degree in creative writing. He wanted to turn out just like his father.
He grew up on his dad’s stories and wanted to pass them down to his children as well as make new ones of his own. But then the lawyers told him the truth.
The Truth
It had been two weeks since his father passed. He attended the funeral, which his brother at least paid for with the money they got. But it wasn’t over; he was about to get a visit from a lawyer.
He heard the fateful knock on his door and opened it to a wolf grinned man in a suit. He told Tommy that his father had indeed only left him the car, and everything else went to his two brothers. He was shocked.
Why?
This left some burning questions in Tommy’s mind. He wondered why his father would have only left him a half-finished car.
What was his plan? Was his father really the man he thought he was? He needed to find the answers he was looking for. But he would only find them after a long, hard road.
A Shelby Cobra
The car, a Shelby Cobra, had been in the garage for decades, given that all of Tommy’s brothers found it there when they were old enough to notice it.
Its paint was chipped, the frame covered in rust, and most of its interior missing. So why would Tommy’s dad leave him such a thing? It was once a beautiful car, but right now, it was nothing special. But he was missing the point.
Always Worked Hard
Tommy couldn’t understand why his dad could do this to him. He’d always worked hard to make the old man proud, even following in his professional footsteps to become an author.
He always felt that his father was a living legend. The impression parents make often fades after they mature, but Tommy still holds him in the highest regard.
Misunderstood?
But maybe Tommy had misinterpreted his relationship with his dad. Still, he tried to make sense of everything. Perhaps one of his brothers knew something he didn’t.
It pained him to talk to one of them after they had treated him badly, but who else could he turn to? He was all out of options and had a chat.
Blood Brothers
After the meeting with the lawyer, Tommy followed his brothers home to talk. He hoped one of them would at least offer to cover his tuition while he tried to figure out the rest of his problems.
Having to pay for rent now meant that it would be hard to cover an expensive master’s degree. Would his brothers at least have a heart and help him out?
Cold
He only had positive thoughts towards his siblings, but walking into the house after his brothers, he noticed they seemed cold toward him.
Of course, Tommy didn’t dwell on it much. But he would soon learn that he didn’t know everything. His brothers would soon show him the truth.
The New Favorites
Tommy tried to sit on his favorite seat in the living room, but his brothers told him to stand. They had suppressed their distaste for him for the longest while.
They didn’t want him to get comfortable in his childhood house. It was clear he was there out of necessity, and they would soon kick him out again.
Furious
Now that the house was in their name and they had 99% of their dad’s fortune, he could tell they had already started spending it.
They had bought a plasma television and thrown out the old one, as well as buying multiple video game consoles. It was such a waste of money his father would never have condoned. He was furious.
A Wet Dirt Party
He didn’t want to hear anymore. He walked outside his childhood home but noticed people coming into the house. He watched as a stream of young, attractive women and men walked up the drive away.
The dirt on his dad’s grave was not even dry, and his brothers were already throwing a party. Tommy rushed back in to scold them, immediately regretting the decision.
Get Out!
One of his brothers saw him from the top of the stairs, shouting at him to leave their house. The other brother, who was entertaining the guests, heard the commotion.
Tommy had never been ugly to his brothers before. But he had no idea what they were capable of. They were about to permanently break their bond once and for all.
A Rifle
The brother that heard the commotion came out with a hunting rifle, training it on Tommy before asking him to leave.
“Dad’s no longer here to play favorites,” he said with a hiccup, wobbling about as he struggled to keep the rifle on Tommy. “Get out!” Tommy would never forgive his brother for what he just did.
They Laugh At It
Tommy backstepped out of the house. Everyone was laughing at him. Sad and alone, he walked back home and went into his garage to look at what his old man had left him.
He couldn’t believe that his dad was truly gone. Stepping into the garage and seeing the car would make everything real. Tommy wasn’t ready for any of it.
Men Cry Too
He let his tears flow freely without crying or sobbing. If this were what his dad wanted him to have, he would take it with both arms open.
Even though it wasn’t much, he knew his dad had some kind of grand plan for him. He still trusted him even in the afterlife compared to his deadbeat brothers. He sifted through all the parts in boxes, looking for any clues.
Alone Again
He found nothing the first time and decided to open the driver's side door. Alone again, Tommy sat in the driver’s seat with his hands on the steering wheel.
His eyes blurred with tears again as loss clouded his mind and heart. He couldn’t believe his brothers had kicked him out of their house twice. He wished his father could have seen what was going on. But he had no idea what was in the car with him.
The Glove Box
The adult man had been crying in the driver’s seat for ten minutes before he came to his senses. He wiped his eyes and looked around the interior of the car.
He mourned for his dad, praying the pain would relent sometime soon. It was then that something in the glove box caught his eye; he reached his hand inside and took it out.
An Envelope
The sheet was a whitish piece of paper. It had dog-collared ends and seemed old: an envelope. Curious, Tommy opened the glove box and fished it out.
It had clearly been worn over time. The once crisp paper felt fragile like it could tear quite easily. It felt as if it held so much more value than anything else because it was from his dad. But what was inside?
Ripping It Open
The day had been difficult for him, and any distraction that would make him forget his pain was welcome.
He knew that something important was probably inside the envelope; there had to be. He ripped the letter open, wiping his tears before reading. But he couldn’t believe what he saw.
An Old Letter
The letter was a few years old, judging from its date. It was also written in his dad’s hand. It detailed how much Tommy’s dad loved him and his brothers.
But it wasn’t just all sunshine and rainbows. His father’s words quickly turned to grimmer tidings. He wanted to try and warn Tommy about what had already happened.
Fears
But it also relayed the old man’s fears over Tommy’s brothers’ futures because of their dangerous lifestyle.
He was glad his father saw the same red flags he did. But now that he was gone, it was too late. Though there was more toward the end of the letter, words that would make Tommy hunch forward.
Call This Number
The letter’s last paragraph stated that Tommy’s dad had left him sixty thousand dollars sealed in the car’s trunk. He also left a few plans alongside the money and wanted Tommy to take on a project of his own.
Tears streamed down his face as his heart melted. He knew his father wouldn’t let him down. But the letter wasn’t finished yet.
Special Car
“I only left you the car and this bit of money because I knew you didn’t need me as much as they did. They aren’t like you and I and wouldn’t survive without my money. But there’s something special about the car.”
The letter was only confusing him more; what was his father talking about? He decided to follow his father’s last wishes anyway.The letter was only confusing him more; what was his father talking about? He decided to follow his father’s last wishes anyway.
Fix It Up
“Fix this beauty up,” the letter read. “There is a private auction in London. Take it there when you are done, and call this number.”
He couldn’t let his father down, not even in death. His father had never let him down, so he had to return the favor. It was the least that he could do. But the truth behind his cryptic message would change his life forever.
What He Needs
Tommy scratched his head while reading. His dad wanted him to repair an almost unrepairable car and take it to London.
He took a deep breath, seeing it as doable since he was done with his school’s fieldwork. He also needed something to take his mind off what he was going through. Perhaps this project was what he needed.
Setting Up
Tommy went to school and ensured all his affairs were in order. He deferred from the rest of his classes to focus entirely on fixing the car and got to work. It wasn’t probably the best idea, but he owed it to his dad.
He needed help, though. He couldn’t do this on his own when he knew nothing about classic cars. He had to make a call.
Experts
The first thing he did was hire experts who knew their way around such a vintage model. The car would rise again from the ashes, but he’d have to fork over more and more money until it was finished.
He also paid the garage he was keeping the car in to host him for a few more months. He hoped he would honor his dad’s last wish.
Getting To Work
The weeks began flying by, and Tommy was making good progress on the car. But he wasn’t too far away when he got a visit that he never expected.
He was working on the car in the garage when he heard someone approaching him. He quickly rolled himself out from underneath the vehicle - ready to confront his intruders.
His Jaw Drop
What he saw made his jaw drop. There weren’t any strangers outside of his garage, but rather his brothers. He wondered what they were there for. He just expected them to mock him, and he wouldn’t be wrong.
They probably expected to get a reaction out of him. But he never cursed them out, only welcomed them with a cup of coffee and returned to work.
Riling Them Up
Tommy knew that they would be way more bothered if their antics were only met with hospitality. He even offered them some of the beer he had in his fridge.
They rudely declined, but why else were they at his property? He felt as if they had ulterior motives. Then one of them revealed the truth behind it all.
More Money
“So most of Dad’s money is actually wrapped up in an account that can’t be accessed. He appointed an attorney to trickle out a bit of money for us every month.” One of the brothers said.
He continued, “So, we had already spent all of the physical cash he left us; we were wondering if we could borrow some from you?”
Priceless Look
The look on Tommy’s face was priceless. The brothers that had shunned him and kicked him out were now asking for money from him.
He wanted to be the bigger man, so he walked into his house and pulled out $500 from the duffle bag full of money before walking back out to his brothers.
All They Got
“Here, this is all you’re getting; now leave my property, please,” Tommy remarked as he chucked the stack for his brother to catch. Without a thank you, they scurried away like rats.
He smiled to himself, knowing his father wasn’t letting them destroy the fortune he had established in one fell swoop. It also felt good for them to beg him for something.
Dividing The Money
Tommy looked at the rest of the money in the duffle bag; he’d have it divided between school fees, the car repairs, and the transport money he’d need to take the vehicle to London.
Still, though, he still had one thought that plagued his mind. It was that he had no clue how long it would take to finish everything.
Two Years Down The Line
Two years passed, with Tommy still fixing the car. His brothers had put their childhood home on the market and left the country to chase whatever adventure their hearts desired. He hated the fact that a small part of him still cared about them. But they reacted poorly to any of his advances.
Of course, Tommy had tried to dissuade them from the endeavor, but they called security on him, forcing him to leave their premises. They had found a way to get a lump sum of money at once so they could spend it all at once. But he looked to his own important concerns. He was putting the last finishes on the car.
A Showstopper
One look at the Shelby, and Tommy knew what his dad had been thinking. What was once an old derelict had transformed into a beauty that turned heads everywhere Tommy drove.
Tommy couldn’t believe he had actually done it. He started out not knowing a single thing about cars, but his dad’s words of encouragement from beyond the grave pushed him forward.
Running Great
After spending an additional month ensuring the car was running great, and each part was working, Tommy began planning for the trip to London.
His heart pounded with excitement. It was a project that was years in the making, and he’d finally see what his father’s vague clues were all about. It all felt surreal.
Going To London
Tommy cleared his things and got a transporter truck to get him and his car to London. His brothers had long stopped visiting, and they'd chase him away each time he went to their respective apartments.
They’d sent security after him once and even called the police occasionally. It was clear that they wanted nothing to do with him even though he was their blood and flesh.
The Least Beautiful Thing
Throughout the two years that Tommy had spent rebuilding the car, he’d learned to appreciate the little things in life. He wasn’t rich and had many problems that kept him up at night.
He learned the value of money, planning, and hard work and understood the need to see things through. He had poured much of his love into the car, and it would be worth it in the end.
Beautiful
By the end of it all, the car was the least of the most beautiful things the experience had given him. But now that he was finished, he didn’t know what to expect next.
He once again felt a little confused and lost. But then he remembered the letter from his father. He decided to consult it next and find out what to do.
The Price
According to the letter from Tommy’s dad, he was to take the car to a private auction in London after fixing it. He expected the car to sell for a few hundred thousand dollars.
He didn’t care about the money, only that he’d fulfilled his dad’s last wish. But as he drove into the private London auction, he realized something.
All Eyes On Me
All eyes were on Tommy as soon as his car roared up the driveway. Princes, business moguls, politicians, and celebrities stared at him. His life was about to change.
He found the man his dad wanted him to see, and soon his car was among the ones waiting to be auctioned. He looked at it with pride, hoping everything would end well.
The Bid
The bid for Tommy’s car began at a million dollars, an amount that left him speechless. By the end, it sold for over five million, double the amount his brothers got in their dad’s will.
Tommy couldn’t believe it. He’d always trusted in his dad’s judgment and felt guilty that he’d been mad before. He knew what he was going to do with the money.
Why He Did It
Tommy arranged to buy his childhood home before he even returned. He got in contact with the realtor and bought the place with everything inside.
Perhaps the old man wanted him to know the value of hard work and persistence. If that was the case, then this was a lesson Tommy would never forget.