Herbert and Delbert are twin brothers. They are both poor as dirt. But they could be multimillionaires, if not for their greed and their pride.
Unfortunately, they’ve both been keeping a secret from each other for nearly 13 years. Their mother, God rest her soul, would be ashamed to know the good little boys she raised have turned out this way. Their father would likely tell you that it was inevitable.
While most youth their age were headed for one university or another, Herbert and Delbert took the money their father gave them and headed for the border of Texas and Mexico. They each bought tickets to one of those get-rich-quick-scheme conferences. Inspired by tales of riches and glory, the young men purchased a piece of metal detection equipment and began beach hunting.
It didn’t take long for them to get discouraged.
“I’ll take the morning shift so I can have my afternoons,” Herbert said one day.
“Fine,” Delbert said. He was fond of spending his nights at the bars anyway, so he thought it might be nice to sleep in for a change.
To each other, they both agreed they’d share whatever finds there were to be had.
Separately, each man told himself, “Finders, keepers.”
One evening, just before sunset, Delbert found something. He dug a metal box out of the sand. The box was quite big, heavy, and oddly-shaped. Delbert took his find home and attempted to open it with various tools. He wasn’t certain what the metal was made of, but it appeared impenetrable. I’ve got to find that key, he thought to himself as he wandered off toward the bars.
A few mornings later, just after dawn, Herbert made a discovery. Deep beneath the sand, a strangely-shaped key had been buried. This key is beautiful, Herbert thought, it must open something extraordinary.
He was right.
Inside the box, a pirate’s stash of rare jewels awaits a lucky soul.
To this day, both brothers continue to keep their finds a secret from each other and continue to search, in hopes of stumbling upon the other half. – © 2015-2021 Portia July
Portia July 