Jump to content
The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

The man in the box


Rune

Recommended Posts

The man in the box.

 

An old man sits in a box. A glass box with a window cut on the side. A lever is at his front, a chair to his back. A small cash register sits on the tiny protruding shelf beside him. Next to the register sits a bottle of cleaner and a rag.

 

I pass this man in his box daily. I never stop or stare or even wave. I simply pass by and go on uncaring until today. Today I stopped and made eye contact with the man in his box and to my surprise he smiled at me. I did not smile back. I could not understand how this man could be happy spending his entire day in a box. I could not understand how he felt his life was worth living when he spent day in and day out in the same position in a glass box; People always looking in and judging him. I shook my head and continued inside.

 

The blast of cool air inside the building made me shiver. I suddenly realized the glass box had no air conditioner. Once again I was amazed that this man chose to live his life in a box when clearly there were alternatives. I pushed the button and waited for the elevator. I turned one last time to watch the man in his box and was surprised to see him cleaning the windows with the same smile on his face, content in his box while the world passed him by. At my desk inside I thought about that man and imagined that box to be his prison. Those glass panes block the world out, I thought. That heat must be unbearable. He must be bored, I noted, there is so little to do in that box.

 

The week passed by and each day I passed the man in his box. Every time I made eye contact I was met with a smile. My reaction was always the same. Finally I decided to ask.

 

Why do you spend your days in that box, sir? Is it not uncomfortable? Are you not bored?

 

Box? He replied.

 

Yes, That box. I pointed. You live in that box, with the world blocked out. You are alone in that box, why do you stay?

 

This is no box. He replied.

 

It is a box! Look at it. It does not even have air conditioning! There are no luxuries. I don’t understand how you can handle being in such a prison.

 

This is a window. He said, pointing at the nearest glass pane. He removed the rag and cleaner and proceeded to clean it.

This is a window to the world where I can smile and wave at anyone who passes. This is a seat where I can rest. This is a lever to make my job easier; otherwise I would have to raise the arm by hand. This is a register to hold my wages and profit. This is not a prison little one. This is a castle.

 

He raised the rag and cleaner so that I could see it.

 

You thought this was a prison. He smiled and chuckled softly. But this is really quite a comfortable place. And each time I get disappointed or sad I simply clean the glass and remind myself how clear my vision is. It is not clouded by unnecessary wants. I have all I need and I do not regret what I do not have. And because of that realization I am quite happy with my life and I work hard each day. What more do I need?

 

I shrugged and walked away. I don’t understand that man, I said to myself as I pushed the elevator button. I walked in silence to my desk and thought about his words. The following day I walked by once more but this time he left his box and walked towards me.

 

Here, he said. This is for you, as he handed me his bottle of cleaner and a rag. He then returned to his box and waved.

 

I glanced at the rag in my hands and realized what he had been trying to teach me all along. That night I went home and cleaned my own windows.

 

 

Note: In case it was not clear, the box and the man are the parking attendant and his station at work. I do not know if every place has a similiar setup.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

if ever there was a clear, cogent illustration of differing viewpoints..

 

nicely done!

(and yes, it was clear *to me* at least that you meant the parking attendant)

 

*hugs*

I showed it to a friend in another country and he had no clue what I was talking about. I was alittle worried people might not get it because of that. I know in Florida where I grew up in a smaller town there are few "parking attendant booths" so it might be hard to imagine.

 

:unsure:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

oh, i understood why you clarified, and clarification is rarely ever amiss..

but for whatever reassurance value it might be worth, i did understand what you meant before i got to the clarification point.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brilliant..

 

There's a wisdom in this story that few obtain purely through observation, very nicely captured! And thank you for sharing ^_^

 

Some people would do well with such a 'box experience' -_-

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, talk about a new perspective! I absolutely loved it. So simple in language, but so profound in message.

 

Initially, this reminded me of Kafka's Hunger Artist, but it turned out to be much more pleasant than that.

 

Did this remind anyone else of Allegory of a Cave? V. nice Rune; this is amazing work, so amazing it deserves comparison to Aristotle's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...