Last Words, or a Parable

by solaris2001

A young man and his grandfather meet at the home of the young man’s father to speak of their lives. The grandfather shares his many experiences with the young man, who in turn shares his many ambitions with his grandfather. They speak alone in the library, and when they are finished, the grandfather takes an antique book from the shelf. He offers it to the young man as the book in which all secrets past, present, and future are kept. He opens it, tears out the last pages, folds them into his pocket, and gives the book to his grandson.