It all started the day Leonard first saw that antique pocket watch. The small shop on Main St. never seemed like much to young Leonard, or Leo as he preferred. Today was different though. On a whim he ventured in to the small town antique shop and started browsing. It never occurred to him that there could be so many interesting nick-nacks from days gone by. He handled and examined every doodad with fascination until he was forced to stop when he saw in the glass case an antique pocket watch. It was submerged in light and the aged silver cast the lights reflection directly at Leo's eyes. Leo looked up at the lady behind the counter. He asked her if she would let him handle the beautiful watch. The aged lady looked at him for a few moments. Leo would have said that she was looking into him. He felt as though she was carefully peering into is soul. She then smiled.
With her faltering voice she asked, "Are you capable of handling it, young man?"
"Ma'am?"
"Give me your hand."
Leo hesitantly showed her his right palm. He looked up at her and he felt a sudden electric jolt pass from his hand to the rest of his body. He looked down at his hand. She had placed the watch in it. The pewter chain was dangling from his hand. Leo didn't understand; she never opened up the case or reached down to pick up the watch. It was in his hand nevertheless.
"Open it," the lady suggested.
Leo pressed the small tarnished button on the edge and the lid clicked open. Inside were dials for the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. They were all intricately intertwined. The numbers were etched into what looked like some sort of black stone. The rings were all of a delicate silver that shone as bright as the day they were polished. All of the sudden the stationary hands began to click and jolt forward and startled Leo even more. He looked up at the lady and put his hand forth to give it back to her. She looked at him without lifting a finger.
"I don't have much time left in this life. I don't need a watch to tell me that. No, this watch is yours now. You have many questions I am sure. You only need one. Now that you know how much time you have, what will you do with it?"
Leo dared not doubt her; she had too much conviction in her eyes. He looked down at the watch.
Two years.
Seven months.
Eighteen days.
Four hours.
Six minutes.
Thirty-two seconds.
Leo looked up to see the lady walking into the back. There was a closed sign on the counter. He didn't know what else to do, but to walk out. Hurrying to the near by park, Leo steadied himself on a bench and sat. He prayed intensely.
"Father, what would you have me do?" he repeated over and over until a still small voice came.
"Draw near to me and I will draw near to you."
Leo smiled.
Over the next two and one half years Leo did everything he could to draw near to his God. He started a bible study out of his house and from that he gained the support to open up a shelter for anyone who needed it. All sorts of people came, runaways, battered women, hiding men, and the mentally ill. Leo loved them all. No one understood how this seemingly inconsequential young man could do so much, but Leo knew. He carried the watch everywhere he went. He hardly looked at it anymore. When the clock hit one month he knew it. He didn't have to look. Leo made arrangements for the leadership to be passed on. He chose Thomas, the third person to come to show up and the first live-in volunteer. He chose Thomas because he knew he was close with God and had a heart for those who need help.
Leo remembered the story of David Livingston and how he died while praying on his knees. Leo liked that idea and arranged his shift at the shelter should end two hours before the watch did. His plans were for naught though as he was the only person to show up at the shelter. He couldn't just leave. Just as he knew the clock had but a few minutes left he asked to be excused for a time and went to the prayer room in the building.
"Father if know one is here when I die, who will take care of the shelter?"
Leo prayed intensely for those two minutes, opened his watch and looked down just as the second hand reached the last tick. Just as the beautiful silver hands became stationary once more Leo heard a knock at the door. He waited wondering just what was happening. Wasn't is life supposed to end?
The knock came once again. Leo stood up, still confused, and opened the door. Before him stood a beautiful young lady clad in pastels.
"Leo?"
"Yes?"
"I was told you were back here, it looks like you could use a little help. Mind if I pitch in?"
Leo looked in her eyes, "Absolutely... Er, of course not. Um... I mean you can help."
The young lady blushed and chuckled.
"My name is Melody."
She extended her hand. After staring for a moment Leo realized what he was doing and extended his hand as well. As soon as they touched a familiar electric jolt passed through Leo.
Melody was visibly startled.
"That was some static shock!" Have you been crawling around on the carpet in there?"
"Uh... no. Maybe we should get back to the main hall... We just served lunch so there are quite a few pots and pans to wash. Care to help me with those?"
Melody smiled again, "Sure."
