When Lee Roy came home after being gone for a few years, things were really awkward between him and his dad. Mr Joe kept waiting for his prodigal son to apologize for his rebellion and running off with a gang. But Lee Roy kept looking for an opening to talk about getting constant criticism as a young boy.
Lee Roy observed that Mr Joe’s garden plot was growing up in weeds. When he mentioned the garden, Mr Joe confided that his health simply did not allow him to plow and plant the plot as he once did. He told Lee Roy that giving up the garden was one of the very hardest things about his failing health.
The homecoming prodigal decided that plowing the garden for his dad would be one way to convince the old gentleman of his son’s love. Just as Lee Roy backed the dusty tractor out of the shed, a strange vehicle pulled into the yard. Four law enforcement officers invited Lee Roy to get down from the tractor.
The officers arrested Lee Roy on suspicion of bank robbery in the next county. A witness said one of the robbers looked a lot like Lee Roy. Lee Roy was not involved in the robbery, but the witness was sure he was there. The jury found Lee Roy guilty. Everyone wondered what Mr Joe’s son did with the money.
Lee Roy went to prison. One morning Mr Joe awakened to voices in the garden plot. He looked out the window and counted at least a dozen law enforcement officers digging with shovels. The entire garden plot was freshly plowed. Mr. Joe didn’t go outside immediately. He picked up a letter and read it again.
The letter came in the mail the day before. Mr Joe read the familiar words, “Dad, I am really sorry I can’t be home to help you with the garden this year. But I’d really appreciate it if you would guard the garden plot as if it were a place of buried treasure. When I get out of here, you will never have to plow again.”
Mr Joe smiled. He knew his son’s work assignment at the prison was in the mail room. And he knew that Lee Roy had observed that prison authorities carefully read every outgoing letter before it was put on the truck. Mr Joe went out to the garden to thank the officers for preparing the soil for spring planting.
Words and People 