Dear Bobby,

Looks like you found me again! I hope Moms had something sweet cooling on that windowsill when you looked underneath it for the coordinates to this treasure. She's a great person, and I'm glad you have her. My mom was pretty special, too. You would have liked her. I want you to be happy for me now that I'm back with my mom and dad. Sometimes, family is all that matters.

Did you have a hard time reaching down in that old tree and pulling out this box? I figured it would take some trusting on your part. That's what I wanted to talk to you about in this message. Trust and faith. You seem to trust facts a lot, and I can't say that I'm much different, but you really should take a lesson from Trixie and learn to trust your instincts a little, too.

Bobby, that day in the cave, when I gave you the compass, I was trying to make you understand about faith. Having faith doesn't mean believing in magic or false promises. Faith is the hope of things unseen. It's about taking what you know and applying it trustingly to what you don't know.

Right now, while I'm sitting here in the hospital, I know God has given me some insight about what's going to happen to me, and I'm taking it as an opportunity to get ready. I trust Him enough to not be too scared about the parts I'm uncertain of. Don't get me wrong, I'm a little scared. But, really, after watching my mom go through this, I'm not nearly as scared for me as I am for everyone else. Especially Mr. Maypenny and Uncle Bill. You, at least, have your family. When I'm gone, those two will be alone.

Will you do something for me? Will you spend some time with them? Especially Mr. Maypenny? I know he seems kind of frightening to you, but if you could trust him and listen to what he has to say, I know you'd have a great time with him. He knows a lot about the animals and plants in the preserve. You could help him with his work. It would be a good chance for you to collect all those different types of beetles you were interested in. Give it a shot, okay?

I have to confess that I had a hard time trusting people when I first came to Sleepyside, but Mr. Maypenny helped me get over that. He got me some help with the school counselors. I don't want to go into too much detail and scare you, but I got knocked around a bit by foster parents and the guys in the gang. I think Mr. Maypenny and your dad were the first men I felt comfortable being around when I moved out here. I knew they weren't going to hurt me. I trusted them. And, even though we didn't always see eye to eye, I trusted Jim, too. We had a lot in common. Stuff we didn't think Brian and Mart could understand.

I'm telling you this because I really want you to trust Jim. You probably haven't thought much about it, but you need to know that Trixie will probably be the first of your siblings to get married and move out. Sure you two fight, yet I know you depend on her a lot, too. Don't get jealous or be mad at Jim when he sort of takes her away from you. He'd never do anything to hurt either of you. He's a good guy, and he makes her happy. She won't forget about you or stop loving you when she leaves. Just trust them. Have faith it's the right thing, when it happens.

And, the same goes for Hallie. I can't say that it doesn't make me feel a little jealous to think that she will one day fall in love again and marry someone else, but I do want you to know that I'm okay with that. It took me a while, but I've accepted it. Whenever it happens, Bobby, don't give her a hard time or make her feel like she's cheating on me. Don't mistrust her choice, either. I love her enough to let her go, and I know she won't dishonor me by picking someone who would treat her badly. You've got to trust her, too.

So, do you like the tin soldiers I put in the box? They were my dad's when he was little, and he gave them to me. I know you're getting a little too old for toys like that, but they're special, and I knew I could trust you to take good care of them. Share them with your own son, someday. Whenever you look at them, remember the massive amount of faith and trust it takes for a man to leave his family behind and face death for the safety and freedom of his country. Bravery isn't possible without faith.

I'm starting to get really queasy now, so I'm going to have to wrap this one up. Here's your homework. I want you to go to Jim and ask him about his grandfather's military medals. You'll like the stories he tells about them. If you're nice, I'm sure he'll show them to you. Let him into your family, and you won't regret it. I know I'm grateful that he let me into his.

I also want you to read Mr. Maypenny's favorite poem, "The Eagle." It's by Tennyson. Maybe, you could go out to the cabin and read it to him. I just happen to know where a copy of the poem is hidden in Spartan's stall. Check out the numbers written on the bottom of the page, and you might have the coordinates to the next treasure trove. Here's a clue to help you find the next box: it's where eagles soar.

Have faith, and I'll see you again someday.

Later,

Dan