Page 13 - ThreeGiftsForFlipBook

The mill closing had been hard on the town. Everyone knew someone who was out of work. Sam’s family had been one of the hardest hit, and because he was the oldest of the ten children, it had been especially tough for him to see what his family was going through. Even though Sam’s father worked hard, finding whatever employment he could, there just were not any other decent jobs available that suited his skills. Sam knew his only chance for success depended on his going to college, and he knew his father couldn’t afford to send him. In some ways the three young men were an unlikely trio. Sam excelled at sports and was considered by many to be one of the best athletes in the state. Justin loved cars, especially fast ones, and liked to spend his time down at the stock car track. Tom enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing, with a little golf on the side. Their families were very different too. Tom had a big family like Sam’s and, like Sam, he was the oldest, but Justin was an only child. Tom’s father was one of the best surgeons in the country, while Justin’s dad was the top lawyer in the firm of Jackson, Johnson, and Higgs. But with all their differences, they couldn’t remember a time when they hadn’t been friends. Their 8