The day was warm and growing hot the morning the tramp came across the empty cabin.
As he approached, he could make out a rough track leading up to it from the other side, barely wide enough for a car to come through. This was somebody’s holiday home, he thought. No doubt, an ideal getaway place for someone’s family. As he drew closer he saw that it sat at the edge of a small lake. Convinced that there was no one around he went to the front door and tried the knob, it opened. Inside he found a home. It was sparsely furnished with what looked like second-hand furniture, but it was a home nevertheless. He opened the fridge. There wasn’t much in it, but it did contain an attractive looking can of lemonade. He took it out and felt the coolness as he pressed it to his cheek.
As he came outside he noticed a small rowboat with oars laying inside, tethered to a post. He climbed in and untied. With the can stowed in the shade beneath his seat he fitted the oars and began to make his way out towards the centre. When his arms began to tire, he shipped the oars and let the thing drift. He opened the can and laid back, trying to make himself as comfortable as possible. He lounged there, sipping occasionally and taking in the scenery. Before long, with the empty can still in his hand and the air growing hot, he drifted off to sleep.
When he woke, it took him awhile to remember where he was. He lay there thinking about the many different lives that people lived; from poverty to riches. He considered his own lifestyle, and in doing so, it made him wonder just how long this idyll would last. Not much longer, he thought. He roused himself and started paddling. Back at the shack he dropped the empty can in the bin and stood looking at the fridge. He had no idea about the price of the drink. He smiled to himself as he considered the fact that it was not an item he bought on a regular basis. He found a few coins in his pocket and stood looking around, once again thinking about how other people live.
He put the money on top of the fridge… and left.