"I have a map that leads you to the world's great treasure," someone once said.
The neighbor saw the map and killed the owner. He then took the map, read it carefully, and set out to find the treasure. Not long after, he reached the place marked on the map and there, just as had been promised, he found a pile of diamonds and gold. The person sat upon the glittering treasure and died years later, full of sorrow and regret.
"I have a map that leads you to the world's great treasure," someone once said to her neighbor.
"How much do you want for it?" the neighbor asked, eager for the wealth that was promised.
"It is yours without charge," she said. "All I ask is that you take me along with you."
The neighbor grabbed the map from the woman's hand and ran as fast as she could. Having fled far enough so she knew she wouldn't be caught, she carefully looked at the map and followed step-by-step until she came upon the diamonds and the gold, just as had been promised. She rested now and sat on top of the glittering jewels. She sat there for many days and many months and many years, always full of regrets, until one day she died.
"I have a map that leads you to the world's great treasure," someone said to his neighbor.
"What do I have to do to see this map?" the neighbor asked.
"Take me along with you," the owner said.
So the neighbor did. The two looked at the map carefully, discussing which direction to take and what to bring with them. Then they set out along the road together. When they came to a fork, they studied the map, but they didn't always agree which way to go. They raised their voices and they argued about which turns to take. Finally, they settled on one of the paths and continued on their way. They argued and discussed what to do every time they had to decide which way to go.
They picked nuts and found clean water. They made new shoes and repaired the tears in their clothes. They built shelters and sang. They sometimes argued about the best way to reach the treasure.
The map grew yellow from age and worn from many folds. And when the two died, they did so with no regrets.