the runner

tools, nuts, bolts, electrical plugs, golf balls, watches, surgical instruments, identification cards, boatloads of spare change, and more. my personal favorite? the little boy's bouncy ball, with name and phone number written with permanent marker - and of course my father, the runner, who has gathered this massive collection piece by piece each time he goes running, guards his gathered 'treasure' like a hawk - hasn't called the little boy back to return his ball. in fact, he has collected so much stuff that my wife made a treasure chest for him, with three drawers labeled, "nuts and bolts," "booty," and "coins." it is already overflowing.