Little Screw

While cleaning his workshop one day, Theodore found a little screw among the sawdust underneath his worktable. Dusty and pale, this little screw had obviously been under the filth for a long time. Theodore held it in his palm and cleaned it lovingly with his fingers. Then he brought it up to his eyes and blew on it as if filling it with life. Reaching above his worktable, he retrieved a wooden box off a shelf, put the little screw inside, and closed it.

The wooden box was full of screws and nuts of various shapes and sizes, and these screws and nuts had separated themselves into three groups. Those in the first group had found their partners, and they were proud. Those in the second group were alone due to circumstances—they’d been damaged in the past, and though they tried, they weren’t expected to pair off with anyone for life. And those in the third group ignored their desire to be in a pair, as they believed only Theodore knew where and when to put them with a partner. Loneliness and salvation had become sacred to them.

And so, in the hopes of fulfilling its purpose in the box, the little screw, like all the other screws, began searching for a nut to pair with. Even though the little screw looked better than many of the other screws, and had the attention of many nuts, it couldn’t find a nut to pair with. None of them fit. Rumors about the little screw’s efforts traveled around the box quickly. Many nuts in the first group even offered to separate from their own screws and try out the little screw, in hopes of satisfying their own curiosities.

To the little screw’s great embarrassment, not even one match was found.

The third group of screws and nuts, which isolated itself from the other two groups, then surrounded the little screw. “Your destiny lies beyond this wooden box,” they said to it excitedly. “It lies in Theodore’s hands.” They were sure that sooner or later, the little screw would find its true purpose in those gentle hands.

The little screw, feeling unlucky, had no choice but to put its faith in Theodore.

Days passed, and the little screw dreamed of what its future might bring. Suddenly, light flooded the space. Theodore had opened the box. Carefully, he placed a well-worn screw inside.

“Theodore is finishing his most beautiful masterpiece,” the well-worn screw said to the screws and nuts that had gathered around, once the box had been closed again. “He needs an extraordinary screw—a screw that’s different.”

Hearing this, everyone in the box quickly agreed that the little screw had to be the one to leave. The little screw was stunned by the news, and by the happiness that permeated the groups. All the screws and nuts had given it the highest place in the box.

Light poured in once again, and down came Theodore’s hands. Out of pure joy, the little screw closed its eyes and reveled in the warmth and love of Theodore’s fingers.

Theodore put on his glasses, brought the little screw up to his eyes, and looked at it closely. He rubbed his long white beard and smiled. Then he turned away from the masterpiece on his worktable and placed the little screw on the broken right handle of his chair.

With a big bang, everything changed. The handle was returned to its original place, secure in the chair. Theodore placed the chair in front of the table and sat down. Finally, he leaned back with a satisfied sigh and set down his right hand freely on the handle.

And it was then that the little screw, now deep in the chair and under the comfort of Theodore’s hand, realized it had never been a screw, and never would be.

It was a strong, tiny nail that Theodore had put in the wrong box by mistake.