A Question Of Possession

"I've been robbed," cried out the man to the police officer. "What was taken from you sir," the police officer asked. "It was a jewel, one I've owned for 20 years," the man replied, in a voice loud enough to echo throughout the police station.

"When did you last see this jewel," the officer inquired. "It was, it was, oh I don't know, about 10 years ago," answered the flustered man. "I stuck it in my dresser drawer and forgot about it. Today, while looking for something else I remembered it. It's mine. I want it back."

"Do you have any idea who could have taken it," asked the officer. "No, but it's mine, I want it back," the man yelled, as he paced back and forth.

"Well sir, did you miss this jewel yesterday," asked the officer. "Off course not," came the reply. "Did you miss it the day before that," asked the officer. "Or the day before that, or the year before that or at any time in the last 10 years?"

"No, I suppose not," the man replied. "Would its sale make your life better than it is today" asked the officer. "No it wouldn't" the man answered.

"Than how are you any worse off now," asked the police officer, "than you were yesterday, or the day before or at any time in the last 10 years?

"All this time it made no difference whether you possessed the jewel or not. For the jewel served no purpose to you and you were no richer or poorer from it. Why get upset now when you really haven't lost anything at all?"

Dick