Just for a few minutes. Don’t ask me what this is about; it’s a surprise for grandma. I promise it won’t take too long.
You can even stay back in the car.”
His father pulled up in front of the store. “Make it quick, Ty. Do you need any mon—”
“No, dad.
Thanks, though!” Tyler had already gotten out of the car with his backpack and shut the door behind him. He ran straight to the fruits section and began picking the ripest-looking fruits he could find. He picked up boxes of strawberries, blueberries, apples, kiwi, and a big bag of oranges.
Pleased with his own choice of fruits, he dashed towards the cashier. “Good morning! I would like all of these, please!
And a paper bag, too. Paying by cash. How much would that be?”
Tyler was shaking his leg impatiently as he noticed his father waiting outside the store.
The store owner, Stella, had been observing from a distance. She was amused by the little boy’s grown-up-like confidence and thoroughness. But she was shocked to see what the child did next.
Tyler handed his piggy bank to the cashier, saying, “There are 42 dollars and 50 cents in here. You can count it if you like. Will this be enough?”
One of the staff members began counting the coins.
Meanwhile, Stella started chatting with the impressive little boy. “That is a lot of fruit. Who are those for?”
“For my grandmother.
She’s in the city hospital. Fruits are going to help her get better!”
The store employee who was counting the coins whispered something into Stella’s ear. “What’s your name, young man?” she asked.
“Tyler.”
“Tyler, that is an impressive amount of money you’ve saved up, but you are actually $14 short. But that’s alright. You go on and take these fruits to your grandma.”
“No, no.
I don’t want to take any of it for free,” Tyler said firmly and stared at his shoes in disappointment. “Well, maybe you can skip the bag of oranges? Then you have just enough to pay for the other fruits.”
“No, that won’t work.
My grandma needs Vitamin C to fight pneumonia!”
Stella was amazed at Tyler’s knowledge and determination. She was about to suggest once again that he take it for free. That’s when Tyler’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll ask you a riddle! If you know the answer, I will ask my father for $14 and pay it to you.
If you do not know the answer, you have to pay me $14.”
Stella agreed to the 14-dollar-riddle in a heartbeat. A few other staff members and customers lingering around the counter were listening keenly as well. “What is always in front of us, but we can’t see it?”
Tyler’s audience racked their brains, talking amongst themselves, discussing answers.
Stella looked confused, too. “Air?”
“No.”
“Spectacles?”
“No, think again. Last chance.”
“Hmm…tiny little specs of dust?”
“No, it is something that you can’t see at all – not even under a microscope!”
“Oh no!
I lost! What’s the answer?” she asked with an animated frown. “The future!”
The small swarm of people around Tyler applauded at the answer.
Tyler happily dragged along the big bag of fruits and walked as briskly as he could towards the car. At the hospital, Martha was immersed in Tyler’s narration of what had transpired that morning. In the end, she clapped with pride and said, “That’s my boy!”
Tyler’s parents were shocked and secretly proud of him, too.
As the family spent the afternoon treating themselves to the feast of delicious fresh fruits, someone gently swung the ward doors open. The kindness you give will always comes back to you in some form. A young lady searched across the room with her eyes until she finally saw Tyler.
It took a moment, but Tyler stood up as he recognized her. “That’s the grocery store owner from this morning!”
“Hi, Tyler! I just thought I would come to visit your grandmother personally.
I wanted to tell her what an incredible grandson she has!”
Tyler tried not to blush as he held his mother’s hand and hid behind her. “I’ve got more news for you! You want to hear the good news first?”
Tyler’s parents shared a glance as they wondered what the stranger had to say.
“There will be a bag of fresh fruits ready for Tyler at the grocery store every week, free of charge.”
Martha shrieked with joy and hugged Tyler as tightly as she could, kissing his cheeks multiple times. Tyler hugged his grandmother back. He was thrilled, but he was too curious to wait.
“And the bad news?”
“Who said anything about bad news? The ‘better’ news is this: I was deeply moved by this brilliant child and wanted to do something for him. So as a token of my love and appreciation, I will be taking care of all of Meemaw’s medical expenses!
I just spoke to the hospital authorities – it’s all done!”
Martha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She placed her hands on her chest as if to calm her heart. “Thank you!
You have no idea what this means to us!” Tyler’s mother said, tearing up. Watching the family members hug each other and cry out of joy was a heartwarming sight to Stella. She let them be and walked out of the ward, holding her own tears back.
The truth was that when Tyler asked her the riddle that morning, Stella was instantly transported back to being a little girl on her grandmother’s lap. Her grandmother would ask her riddles all the time and give her a 50-cent-coin every time she got one right. The riddle that Tyler had asked her that morning was the same one her grandmother had taught Stella shortly before she breathed her last.
Stella still had that last 50-cent-coin in her pocket. What can we learn from this story? Do every good you can do, no matter how little it may seem.
Tyler was a nine-year-old child with only a few dollars saved up in his piggy bank. That did not stop him from trying to help his grandmother get better. The kindness you give will always come back to you in some form.
Tyler’s act of kindness towards his grandmother did not go unnoticed, and soon came back as an unexpected blessing for him and his family.
