My late grandfather, a master storyteller who spun tales of buried treasure, left me a rather unexpected inheritance: a dusty old apiary. It felt like a cruel joke at first. Who would leave their grandchild a shack swarming with bees? My resentment lingered until the day I finally ventured into the beehives.
One typical morning, Aunt Daphne urged me to pack my bag for school, but I was too busy texting a friend about the upcoming dance and my crush, Scott. When she mentioned my grandfather’s dreams for me, my frustration grew. I had no interest in tending to his bees; I just wanted to enjoy my teenage life.
The next day, Aunt Daphne chastised me for my neglect, threatening to ground me. She insisted that caring for the apiary was part of my responsibility. Despite my protests, I reluctantly agreed to check on the hives. Donning protective gear, I opened the first hive, my heart racing. A bee stung my glove, and for a moment, I considered quitting. But a rush of determination took over, and I pressed on, hoping to show Aunt Daphne I could handle this.
While harvesting honey, I discovered a weathered plastic bag containing a faded map. Excited, I tucked it into my pocket and raced home to grab my bike. Following the map, I pedaled into the woods, recalling my grandfather’s stories that had once enchanted me.
I found myself in a clearing resembling a scene from one of his tales—the old gamekeeper’s house stood before me, decaying but still captivating. Memories flooded back of lazy afternoons spent there, listening to his stories. Touching the gnarled tree nearby, I recalled his playful warnings about the gnomes that supposedly lurked in the woods.
Inside the forgotten cabin, I uncovered a beautifully carved metal box. Inside was a note from Grandpa: “To my dear Robyn, this box contains a treasure for you, but do not open it until your journey’s true end” Though tempted, I knew I had to honor his wishes.
After exploring further, I realized I was lost and panic set in. Remembering Grandpa’s advice to stay calm, I pressed on, searching for a familiar path. Eventually, I stumbled upon the bridge he often spoke of, but it felt further away than I had hoped. Exhausted and disoriented, I collapsed beneath a tree, longing for home.
The next morning, determined to find my way, I recalled Grandpa’s lessons as I navigated through the wilderness. I found a river but was startled when I slipped into the icy water. Fighting against the current, I finally managed to cling to a log, eventually dragging myself to shore.
Soaked and trembling, I rummaged through my backpack, only to find stale crumbs. When I remembered Grandpa’s wisdom, I used healing leaves for my cuts and continued onward, drawn by the sound of rushing water. I finally reached the river again, but the water was treacherous. Desperate, I knelt to drink, but the current swept me away, and I found myself struggling against the powerful flow.
Determined not to give up, I let go of my backpack but clung to the metal box. With sheer will, I fought my way to the bank, finally escaping the icy grasp of the river. I needed shelter, so I built a makeshift one from branches under a sturdy oak tree.
The next morning, I set out once more, the metal box feeling like my only lifeline. Memories of fishing trips with Grandpa warmed me, urging me forward. When I finally spotted the bridge, hope surged within me. But the forest began to close in around me, confusion and despair threatening to overwhelm me. Just when I thought I couldn’t go on, I found a clearing and collapsed, utterly spent.
Then, I heard voices calling my name. I awoke in a hospital bed with Aunt Daphne by my side. Overcome with regret, I apologized for everything. She comforted me, reminding me of Grandpa’s unconditional love and how he always believed in me.
As she reached into her bag, my heart raced when I recognized the familiar blue wrapping paper. It was an Xbox, a gift from Grandpa, meant to be given only when I understood the value of hard work. I realized then that I had learned that lesson, and the desire for the gift faded.
In the following years, I grew into my responsibilities, embracing the lessons my grandfather imparted. Now, as a mother myself, I reflect on those moments with gratitude. The sweet honey from my bees serves as a cherished reminder of the bond I shared with Grandpa, a bond that continues to guide me.
No one shows up for 6-year-old’s birthday party – then mom shares picture and the community steps up
It was meant to be the best day of Teddy’s childhood, but for him, it turned out to be a horrible one.For his sixth birthday, his parents planned to take him to Disney World or Lego Land, but he wanted to spend it with his friends.
Teddy’s mother picked out a table at Peter Piper Pizza about two weeks before the big day, and she gave Teddy’s teacher thirty-two invitations, asking her to distribute one to each student in the class. More than half of the child’s parents said they would bring their children to the celebration.
On Teddy’s birthday, Teddy’s mother Sia made gift bags for her son’s friends and placed an order for a large pizza. Despite everyone’s expectations that it would be an absolute blast, not a single student spoke up. After more than sixty minutes of waiting, the friends were no longer visible.
After this, Sia was crushed. She was heartbroken for her son, who was having a truly trying day on what ought to have been a fun one.
“To be honest, I was a little let down,” Teddy’s father told the New York Post. Teddy thought it was unfortunate that they hadn’t arrived an hour into the festivities since, in his opinion, it was what mattered most. In an attempt to cheer up their son, the parents tried to distract him with activities like arcade games.
Sia made the decision to take a photo of Teddy and share it online with the goal of spreading awareness that anything similar should never happen to anyone. But she had no idea that Teddy’s melancholy photo would go viral and attract so much attention. She even felt bad about sharing it after realizing how much attention it received.
Hundreds of individuals emailed Teddy birthday greetings, and many of them included gifts. To make Teddy’s day a little bit better, the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Rising MLS team invited the family to their upcoming games.
On behalf of all the other parents who chose not to bring their children to the celebration, only one parent expressed regret to Sia.
Even though this story disappointed us, it should serve as a reminder to be more deliberate and thoughtful.
For further information about the story, view the video below.
Leave a Reply