Martha was more than Tyler’s grandmother—she was his closest friend. Even though his dad often took him to visit her in the hospital, Tyler missed her deeply.
One morning, Tyler watched an old video of them laughing together on the porch. It reminded him of how much his grandmother had cared for him when his parents weren’t around. Now, she was ill and at risk of pneumonia. He decided he had to take care of her in return.
Tyler remembered his grandma saying food was like medicine and thought oranges might help. Using the coins he’d saved—earned by solving his grandmother’s riddles—he convinced his dad to stop at the store on their way to the hospital. “It’s a surprise for Grandma!” he promised.
At the store, Tyler grabbed all kinds of fruits: oranges, kiwis, and strawberries. He handed the cashier his piggy bank, proudly announcing it had $42.50. But the total was $14 more than he had.
The cashier, Stella, was touched by his story and offered to cover the difference. Tyler politely declined and proposed a deal: if Stella solved a riddle, he’d ask his dad for the extra money. If she couldn’t, she’d accept what he had.
“What is always in front of us but can’t be seen?” Tyler asked. Stella and the customers guessed but couldn’t figure it out. Tyler smiled and said, “The future!”
Stella let him take the fruit and later visited the hospital. Inspired by Tyler’s kindness, she offered to cover his grandmother’s medical bills and provide a weekly fruit bag.
As she left, Stella recalled her own grandmother giving her riddles and paying her 50 cents per answer. Tyler’s riddle was the same as the last one her grandmother had ever asked.
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