Martha was more than just a caretaker to her grandson; she was his closest friend. Young Tyler adored her dearly, and daily visits to the hospital with his father couldn’t ease how much he missed her.
One sunny morning, Tyler was watching an old video of himself and his grandma sitting on their porch, laughing heartily. Her laughter brought him comfort, but now with her hospital stay and the threat of pneumonia looming, he felt the urge to care for her as she had always done for him.
The question weighed on his mind: how could he help?
Then he remembered Grandma’s wisdom: food is like medicine, and our bodies will signal what they need when ill. Determined to help her heal, he decided to bring her fresh, juicy oranges.
Excited by the idea, Tyler reached for his piggy bank, full of 50 cent coins earned from solving his grandma’s riddles. These brain teasers were his favorite part of spending time with his beloved meemaw.
The next day, Tyler persuaded his dad to make a brief stop at the local grocery before visiting the hospital. With eagerness, he promised, “It’s a surprise for Grandma, I swear!” Clutching his backpack, he rushed into the store.
Browsing around, he eagerly picked any fruit he could find — kiwis, strawberries, and especially those oranges.
At the checkout, Tyler poured out his piggy bank’s contents to the cashier, who was also the shop’s owner. “Hello! I’d like to purchase all this, please,” he announced eagerly. “Here’s $42.50 in cash. Is it enough?”
The owner, Stella, was taken aback by his charm.
After tallying up, Stella explained that he needed $14 more. Yet, Tyler’s story about his grandma moved her spirit, offering him the fruits for free.
However, Tyler insisted on earning them. He proposed a riddle challenge: if he stumped her, he’d pay with what he had; if not, he’d find more money from his dad.
As Tyler posed his riddle, “What is always ahead but invisible?”, a curious chatter arose among her customers.
The guesses poured in: “Air?” pondered one, “Spectacles?” pitched another. But the owner was stumped. As minutes ticked by, she admitted defeat.
Triumphant, Tyler unveiled the answer: “Our future!”
Her heart warmed, Stella handed over the fruit bags. Tyler hurried to his dad’s car, eager to shower love and care upon his patient grandma.
At the hospital, Tyler excitedly recounted his adventure. Grandma chuckled heartily, brimming with pride, as did his parents, quietly admiring their bright boy’s cleverness.
Amid shared moments, a new visitor stepped in — it was Stella.
Humbly, she interrupted to express how inspired she felt by Tyler’s gesture of love. She matched it, pledging to handle Martha’s medical bills and gifting Tyler weekly fruit from her store.
Tears glistened in Tyler’s parents’ eyes, relieved by such generosity. Meanwhile, Grandma enclosed her heart, overwhelmed with joy.
Heading out of the hospital, Stella fondly recalled her youth. Her grandmother had loved riddles too, offering 50 cents for each solved puzzle. Tyler’s riddle wasn’t unfamiliar; Stella had feigned ignorance because it held special memories as her granny’s final riddle.