Off The Record
My Grandson Threw Away The “Useless” Car I Gifted Him—He Had No Idea What Was Hidden Inside
Unless he needed money, my grandson never called. I knew it was time to give him a lesson he would never forget when he hurried over after hearing about a “inheritance” and ignored my message.
The Legacy
Since my daughter-in-law moved to the city seven years ago, I had been living alone. After my kid passed away, the house felt too quiet. Sometimes, when the wind shook the old windows, I could still hear him laughing.
He had been a decent man, honest and industrious. I had hoped that his son would do the same.
After my kid passed away, the house felt too quiet.
However, I didn’t pass that test. I helped my daughter-in-law raise the son, fixed engines, saved every dime, and worked until I was seventy. I covered the cost of his first car as well as his college education. I wanted his beginnings to be greater than mine ever was.
But for some reason, I brought up a young man who believed that everything was due to him.
Oh, Ethan knew how to smile when he wanted something. He was charming. But he disappeared as soon as I refused. He wanted money to “start a business” when I last saw him. Naturally, I gave it to him. He promised to reimburse me within a month.
Oh, Ethan knew how to smile when he wanted something. He was charming.
Five years have passed since then.
I had been reflecting a lot lately on the kind of man he had grown into. He had resigned all of his jobs after a few weeks and been dismissed from college, yet he continued to blame “bad luck.” I was aware that it was just excused sloth.
I gave my daughter-in-law, Linda, a call one morning.
Would you please text Ethan? Inform him that the elderly man is not feeling well. Perhaps he will pay us a visit.
I had been reflecting a lot lately on the kind of man he had grown into.
She paused. “You know how he is, Dad. He’s occupied.”
“What are you busy with? Not functioning?” I complained. “Honey, just send the message.”
She did. And nothing for three days. No call. Not even an SMS message. I made the decision to try something different.
On the fourth day, I remarked, “Tell him that I’ve left him something valuable.” Something I desire for him.
Linda let out a sigh. “You’re awful, Dad. You’re luring him in.”
“Honey, just send the message.”
“Perhaps. However, I will at least learn what kind of fish I caught.”
I heard tires squealing on the gravel the next morning. I took a quick look through the curtain. Ethan was out of a shiny borrowed automobile, wearing a bright jacket and fashionable sunglasses.
He didn’t even look in the direction of the home. I just yelled,
“Mom! What location is it? What was left for me by Grandpa?”
Linda appeared ashamed.
He didn’t even look in the direction of the home.
My hands were still greasy from working on the ancient Chevy I had spent half my life fixing, so I remained hidden by the shed. Covered with a tarp, the automobile waited in the garage.
I cleaned my hands on a cloth and fixed my cap as Ethan marched toward it.
“Young man, can I help you?”
He hardly gave me a glance. “No, I’m only here to collect my inheritance.”
“No, I’m only here to collect my inheritance.”
I muttered a smile to myself. He didn’t even know who I was. He had been unaware of the “old man” standing three feet away for five years.
I nodded toward the garage and said, “Ah.” I guess it’s in there. He desired for you to possess it.
Ethan gave a snort. “Data. Most likely some old, dusty junk. The man gathered trash as if it were precious.”
I suppressed a smile by biting the inside of my cheek. “It might surprise you.”
He didn’t even know who I was.
Like a magician showing off his trick, he ripped the tarp off the car. My old Chevy Bel Air was there. Despite some rust patches and faded blue paint, I think it’s still lovely.
“You’re not serious.” Ethan almost laughed as he turned to face me. “This? Is this the inheritance? This item of… vintage metal?”
“It’s classic,” I told him. “She has more family history than you do.”
“This? Is this the inheritance?”
This item of… vintage metal?
Yes, she is welcome to remain there. I refuse to operate that coffin on wheels. Smiling, he walked around the car and tapped the hood with his phone. “I might sell it for parts.” This type of garbage is highly valued by scrap yards.
That one was a little painful. Before the boy was even born, my son and I had overhauled that engine. I folded my arms.
“Are you certain your grandfather would approve of that?”
“You mean he’s gone? As if he would give a damn.”
“I might sell it for parts.”
This type of garbage is highly valued by scrap yards.
I briefly forgot to breathe. My grandchild assumed I was dead without even asking if I was still alive. No “was it sudden,” no “how did he die,” just “where’s my stuff?”
I stared at Ethan for a while.
“People surprise you,” I said gently. “They’re closer than you might think sometimes.”
He gave an eye roll. “All right, Confucius. Tomorrow, I’ll stop by to pick it up. Tell the family that I said hello.”
My grandchild assumed I was dead without even asking if I was still alive.
He was already on his way when he waved over his shoulder. Dust rose behind his car like smoke from a fire as I watched him drive away. Using a towel to wipe her hands, Linda emerged from the porch.
“So?”
I said, “He didn’t recognize me.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”
“No. didn’t even inquire about my survival.”
“You’re kidding.”
Quiet and sorrowful, she shook her head. I smiled half-heartedly.
“Well, he’ll discover tomorrow that this ‘junk’ still has some lessons to learn.”
The Instruction Starts
Three days later, just as the afternoon heat was beginning to shimmer in the air, Ethan returned. His automobile screeched to a halt while I was pruning the hedges. With a smoothie in one hand and a shopping bag in the other, he leaped out.
Breathless, he said, “There you are.” “I must speak with you.”
“Well, he’ll discover tomorrow that this ‘junk’ still has some lessons to learn.”
Pretending to be shocked, I used a rag to clean my hands.
“Oh? You’ve finally identified your grandfather?”
He laughed uneasily. Yes, Mom told me, and it was hilarious. Take a look at that vehicle. I made a sale.
I arched an eyebrow. “What did you do?”
The back of his neck was rubbed. You didn’t say not to, though. In any case, it wasn’t worth anything.
Yes, Mom told me, and it was hilarious.
Take a look at that vehicle. I made a sale.
I rested my shovel on it. “It depends on your definition of worth.”
“Don’t bring up the philosophical topic once more. I mean it. A guy from town bought it from me and gave me two thousand dollars. It’s okay; I’ve already spent the majority of it. I’ll purchase a new vehicle.”
I silently stared at him for a long time before he began to fidget.
“That car had something of mine in it,” I finally said.
“What is something that you mean?”
“The actual inheritance.” concealed close to the engine. Anyway, your half of it.
“The actual inheritance.”
concealed close to the engine. Anyway, your half of it.
Ethan’s face went pale as he froze. “You’re kidding.”
“Do I appear to be kidding?”
“Why didn’t you inform me of that prior to my sale?”
“You didn’t inquire. You were too preoccupied to count your money.”
Ethan’s hands went up. “It’s unbelievable! Old man, you’re losing it. What should I do to retrieve it? I’ve used half of it already!”
“Why didn’t you inform me of that prior to my sale?”
I gave a small smile. “So it looks like you’ll have to earn it.”
“Come on, this is crazy!”
I said, “Come on,” and reached for my headgear. “Climb into the truck. Let me show you the man who purchased it. Perhaps we can reach an agreement.”
Despite his moan, he followed. “You can’t count on me to grovel for that nonsense.”
“I’ll show you the person who purchased it.”
Perhaps we can reach an agreement.
The fields were broad and beautiful as we drove to the outskirts of town. Mr. Cooper, the car’s buyer, was standing by a barn, using a rag to wipe his hands.
He had the serene expression of someone who had looked through more people than he could count, and he was tall and broad-shouldered. He winked slightly at me when he spotted me. Ethan was unaware.
I answered, “So this is the young guy who sold you my Chevy.”
He winked slightly at me when he spotted me.
Ethan was unaware.
“Of course it is,” Mr. Cooper smiled. “All right, young man. Unfortunately, he was unaware of what he had.”
Ethan folded his arms. “Listen, sir. I need that car returned.”
Cooper’s head cocked. Yes, you do, don’t you? Well, son, she’s operating smoothly now that I’ve cleaned it and changed the oil. Not really trying to sell. However… An additional set of hands would be quite helpful around here.
Ethan scowled. “What are you doing?”
“Listen, sir. I need that car returned.”
“Whatever needs to be done. repairing fences, moving hay, and cleaning stalls. We’ll call that Chevy yours once more at the end of the summer when you work for me.”
Ethan looked at him, unable to speak. “You’re not serious.”
Cooper smiled and responded, “Nope.” “Your car will be delivered to you, along with possibly something hidden inside.”
I turned to face Ethan. He gave me a glance.
“All right.” He whispered, “I need my inheritance.”
“Your car will be delivered to you, along with possibly something hidden inside.”
I simply grinned. “I suppose we’ll both discover your true nature.”
The True Legacy
It took Ethan a day before he complained. With a shovel in tow, he complained, “This place smells like a zoo.”
Mr. Cooper gave a laugh. Son, that’s what we call fresh air. You will adjust to it.
At the conclusion of the first week, he had a sunburn that made his neck red, hay in his hair, and blisters on both hands. He didn’t give up, though.
It took Ethan a day before he complained.
Perhaps the idea of that wealth waiting for him or pride initially kept him there.
I pretended that I was just stopping by to “check on the car” every few days while carrying tools or lemonade. Cooper and I would glance at each other, but we would never discuss the idea.
“You two think this is funny?” would murmur Ethan, who was covered in dust.
Not amusing. instructive.
Things started to shift gradually.
Cooper and I would glance at each other,
but never mentioned the plan at all.
Ethan began to appear early. Without being instructed twice, he figured out how to mend the fences. The horses ceased to be afraid of him. Cooper’s dog even started to follow him around, barking at everyone.
The child who formerly believed that hard labor was beneath him was now moving hay and humming by the middle of summer.
Emily, Cooper’s daughter, brought cold drinks for everyone one evening.
She smiled and remarked, “Ethan, you’ve worked hard today.”
Ethan began to appear early.
Without being instructed twice, he figured out how to mend the fences.
Ethan almost let his rake fall.
He stammered, his face redder than his sunburn, “Thanks.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I drove home that evening. At last, the child was learning more than just how to get a job.
The summer flew by. The meadows were once more beautiful as the air grew colder. Cooper gave Ethan a set of keys on the last day of August.
On August’s last day,
Cooper gave a set of keys to Ethan.
“Now, kid, she is yours. You deserve her.”
Ethan gazed at the Chevy as if it were his first time seeing it. Quietly and respectfully, he ran his fingers over the hood.
“She’s stunning,” he remarked quietly.
Leaning on my cane, I approached.
“Open the glove box.”
It was empty, Ethan discovered. There was only a little folded note inside. He read aloud:
It was empty, Ethan discovered.
There was only a little folded note inside.
“Under the hood is not what you were searching for. You hold it in your hands. Your inheritance is labor.”
His eyes were wet as he gazed at me. “You were aware of this all along.”
I gave a nod. “Your father already knew that nothing worthwhile comes easily, and I just wanted you to know that.”
“I apologize, Grandpa. For… everything.”
I grinned. “There’s no need to apologize. I truly wanted to give you something, and you found it.”
“You were aware of this all along.”
Emily laughed and ran out of the barn.
“Come on over to our dinner, Ethan!”
He turned reluctantly to face me. “Are you coming too?”
“Perhaps later,” I grinned. “You may proceed. You now have pals.”
As he left, the dust surrounding him was illuminated by the setting sun. He had a straight back and steady steps for the first time in years, as if he had finally figured out his destination. I cared for him while leaning against the Chevy.
“I guess my grandson ended up receiving the majority of the inheritance.”
Now Trending:
- A CEO Heard Two Kids Crying. What He Found On The Sidewalk Changed His Whole Life
- I Married My Father’s Friend — But What He Did On Our Wedding Night Left Me Shattered
- My Husband Hired A Model To Pose As His Wife At His Reunion—He Didn’t Expect The Lesson I Taught Him
Please let us know your thoughts and SHARE this story with your Friends and Family!
