The Greedy Brother and the Five Old Clocks
Brian stood outside the old house, smirking as he watched the taxi pull up. The door creaked open, and his younger sister Linda stepped out, carrying her small backpack.
“Oh, so Grandma called you too?!” Brian said loudly, with a mocking laugh. “I thought you’d be busy in the library… like a good little bookworm!” He chuckled and shook his head.
Linda, only 19, clutched her bag tightly. Her heart was beating fast, her mind spinning with worry. Nothing bad will happen to Grandma, she kept telling herself. She’s strong. She’ll live for another hundred years.
Brian, 26, and Linda had both come to visit their beloved 90-year-old grandmother, Marlene. Two days ago, they had received a sudden, trembling phone call from her.
“Sweethearts,” Grandma Marlene had said, her voice weak and shaking. “I wish to see you one last time. I might not get another chance again.”
The heavy words haunted Linda as she stepped into the house. Dust floated through the air. The floorboards creaked under her sneakers. Everything smelled old and damp, and when Linda entered Marlene’s bedroom, she coughed, feeling the heavy, stale air.
The ceiling was moldy from a water leak, and cobwebs hung from the corners. Marlene had clearly grown too weak to clean or fix anything. Linda’s heart broke at the sight.
Grandma Marlene lay in bed, looking smaller and frailer than Linda had ever seen. Her skin was pale, and her once-bright eyes were now dull and tired.
Without thinking, Linda ran to her bedside, tears blurring her vision.
“Grandma!!” she cried, hugging her gently. “Nothing will happen to you, Grandma. Please don’t worry. God won’t take you away from us. You’re all that we have!”
Just a year ago, Linda had lived here with Marlene, caring for her every day. She had even been ready to give up a life-changing scholarship just to stay by Grandma’s side. But Marlene had pushed her to leave, insisting she chase her dreams.
Brian walked in after her, coughing dramatically and waving his hand in front of his face.
“Damn… I’m allergic to dust!” he complained, laughing. “Grandma, didn’t you even sweep and dust your room?”
He barely glanced at her fragile figure. All he seemed to care about was why he had been called here.
Marlene’s frail hand reached out and grasped Linda’s trembling fingers. She stared coldly at Brian, then forced a small smile.
From under her pillow, she pulled out two envelopes.
“Sweethearts, this is for you,” she whispered. “Please use it wisely. I called you here to give it to you.”
Brian and Linda opened the envelopes. Inside each was a wad of cash — exactly $5,000.
Linda’s eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip and turned away, running out of the room sobbing.
Brian, however, frowned in disappointment.
“Only this much?” he muttered under his breath. “I thought you had more to spare. Fine. I have to go now.”
Without even thanking her, he turned around and left, his footsteps heavy and rude.
The Next Morning
Marlene didn’t expect to hear Linda’s voice again so soon.
“Good morning, Grandma!” Linda chirped, pulling open the heavy curtains. Bright sunshine flooded the dusty bedroom.
Marlene blinked in disbelief. She had thought Linda would have left for the city, back to her busy life as a part-time librarian and student.
But here she was, standing by her bedside, holding the same envelope of money.
Linda sat down next to her, smiling.
“Grandma, I added the $4,000 I saved over the year to what you gave me,” she said gently. “Remember you told me about your poor eyesight? I now have $9,000. We can pay for your eye surgery!”
Marlene’s lips quivered. Tears filled her tired eyes as she hugged Linda tightly.
“I knew you better, darling!” she whispered. “But it’s too late… too late for surgery now. I can feel it… death is near. I don’t want to waste this money. It should be used for something better.”
Linda brushed away Marlene’s tears and kissed her forehead.
“I’m not going anywhere, Grandma,” she promised. “I’ve taken a month off. I’m staying until I see that golden smile back on your face.”
A New Life at Home
Having Linda around changed everything for Marlene. No more cold dinners of stale bread. No more lonely days staring at the cracked ceiling.
Linda cooked warm meals, played soft music, and read stories to her every night. Slowly, Marlene started smiling again. She even managed to get out of bed and sit by the window sometimes.
One day, Marlene heard voices outside her bedroom. Curious, she shuffled out — and gasped.
The once-crumbling house looked brand new! The leaky roof was repaired, the walls freshly painted, and the old furniture polished to a shine.
Linda beamed at her.
“I knew you wanted Grandpa’s house to be beautiful again,” Linda said, her eyes shining. “I spent the $9,000 to fix it. I wanted you to see it like it used to be… with Grandpa.”
Marlene covered her mouth with trembling hands. Then she rushed to Linda and threw her arms around her.
“I love you, Linda!” she sobbed. “I love you so much!”
Marlene often said, “I want to die when I’m happiest on earth.”
One week later, her wish came true. Marlene passed away peacefully in her sleep, with a soft smile still on her face.
Linda’s heart broke into a thousand pieces.
The Will Reading
A few days after the funeral, Linda and Brian were called to the lawyer’s office. They had no idea Grandma had left a will.
The lawyer, an older man with kind eyes, cleared his throat.
“Mr. White,” he said to Brian, “according to your grandmother’s will, you are inheriting her house. Here are the papers. Please sign them.”
Brian whooped and grinned ear to ear. “Knew it!” he said under his breath, proudly signing the documents.
Linda, sitting quietly in the corner, felt her heart sink. She wasn’t jealous. She was just hurt — because she had spent all her money fixing that house.
The lawyer then turned to Linda.
“And Miss Linda, this is for you,” he said, pushing a dusty old box across the table.
Confused, Linda opened the box. Inside were five rusty, vintage clocks.
Brian burst into laughter.
“That’s hella insane and cheap!!” he shouted. “Grandma left her house to me because she knew who deserved it. Enjoy decorating your cheap rented apartment with these junk clocks, sis. Some people just aren’t lucky!”
Tears stung Linda’s eyes, but she said nothing. She gathered the clocks, stood up with quiet dignity, and left the office.
The Hidden Treasure
Back in the city, Linda placed the old clocks on her shelf. She barely looked at them, her heart still aching.
Days later, while dusting one of them, she noticed something strange — a delicate engraving on the metal frame.
“OPEN IT!” it said, written in beautiful cursive.
Heart pounding, Linda carefully opened the back of the clock. Something tumbled out — a tiny rolled-up note!
“A note?” Linda gasped, picking it up with shaking hands.
She unrolled it and began to read.
“Never underestimate these rusty, old watches! They are 100-year-old classic timepieces that belonged to my grandfather. They are crafted from rare, exquisite metal. Each piece is worth $40,000, my dear!”
Linda covered her mouth in shock as tears flooded her eyes.
The note continued:
“Everyone gets what they truly deserve, Linda! I’m glad you got only the best. With Love, Granny Marlene.”
Linda clutched the clocks to her chest, feeling them tick-tick-tick against her heart, as if Grandma’s love was still alive inside them.
She didn’t tell Brian about her discovery. She smiled through her tears.
“Let him think he won,” she thought. “Grandma knew who truly deserved the best. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”
She locked the precious clocks safely in her drawer, holding onto the most priceless inheritance of all: her Grandma’s love and faith in her.
What can we learn from this story?
Everyone gets what they truly deserve.
Brian mocked Linda when she inherited only five old clocks — but each one turned out to be worth over $40,000.
Meanwhile, Linda’s love, care, and kindness were rewarded in a way that money can’t measure.
Always love and cherish your elders. Linda loved her Grandma unconditionally — and was blessed a hundredfold in return.
