The Five Clocks That Changed Everything
Brian stood outside the old house with a smug smile, hands stuffed deep into his jeans pockets. When he saw Linda step out of the taxi, clutching her bag nervously, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh, so Grandma called you too?!” Brian sneered. “I thought you’d be buried in your library books… like a good little bookworm!”
Nineteen-year-old Linda hugged her jacket tighter. Her heart was racing. She kept telling herself, “Grandma’s strong. She’ll be fine. She’ll live to be a hundred.”
They had both rushed over after their ninety-year-old grandmother, Marlene, had called them two days ago with a voice full of sadness.
“Sweethearts,” Marlene had said weakly over the phone, “I need to see you… maybe for the last time.”
Inside the house, the air was thick and dusty. Linda coughed as she walked through the front door. She noticed how the ceiling was spotted with mold, and the floor hadn’t been swept in a long time. Her heart ached seeing the home fall apart.
She carefully opened the door to Marlene’s bedroom. The sight made her chest tighten. Marlene lay on the bed, thin and frail, her once-bright eyes looking tired and dull.
“Grandma!!” Linda cried, rushing to her bedside. She threw her arms around her. “Nothing will happen to you, Grandma. Please don’t say that. You’re all we have!”
Just a year ago, Linda had lived with Marlene, helping her with everything. Linda had even been ready to give up a life-changing scholarship to stay. But Marlene had insisted she go to the city to study.
“Follow your dreams, my dear,” Marlene had said at the time. “I’ll manage.”
Brian stomped into the bedroom, coughing loudly. He waved his hand in front of his face and said, “Jeez, Grandma! Ever heard of a broom? This place is a dust museum!”
He stood by the door, looking annoyed, waiting for her to speak.
Marlene slowly sat up, her hands trembling. She reached under her pillow and pulled out two envelopes.
“Sweethearts,” she said, her voice barely a whisper, “I wanted to give you these while I still can. Use them wisely.”
Brian eagerly tore his envelope open. Linda opened hers with shaking hands. Inside, each found a stack of $5,000.
Linda’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t hold it in. She ran out of the room, sobbing.
Brian, on the other hand, scowled. “$5,000? That’s it? I thought you had some real money stashed away, Grandma,” he grumbled. Without even a “thank you,” he turned and walked out.
The next morning, Marlene lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking Linda must have left for the city. Suddenly, she heard the curtains being drawn open. Sunlight flooded the room.
“Good morning, Grandma!” Linda chirped, her face bright with a big smile.
Marlene blinked in surprise. “Linda? I thought you had gone back?”
Linda came over, holding the envelope from yesterday.
“I added the $4,000 I’d saved up over the past year,” she said. “Grandma, you remember telling me your vision was getting worse? Well, now we have $9,000. We can pay for your eye surgery!”
Marlene’s hands flew to her mouth. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“My darling girl… I knew you had the kindest heart,” she said, hugging Linda tightly. “But it’s too late for surgeries now. I can feel it… my time is coming. Don’t waste the money on me.”
Linda gently wiped her tears. “Then I’ll stay with you, Grandma. I took a month off from college. I’m not going anywhere until I see your beautiful smile again.”
And Linda meant it.
With Linda back, the house came back to life. She cooked warm meals every day, cleaned the dusty rooms, and kept Marlene company. No more stale bread for dinner. No more lonely days.
Marlene felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time — happiness.
One afternoon, Marlene heard strange noises outside her room. When she shuffled out to see what was happening, she gasped.
Workers were everywhere — painting walls, fixing the ceiling, repairing the leaking roof.
Linda walked up to her, beaming.
“I used the money to fix the house, Grandma,” she said. “I know how much you loved this place. Grandpa built it with his own hands. I wanted you to see it beautiful again.”
Marlene’s legs wobbled, but she rushed as fast as she could to hug Linda.
“My precious girl…” she whispered between sobs. “Thank you. Thank you.”
A week later, on a peaceful morning filled with sunlight and birdsong, Marlene passed away in her sleep. She left the world exactly how she had always wished — at the happiest moment of her life.
Linda was heartbroken but grateful she had been there to make her final days joyful.
A few days after the funeral, Linda and Brian were called to the lawyer’s office. They had no idea that Marlene had left a will.
The lawyer, Mr. Benson, adjusted his glasses and said, “Brian, according to your grandmother’s will, you inherit her house. Please sign these papers.”
Brian smirked, grabbing the pen.
Linda’s heart sank a little. I renovated that house, she thought. But it’s okay… Brian can have it.
Then Mr. Benson turned to Linda.
“And for you, Miss Linda, your grandmother left this.”
He pushed forward an old wooden box.
Linda opened it carefully — inside were five rusty old clocks.
“What is this?!” she gasped.
Brian burst out laughing so hard he almost fell out of his chair.
“HAHAHA! Oh man, that’s pathetic!” he cackled. “You get a bunch of broken clocks while I get the house! Grandma knew who was the favorite!”
Linda’s cheeks flushed red. She quietly gathered the clocks and left.
Back in her small apartment in the city, Linda placed the clocks on her shelf. She didn’t look at them much… not until one night when she noticed something strange.
One of the clocks had something etched into the metal in beautiful cursive letters:
“OPEN IT!”
Linda’s curiosity burned. She grabbed a screwdriver and carefully opened the clock.
Inside, tucked away in a tiny compartment, was a rolled-up note.
Her hands shook as she unrolled it and read:
“Never underestimate these rusty old watches! They are 100-year-old classic timepieces that belonged to my grandfather. Each one is crafted from rare, exquisite metal. Every clock is worth $40,000, my dear!”
Linda’s heart stopped. Her eyes welled with tears as she kept reading:
“Everyone gets what they truly deserve, Linda! I’m proud of you. I’m so glad you got only the best. With love, Granny Marlene.”
Linda hugged the clocks tightly, listening to the soft ticking sounds. It felt like Grandma Marlene was still with her, watching over her.
She decided to keep this secret from Brian.
“Let him live thinking he won,” she smiled to herself. “Grandma knew who deserved her real treasures.”
Linda carefully locked the precious clocks away, knowing she held something far more valuable than just money — she held her grandmother’s trust, love, and legacy.
Moral of the Story:
Everyone gets what they truly deserve.
Brian mocked Linda for getting five old clocks — but those clocks were worth over $200,000!
True love and kindness are always rewarded, even if it’s not in the way you expect. Linda loved her grandmother without expecting anything in return, and in the end, she received the greatest gift of all.
Would you also like me to create a short, catchy title idea or a little quote you can add at the start of the story too? 🌟
