Grandfather’s Last Hope: Girl Gives Up Her Savings, Defies Estranged Mother

Girl Gives Up All Her Savings To Help Her Grandfather, Despite Her Mother’s Estrangement From Him – Story of the Day

Alice enjoyed spending her mother’s birthday night with her family. Her grandfather Ted was not invited this time, therefore there was a missing person. That was unusual because her mother would rarely stop to rage at the simple query “Why?” Nevertheless, Alice was prepared to assist her grandfather in need.

With the warm glow of candles flickering all around the room and creating shadows on the walls, Alice sat at the dinner table. Lisa and Terry, her parents, were conversing and grinning as they celebrated her mother’s birthday.

There was roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and freshly made bread all over the table.

The aroma of the food filled the air, familiar and comfortable, but Alice was unable to concentrate on the happiness all around her. Picking at her supper, she sat silently, her thoughts far away.

Alice’s thoughts were always focused on her grandfather Ted, who was not present, while her parents were laughing and telling stories.

He had always attended family events, and Alice really missed him. He would twirl her about in the air till she felt like she could fly, or he would tell her incredible tales from his childhood.

Papa Ted had a way of elevating her status, as if she were the most significant individual on the planet. However, Alice hadn’t really seen him in over a year, and she wasn’t sure why.

Her mind drifted to the last occasion she’d seen her mom and Grandpa Ted together. Alice would never forget the memory of her mother yelling at him, her voice higher and more vehement than anything she had ever heard.

The fight had reverberated throughout the home, even though Alice had been upstairs in her room.

Papa That evening, Ted had been acting a little funny and fumbling over his sentences, in addition to having a strange smell.

Although Alice was not sure why, her mother had been enraged, shouting something about “broken promises” and “never again.” Grandpa Ted had vanished from their lives after that evening.

For a long while, Alice had remained silent, thinking that things would soon get better and her mother and Grandpa Ted would reconcile.

But now that she was seated at the dinner table and witnessing everyone else’s celebration, she was unable to contain her curiosity.

“Why isn’t Grandpa Ted here?” She inquired, cutting through the laughing with a quiet but distinct voice.

There was silence in the room. The warmth in the air appeared to instantly dissipate as her parents ceased their conversation. Lisa’s expression transformed, her smile disappearing as she looked at Terry, who was shifting in his chair and appeared uneasy.

After clearing her throat and inhaling deeply, Lisa responded. “Alice, Grandpa Ted is not coming. I doubt it for a very long time.”

Alice felt her heart sink. “Why not?” she questioned, a little shaky in her voice. “What did he do?”

Lisa’s voice grew stiff and icy, and her eyes hardened. “We no longer need to see Grandpa Ted because of some poor decisions he made. This method works better.

Alice’s bewildered gaze grew wider. “However, I miss him. Is it not possible for us to see him? He remains a family member.”

Terry laid a gentle hand on Lisa’s before she could answer. “Honey, maybe—”

“No,” Lisa cut in with a harsh tone. “I don’t want to talk about him, not today.”

Alice could feel the tears rising in her eyes due to the intense tension in the room. She tried not to cry as she glanced down at her plate.

She was infatuated with her granddad and puzzled about her mother’s outrage. How could he have done anything so dreadful?

Alice said, “May I be excused?” in a whisper after a little period of silence.

She got up softly and left the table without waiting for an answer, her heart heavy. With tears finally starting to fall, she headed to her room and shut the door.

Alice wiped the tears from her eyes and sat at her computer, listening to the conversation from dinner play over in her head.

The thing that kept coming back to her was what her mother had said about Grandpa Ted. He had been so sweet to her from the beginning, making her laugh and telling her stories.

Why did her mother find him so offensive? Alice was unable to comprehend it. Though she was aware of his transgressions, didn’t he remain her family? And he was ill now.

She had heard her father softly discussing Ted’s medicine needs with her mother. Could it be the cause of her mother’s upset? Perhaps after everything that had happened, she thought Grandpa Ted didn’t deserve their assistance.

However, Alice didn’t think so. She adored Grandpa Ted regardless of what he had done.

The idea of him being sick and alone, in need of assistance and not receiving it, was too much for her to handle. She was sorely missing him. She was aware that she needed to assist him in every way possible.

the gaze strayed to the tiny piggy bank that was positioned on the shelf. For months, she had been putting money into it with the intention of purchasing a new bicycle for herself.

The bike seemed less essential now that she was thinking of her grandfather, even though she had almost enough to afford the one she’d wanted for so long.

Alice got up slowly, moved to the piggy bank, and took it in her hands. It was all she had, but it wasn’t much.

She hesitated for a brief moment. That bike was something she truly wanted. But she couldn’t shake the picture of her ailing and destitute grandfather. She needed a bicycle, but he needed her more.

After taking a deep breath, Alice covered the piggy bank with a towel and gave it a gentle smack against the edge of her desk, breaking it. It didn’t matter that the sound of the breaking ceramic seemed louder than she had anticipated.

She collected the coins and bills and counted them carefully before putting the cash in her backpack. It was all she had, though it wasn’t much. It would hopefully benefit Grandpa Ted.

Alice reached for her coat, pulled it on, and discreetly opened her bedroom window. She was aware that her parents would not grant her permission to travel.

They were still angry even though it was late. But she was set on her course. Whatever it took, she was determined to support her grandfather.

Like she used to do when she played outside, she climbed out of the window and tiptoed across the yard to the bus stop.

Alice trembled in the cold night air, waiting for the last bus of the night.

When it did, she used some of the pennies she had saved to purchase her ticket and then she sat down to watch the nighttime streets go by. She would soon be at Grandpa Ted’s place. All she wanted was to be able to change things.

Grandpa Ted’s house was eventually reached by Alice after what seemed like an eternity. Her pulse raced at the sight of the ancient wooden door, its paint peeling and the creaky porch she used to play on.

Memories of summers spent there, of jokes and stories told, flooded her head. However, the home appeared quieter and more melancholic tonight, as though it carried the weight of her heart’s unsaid emotions.

She waited a moment, clenching her backpack’s straps, before softly tapping on the door.

Grandpa Ted emerged as the door cracked open in a matter of seconds. When he spotted her, his friendly but aged face brightened with surprise.

“Hey Alice! Sweetheart, what are you doing here?” He cried out, coming up to give her a cozy embrace.

Alice clung to the object, unwilling to let go.

Whispering, “I came to help you, Grandpa,” she withdrew a little and struggled to zip her backpack. Her life savings, a little stack of coins and dollars, were brought out and extended to him. Dad said, ‘You need money for medicine because you’re sick. All I have is this.”

Papa Ted’s eyes welled up with emotions as he glanced down at the cash in her hands. He remained silent for a brief while. At last, he uttered words that were poignant and full of feeling.

“Oh, Alice,” he whispered, taking her hands in his delicately. “I have never experienced such kindness from anyone before. However… This money alone, in my opinion, won’t be sufficient to fix the problem. However, the love and care you’ve given me tonight is far more valuable than any medication.”

Alice scowled as she looked across his face. “But I’d like to pitch in. Grandpa, I want you to recover. It is impossible for you to get ill.”

Papa Despite the sadness in his eyes, Ted grinned. “My dear, I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do. Money and love alone cannot make up for some things. But understanding that you’ve gone to such lengths for me? That has greater meaning than you can realize.”

Alice felt comfortable being near her grandfather even though the night air was cool when they were sitting together on the porch. Ted messaged the girl’s parents right away, letting them know where she was.

Alice remained silent for a short while before posing the query that had been on her mind nonstop. “Grandpa, why is Mom so mad at you?”

Ted let out a long sigh, as though his shoulders were being crushed by his own regret.

“Alice, your mom believed in me. She gave me money to help me kick the habit and get well. However, I made a huge mistake. She was very offended by my usage of that money to purchase additional alcohol. She trusted me, and I betrayed her.”

“Why did you do it?” Alice said, her voice quivering.

Ted cast a sheepish glance down. “Because I was weak, and I made a mistake,” he said.

Since then, I’ve regretted it every day. I never intended to do harm to your mom. I just hope she’ll be able to forgive me for what I did eventually.”

With the sounds of the night creeping in around them, they sat silently together. Alice realized that her love was the most important thing at that moment, even though she didn’t know how to solve things.

A automobile parked in front of the house as they were wrapping up their talk. Lisa was incensed that Alice’s parents had come looking for her.

“Alice, what were you thinking?” Lisa chastised. “You could have been hurt!”

Alice maintained her position, gazing up at her mother. “Mom, I handed Grandpa every penny I had. He regrets his actions. Why are we unable to assist him?”

Lisa’s heart melted as she gazed at her daughter, causing her fury to waver. Some of the resentment she had carried for so long vanished when she saw her tiny girl, who was more ready to forgive than she had been.

With a sigh, Lisa turned to face her dad. “Dad, if you stay sober, I’ll help you with the medication.”

Tears filled Ted’s eyes as he nodded. “Thank you, Lisa.”

Despite crying, Alice managed a grin, knowing that she had played a part in reuniting her family. It was about love, forgiveness, and the possibility of a new beginning, not just money.