Family Who Hadn’t Seen Grandpa in Years Are Shocked When They Arrive at His Funeral and Find Him Smiling

My family completely stopped coming to see me after I lost my wife, but the neighborhood kids’ frequent visits helped to reassure me. After growing weary of my own family’s disregard for me, I made the decision to show them the wrong way to do things.

In my seventy-eight years here, I’ve discovered a few things about human nature. I am aware that when you are helpful, they will hold you near, but when you are not, they will forget you. However, I guess you either get resentful of it or find a way to chuckle after spending years sitting by yourself in this ancient mansion. I made the decision to have fun and perhaps impart some knowledge in the process.

Since the death of my beloved wife, Ellie, seventeen years ago, I had been largely alone. The silence in the house following the funeral is still vivid in my mind; it pervaded every nook and cranny and pressed against my ears like cotton.

Family, I reasoned, would undoubtedly help to fill some of that void. We had, after all, brought up three children together, seen our six grandchildren mature, and even welcomed two great-grandchildren. I assumed they would be present. A guy can only hope, though.

However, reality and hope don’t always go hand in hand. As the months stretched into years, my family virtually vanished, save for the odd awkward phone call or holiday card. Through the window, I would see the neighbors with their children and listen to the laughing that only I could hear.

Then, as if as a present from above, the local children began to show interest! After peeking through my fence, Ben, Sasha, Emma, and a few other children would gradually enter, one by one!

It began with a few casual visits, then gradually became more frequent until they started spending entire afternoons with me. They would eagerly ask about my childhood adventures, share secrets they’d never dream of telling their parents, and bring along cookies they had either proudly baked or hilariously attempted to make!

My joy, they were filthy and noisy! Ten children and their parents were gathered around my small table on my most recent birthday, with the children devouring too much cake and singing off-key! My birthday was the finest I’d had in a long time!

Ben’s large brown eyes gazed up at me one cold afternoon and said, “Where’s your family, Mr. Stewart? Do they pay you a visit?

“They’re busy, kiddo,” I answered with a smile and a stroke on his small shoulder. Nowadays, everyone is quite busy.

“That’s sad that they can’t make time to come hang out with a kind old man like yourself who always has a big smile on his face.”

The reality was heavier than normal that night, when I was by myself with my thoughts.

Although I had been a nice grandfather and a good parent, time had reduced me to a number in the family tree and simply another name on a holiday card. That’s when the thought came to me.

Perhaps they would come if they felt they had missed their final opportunity, even if they wouldn’t attend on holidays or birthdays!

I made the decision to impart a valuable life lesson to them that they would never forget. I had had enough of being kind!

I created invitations for my children and grandchildren a few days later with the assistance of the youngsters, who were thrilled by the mischief. Naturally, I obtained the parents’ consent before beginning this undertaking.

The invites said, “You are invited to the memorial of Stewart Ellison,” and the local location, date, and time were all scheduled for the following Saturday.

“Someone in attendance will be announcing the division of inheritance” is the small hook I made sure to include at the end.

My family wouldn’t overlook that, I knew!

On the morning of the “funeral,” I put on my finest suit, tidied my tie, and accompanied the children, who were nearly jumping with anticipation, to the cemetery.

“You really think they’ll show up, Mr. Stewart?” Holding a bunch of wildflowers she had chosen, Emma asked.

“Oh, I reckon they will, Emma,” I said, experiencing a mixture of nervousness and exhilaration. “Nothing like the word ‘inheritance’ to bring people together.”

I had set up a tiny table and a couple of folding chairs in a little clearing near the edge of the nearby cemetery. Encircled by my small group of devoted pals, I sat a little distance away from them, protected by big trees, and hid while we waited.

Before long, my sons, daughter, their families, and even some cousins and distant relatives I hadn’t seen in years were driving in! I realized how alien this area must seem to them as they gazed around, uncertain and uneasy.

Then I noticed Jack, my oldest grandchild, walking down the walkway with his siblings, Diane and Anna. They reminded me of Christmas mornings, summers at the lake, and how they would swarm into the home, bringing love and noise. However, those were recollections from a different life.

My family members stared at one another in bewilderment as they approached. When everyone was present, I eventually turned the corner with the local kids, and my family saw me—very much alive, very much happy.

Their facial expressions were very precious! While others looked about as though hoping this was an error, others just gazed with their mouths open.

It was Diane who spoke first. “Dad? “What is this?”

I folded my hands, leaned back in my chair, and tried not to chuckle. “Surprised to see me?”

“Yeah!” With a startled laugh, Jack exclaimed. You’re meant to be… We believed that you were, after all.

“Dead?” I began my remarks with a pleasant smile and concluded for him. “Well, not quite. However, if you felt that you had missed your opportunity, I wanted to see how soon you would all arrive.

The weight of their silence hung in the air as they all exchanged uncomfortable glances. Before they were too uneasy, I made the decision to break it.

“Look, I understand how busy life can get. There is a lot of work, families, and interests. I recognize that. But, kids, it’s been seventeen years. Seventeen years with scarcely a word or a visit.”

I lowered my voice. “I’ve spent a lot of time by myself. I pointed to Ben, Emma, and the others and said, “And if it weren’t for these kids here, I’d have spent my last years in an empty house, waiting for you to show up!”

I felt a little sorry for them, but not enough to give in because I could see the guilt creeping into their cheeks. They needed to learn this lesson. I took out my reliable old calculator from my pocket.

“Now,” I said, pointing to it, “let’s get started since you all came to hear about the inheritance. Depending on how much time each of you has spent with me over the past few years, I will divide what I have.”

I enjoyed the tension as I tapped a couple buttons for effect while the calculator clicked on.

When I began shouting out numbers, they gazed at me with wide eyes. Nothing was given to cousin Amy, who hadn’t been there in five years! Everyone gasped in horror when my boys and daughter each received nothing!

I then looked at the children. Emma, Sasha, Ben, and the others observed me, naive and oblivious to the situation. “Ben,” I remarked with a smirk on my face, “for all those afternoons you spent listening to this old man’s stories, you’re getting $90,000.”

The other children gasped, unable to believe what they were hearing, as his jaw fell wide.

“Mr. Stewart, are you serious? His eyes were wide as he muttered, “That sounds like a lot of money.”

I said, “Dead serious,” with a surge of pride. Each of you children receives a share of the remaining funds, ranging from $30,000 to $90,000. You deserved it.

My family watched in amazement as these local children lit up with delight and incredulity. Diane laughed a little, sadly.

She remarked, more to herself than to me, “I can’t believe it,”

I turned to face my youngest granddaughter, Anna, and took out a small framed picture of her sitting on my lap as a child, giggling unconcerned.

“And you, sweetheart,” I whispered tenderly as I gave her the frame. “You deserve this.” It has more value than cash. This is the greatest present you have ever given me.

She snapped the picture now that she was an adult, running her fingertips over the glass with tears in her eyes. The rest of the family realized what I was trying to communicate and watched, a little teary-eyed themselves.

I looked at them all for a long time.

“Let the youngsters learn a lesson from this. Family is more than simply your blood. It all comes down to the time you spend together, the love you provide, and the moments you create. Before it’s too late, take action.

Jack moved forward and touched my shoulder.

“We apologize, Grandpa. Indeed, we are. To put it simply, we’ve been awful.

I patted his hand and nodded.

“Son, I’m sure you are. I also pardon you. Life is too brief to harbor resentment. I looked at the local children, who were still giddy with anticipation. And you all have made the final years of this elderly man’s life the most joyful they could be! I’m grateful.

After that, we all gathered, and I felt as though my family—both new and old—had returned for the first time in years! And I could tell this lesson would stick as I observed their faces.

Stewart was able to impart a vital lesson to his family, and in the story that follows, a woman did the same to her cruel neighbors. She exacted revenge on them after they tossed their Halloween trash on her lawn, which prompted the Home Owner’s Association to step in.