This heartwarming story follows Tyler, a young boy with a big heart and a sharp mind, as he strives to bring joy to his grandmother in the hospital. Despite limited means, Tyler uses creativity and kindness to achieve his goal, inspiring everyone around him, including the store owner, Stella, whose own past is touched by the boy’s actions.

The Story

Tyler adored his grandmother, Martha, who was not only his caregiver but his best friend. When she became hospitalized, Tyler wanted to do something special to cheer her up. One morning, while watching a video of them laughing together on the porch, he remembered her saying, “Food is medicine.” Determined to help her heal, he decided to bring her fresh fruits.

Tyler emptied his piggy bank, filled with coins his grandmother had given him as rewards for solving riddles. The next day, he persuaded his dad to stop at the grocery store on their way to the hospital. With excitement, he grabbed oranges, kiwis, strawberries—anything he thought his grandma would love.

At the checkout, Tyler handed his piggy bank to the cashier, Stella, the store’s owner, and asked if $42.50 was enough to cover his purchase. Stella counted the coins and told him he was $14 short. She offered to let him take the fruits for free when she learned they were for his grandmother, but Tyler declined. Instead, he proposed a playful deal: he would ask her a riddle, and if she solved it, he’d find the money elsewhere. If not, he’d pay only what he had.

Curious, Stella agreed. Tyler asked, “What is always in front of us but can’t be seen?” Customers waiting in line joined in, throwing out guesses like “air” and “shadows.” When Stella admitted defeat, Tyler revealed the answer: “The future!”

Impressed by his wit and kindness, Stella gave him the fruits. Later that day, she showed up at the hospital to visit his grandmother. She was so touched by Tyler’s love for his grandma that she offered to cover the medical expenses. She also promised to gift Tyler a bag of fresh fruits every week.

As Tyler’s family thanked Stella, she shared a memory from her childhood. Her own grandmother used to reward her with coins for solving riddles, just like Tyler. She confessed that she already knew the answer to Tyler’s riddle—it was the last one her grandmother had ever asked her. She still kept the last 50-cent coin as a cherished reminder of her grandma’s love.

Stella left the hospital deeply moved, carrying the warmth of Tyler’s gesture in her heart. And Tyler? He couldn’t wait to solve more riddles with his grandma when she got better.