When Grandma Evelyn sees her daughter-in–law, Jessica, discarding her gifts, she hides her disgust and plans a sly lesson. When Jessica pays Evelyn a surprise visit and she accepts her false loyalty, Evelyn sets up a poignant and humorous confrontation that highlights the need of treating family members with dignity.
Family is, after all, quite significant. When my son moved to a city thirty miles away, I promised to see him as much as I could. Between visits, I like to send modest presents to his wife, son, and my darling little grandson.
I decided last weekend to surprise Mark, my son, right at his house. Having not seen my grandson Liam in weeks, my heart was killing to give him a wonderful embrace.
Pulling into their driveway, I felt like a pot on the boil and got aroused. As I approached the front door, I came upon a trash bag by the curb.
Usually I don’t snoop, but something obvious was sticking out from the top. I had to look at it closer.
My heart dropped as I saw the happy wrapping paper of the present I had sent them a few days earlier, unopened and tossed away like yesterday’s news. I couldn make sense of it. How could Mark turn down my present?
Then something else crossed my mind. Mark would not toss a present I provided without some kind of justification, however my daughter-in-law may.
Though in sixty-eight years I have learned to never show others your sweat. I was enraged.
I put on my best smile, swallowing the lump in my throat, then rang the doorbell. As the door sprang wide, Jessica, my daughter-in-law, was standing there grinning with her Stepford bride.
Evelyn, really! What a pleasant surprise! She cooped with a sweet, syrupy voice and a sharp edge that could cut through bread.
“Jessica, sweetheart! It’s great to see you again. I remarked, my voice sounding nice but with sarcasm that made me, well, me. “I just couldn’t resist spending more time with my favorite little boy.”
She led me in with all the grace of a hostess operating automatically. Her eyes jumped to the wall-mounted clock, and her shoulders were tight.
While Mark was still at work, maybe buried under a stack of papers, Liam was playing in the living room and saw me.
Shrivelled, he hurried to greet me as “Grandma.” My heart melted as I raised him with his tiny hands clutching my neck.
Hello, my little buddy! Have you behaved, lad? I stroked his hair and asked.
Jessica stayed near by and tried too hard to be involved in our conversation.
“Sweetheart, Liam has been such an angel; have you not noticed?” Her voice rang with false love.
“Oh, he’s most definitely done that,” I said, kissing Liam’s cheek. He always is a perfect angel with Grandma.
We danced gently in a delicate mix of polite conversation for the next hour, with little jabs.
Though Jessica tried to pretend to be the committed daughter-in–law, I could see she wasn’t for real. Every time she turned to check her phone or the clock, my heart constricted just little.
Still, I kept my cool as I teased and laughed with Liam, savoring every moment we shared.
Sitting in my car for some time after I left, my ideas were racing. I knew I had to teach Jessica a lesson; out of love for my family, not retribution.
She had to understand the value of the small things we often overlook as well as the passion and effort behind every deed, regardless of size.
The next day I bought a $10 ring from a thrift store and wrapped it just like the last present. Driven to see this through, I mailed it to their address and then headed back to their city.
I waited and parked near by.
As expected, Jessica got the gift and toss it in the trash without considering it again.
I waited just till the garbage truck took up the trash bag. I then spoke with Jessica on the phone.
Hi Jessica! Evelyn arrives here. I’m expecting you have the package I sent. I asked using a honeyed voice.
“Oh, Evelyn, indeed! She answered, “Thank you so much,” in a really quivering voice.
“It’s amazing. I wanted to let you know that it included incredibly significant jewels belonging to my grandma. You see, this is a family legacy with great financial worth.
On the other side of the call, there was a nearly physical silence.
Would you kindly show Mark this? He should pay attention to this. I ended in a fun but rather rushed way.
Jessica cleared her throat. Her voice was hardly heard when she answered. Clearly, Evelyn. I will right away show him it.
Her pulse racing, she dashed outside to check the rubbish almost audible. She was hurriedly looking through the trash can when I saw from my car the garbage truck had already arrived and left.
She hurried into her car and headed off. I stayed a safe distance behind her, grinned to myself, and fired the engine. It looked to be a great one.
The expanding heap of abandoned items that was the landfill nicely symbolized the current issue.
I parked a fair distance apart to make sure I could plainly see Jessica’s car. She sprang out, frantically looking about before diving into the first garbage heap she came upon.
Watching her seemed like seeing a scene out of a sitcom. And there she was, Jessica, all prim and wonderful, but knee deep in filth now, hurling bags and rummling through trash like a crazy woman.
I almost turned around to apologize for her. Mostly.
Though first it seemed like an eternity, Jessica finally found the box.
She opened it, clutching the ring like it were a priceless diamond. Her relief was nearly funny, and I had to bite my lip to control my laughing.
Muddy and sweating, she hurried back to her car and drove fast home.
I watched her a few minutes then followed her. As I came into their driveway, Jessica was just getting out of her car trying to clean some of the dirt. She looked up at me, her eyes widening with surprise and a trace of horror.
Evelyn, really! You find yourself here for what reason? She stammered, clearly annoyed.
“Oh, I just thought I would drop by while I was in the neighbourhood.” You know, to ensure everything was fine. Jessica, you’re a catastrophe. what happened? I said, a cheeky glitter in my eyes.
Jessica forced a smile, staring about her in search of some kind of justification.
Well, I was tending to my garden. Shaking her head, she answered, “Yeah, I was gardening, and I must have got a bit dirty.”
You speak of gardening? Pointing to a tissue fastened to her coat, I said, trying not to chuckle, “My, you must be quite the gardener to get that dirty.” From whom also did that start? In a dumpster, did you cultivate your garden?
She froze, her eyes grew terrified. “A garbage can? obviously not!
Grinning, I answered, “Don’t lie to me, Jessica; I know everything.” “Let’s head inside.
Jessica stopped, but she had few choices.
She nodded and pointed me inside. Mark’s eyes went wide as he saw his wife covered in dirt, barely down the steps.
“What in the world happened to you?,” asks He asked, perplexed.
Jessica began to explain, then I interrupted, sounding grave.
“Mark, Jessica, and I slightly misinterpreted one other. Still, I think today has given us something significant. Not yet, Jessica.
Jessica nodded while flush of guilt washed over her cheeks. Surely, Evelyn. I am sorry. I swear it never will happen again.
Her realness made me smile and warmed my heart. Alright since our family are the most valuable things we have. Moreover, we should never treat anything for given.
Mark looked between us clearly confused. “What’s occurring?”
“Oh, it’s nothing too serious,” I said, contemptuously waving my hand. Just a quick lesson in humility.
Jessica looked at me thanks-you, and for the first time I really connected with her.
Later, when I told friends the story over tea, we all laughed heartily. It was too good to keep to myself the image of Jessica knee-deep in trash. Still, there was a major lesson buried under the humor.
We all agreed that occasionally people needed a gentle reminder of the things that truly mattered.
Liam was opening a toy he loved, brand-new one Grandma Evelyn had given him at Mark and Jessica’s place. His laugh permeated the house, and Jessica watched him with a thoughtful expression.
Seeing the video Mark showed me made me hope she would remember this day and the lesson it taught her.
For my part, I would keep forwarding gifts wrapped with love and a hint of mischief. After all, life is too short not to enjoy oneself a little bit when on tour.
