Boy Staying at Grandma’s Old House for Christmas Learns of a Treasure Map Stashed in the Attic — Story of the Day

A clever grandmother sets out to teach her sulky teen grandson a valuable lesson disguised as a search for a treasure map.

Doris was at her wit’s end with her sulky grandson, Frank. He had only just arrived at her Colorado home to spend the Christmas holidays with her, and already she wondered if she would survive…

Frank had been a sweet, curious, and helpful boy, but he’d now grown into a petulant, lazy teen who wasn’t interested in anything except his phone and his video games. Worse of all, they were now snowed in, and Doris couldn’t even send him outside to play!

“Only 10 days until his parents arrive,” Doris consoled herself. “You’ve raised five energetic children, you’ve got this!” That night at dinner, Doris decided to try a different tack with Frank.

“Frank dear,” she said. “I was wondering if you could lend me a hand…”

Frank (who was chewing his dinner noisily and with his mouth wide open) said “What do you want?” in a nasty tone of voice.

Doris kept her smile bright and cheery. “Well, you know that our annual Christmas fair is next week, and I have the attic absolutely full of old bric-a-brac which people now tell me is considered charming and antique…”

“So…” Doris said keeping her calm, “I was hoping you could help me sort some things out and bring them down so I could give them away for the charity auction.”

Frank laughed coarsely. “You’re kidding, right?” he asked rudely, then he pushed his chair back, got up, and left the table without a by-your-leave. Doris sighed. She had to set Frank right… But how?

Then she grinned. “Grandpa Wilson Garret to the rescue,” she cried happily.

Frank, who was in the TV room, said, “Have you gone senile now? Who are you talking to?” Doris didn’t reply and that big happy grin stayed on her face. The next...