Jen and her husband were in their seventies, blessed with five grandchildren who filled their lives with joy. Three granddaughters and two grandsons brought a steady stream of family gatherings, stories, and, of course, grandparent duties whenever needed. Jen and her husband had a cherished tradition they’d upheld for years: at each grandchild’s wedding, they would buy the least expensive item on the registry and secretly give $40,000 alongside it as a gift for starting their new lives together. This little tradition was their way of adding a bit of humor to a big, heartfelt surprise.
Their youngest granddaughter, Eloise, had recently gotten married in a beautiful ceremony. Following tradition, Jen chose the cheapest item on her registry, which happened to be an air fryer. She thought it was perfect, practical, and a fun little addition for a young couple’s kitchen. Little did she know, Eloise’s response would be unlike any they’d received before.
Jen called Eloise to congratulate her once again and to see if she’d received the package. But instead of the enthusiastic gratitude she’d expected, Eloise’s voice on the other end was anything but cheerful.
“Seriously, Grandma? An air fryer? That’s the cheapest thing you could find on my registry!” Eloise’s voice held an edge of annoyance.
Caught off guard, Jen stammered, “Oh, honey, I thought you might find it useful. They’re all the rage now!”
“Useful? Grandma, come on. I can’t believe you’d be this cheap with me. You know everyone knows you have the money,” Eloise continued, her tone growing sharper with every word. “I just can’t believe you’d be this cheap with me. It’s… well, it’s embarrassing.”
Jen was speechless. She had never expected her gesture to be met with this reaction, especially from sweet little Eloise, who used to sit in her lap and giggle at silly bedtime stories. A mix of emotions filled her heart—shock, sadness, and even a little hint of amusement. She and her husband shared a knowing look as she hung up the phone, wondering if they should tell Eloise about their little tradition right then or let her realize in her own time.
After a moment, they decided to keep quiet and let Eloise discover the envelope herself, hoping it would be a lesson about assumptions. As they sat back in their living room, they couldn’t help but laugh together, envisioning her surprise when she finally opened it. And Jen, with a twinkle in her eye, made a mental note to call Eloise in a few days to “check on how she liked the air fryer.”