Grandpa’s Last Trick: The Note That Changed Everything
The funeral home was filled with the low hum of murmured conversations, the occasional sniffle, and the scent of fresh flowers. I stood near my grandfather’s casket, staring at the polished wood, trying to process the reality of his absence. Grandpa had always been larger than life—sharp-witted, mischievous, and never one to miss an opportunity for a good joke.

Yet, at that moment, there was no joke. No laughter. Just the weight of loss pressing down on my chest.

I glanced around at my family. My siblings and cousins stood in small clusters, their faces a mixture of sadness and frustration. The frustration, of course, came from the shocking revelation that Grandpa had left nothing to any of us in his will.

We had all expected something—not because we felt entitled, but because Grandpa always talked about wanting to take care of his family. But when the lawyer read his will the day before, we learned that every penny of his estate had gone elsewhere. No one knew where, exactly. Just that it hadn’t gone to us.

As I stood there lost in thought, a woman approached me. She looked to be in her sixties, with neatly styled silver hair and a warm but unreadable expression. I didn’t recognize her, and judging by the way my cousins were watching, neither did they.

“Are you his grandson?” she asked softly.

I nodded.

She reached into her purse and pulled out a small folded note, pressing it into my palm. “This is from your grandfather. Read it, but don’t show it to anyone—especially not your siblings.”

Before I could ask who she was or what was going on, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

I looked down at the note, my heart racing. Grandpa always had a flair for the dramatic. What could he possibly have left me that was so secret?

I unfolded the paper and immediately had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Grandpa’s Final Words
In his unmistakable scrawl, the note read:

“If you’re reading this, kid, it means I pulled off my last great trick. Don’t look so sad—I lived a long, full life, and I had my fun. Speaking of fun, I couldn’t resist one last game. The money isn’t gone. It’s hidden. And if you’re clever enough, you’ll find it. Start with the place where I always said the best stories are kept. Good luck. And don’t tell the others—let’s see who’s really paying attention.”

I stared at the note, rereading it several times. The best stories? What did he mean by that?

Then it hit me. The library. Grandpa had been an avid reader, always saying that the best stories in the world were waiting to be discovered in books. He used to take me to the library every Saturday when I was a kid, letting me pick out any book I wanted while he read his own.

Could that be where he left something?

The Search Begins
That night, long after the funeral ended, I drove to Grandpa’s house. My hands shook slightly as I unlocked the front door and stepped inside. The house was eerily quiet without him.

I made my way to his study, where books lined the walls from floor to ceiling. If he had hidden something, it had to be here.

I scanned the shelves, searching for a clue. That’s when I saw it—a book that didn’t belong. Among the rows of classics, there was a single cheap paperback mystery novel. It was strange because Grandpa never read books like that.

I pulled it from the shelf, and as I did, a small envelope slipped out, fluttering to the floor.

I picked it up and carefully opened it. Inside was another note, along with a key.

“You’re on the right track. Use this key to check locker #107 at Union Station. You’re getting warmer.”

A Hidden Fortune
By now, my heart was pounding. I had no idea what I was about to find, but I knew Grandpa well enough to trust that this was leading somewhere.

The next morning, I drove to Union Station, gripping the key tightly in my hand. I found locker #107, inserted the key, and turned it. The door creaked open, revealing a small metal box inside.

I pulled it out and carefully opened the lid.

Inside was a thick stack of bank documents, a few handwritten letters, and—most shocking of all—a check made out to me.

For two million dollars.

Grandpa’s Greatest Trick
I sat there in stunned silence, the weight of what I was holding sinking in.

One of the letters explained everything. Grandpa had purposely let everyone believe his fortune was gone because he wanted to see who would look beyond the obvious. He didn’t believe in just handing out money—he wanted me to work for it, to be curious, to think the way he always did.

There was also a note for the rest of the family, explaining that he had left instructions for how the money would be distributed fairly, but he wanted me to be the one to find it first.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Even in death, Grandpa had outsmarted us all.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have expected anything less.