“Grace!” I called, waving her over.
She looked up, surprised but smiled. “Hey! Everything alright?”
I chuckled, trying to sound casual. “Yeah, I wanted to mention again how thoughtful your kids are, cleaning up the street every week.”
Grace furrowed her brow, genuinely puzzled. “Cleaning up the street? What do you mean?”
I blinked, taken aback. “You know, they’re out there every Sunday, sweeping and picking up trash. I watch them from my window all the time.”
For a moment, she looked completely confused, then realization dawned, and she burst into laughter. “Oh, no, no, no! They’re not cleaning!”
I stared at her, baffled. “Wait, what?”
“They’re on a treasure hunt!” she said, still laughing. “Their grandpa hides coins around the neighborhood for them to find every Sunday. It’s a game they’ve been playing for years. They’re not picking up trash—they’re searching for treasure!”
I stood there, stunned. “A treasure hunt? So, all this time, I thought they were being model citizens cleaning the neighborhood, and they’ve just been playing a game?”
Grace nodded, still grinning. “Exactly! My dad started it when they were little to keep them entertained. He hides coins—quarters, dimes, sometimes even a dollar—and they spend the morning hunting for them.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I’ll be! Here I was thinking I was watching the most responsible teens on the block, and all along, they were just playing pirates!”
Grace joined in my laughter. “Sorry for the confusion! I guess it does look like they’re cleaning, but trust me, it’s all about the treasure.”
I reached into my pocket, pulling out the handful of coins I’d collected. “And this? This is the grand prize I found under the bushes today!”
Grace gasped. “Oh no, you found their loot!”
“I couldn’t help myself,” I admitted, laughing again. “I saw them hiding something and thought they were up to something sneaky.”
Grace waved it off with a grin. “No worries. I’ll let them know where their treasure went. They’ll get a kick out of it.”
We stood there for a moment, still chuckling. Then Grace asked, “So, what did you think they were doing all this time?”
Embarrassed but smiling, I shrugged. “Honestly? I thought they were being good Samaritans, doing some kind of community service. I even complimented you on raising such responsible kids!”
Grace shook her head, still laughing. “Well, in a way, I guess they are. They’re keeping Grandpa entertained and getting fresh air, right?”
“True,” I said with a smile. “But next Sunday, I think I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show… treasure hunt and all.”
Grace winked. “Sounds like a plan.”