She smiled, surprised. “Hey! Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah,” I replied casually. “I just wanted to mention how thoughtful your kids are, cleaning up the street every week.”
Grace looked puzzled. “Cleaning up the street? What do you mean?”
I blinked. “You know, they’re out every Sunday, picking up trash and sweeping. I see them all the time from my window.”
For a moment, she looked confused, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Oh no, no! They’re not cleaning!” she said between giggles.
Now I was the confused one. “What do you mean?”
“They’re on a treasure hunt!” Grace explained, wiping tears from her eyes. “Their grandpa hides coins around the neighborhood every Sunday. It’s a little game they’ve been playing for years.”
I was stunned. “So they haven’t been cleaning up the neighborhood—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 quarters, dimes, even a dollar bill here and there, and they spend the morning hunting for them.”
I stared at her. “All this time, I thought they were doing some sort of community service, and they’ve just been searching for coins?”
Grace laughed again. “Yes! It must look like they’re cleaning up, but trust me, they’re just out there for the treasure.”
I pulled out the handful of coins I’d collected and held them up. “So I guess I found their ‘treasure’ today.”
Grace’s eyes widened. “Oh no! You found their stash!”
“I couldn’t help myself,” I admitted, laughing. “I saw them hiding something, and I thought they were up to no good.”
“Don’t worry,” Grace said with a grin. “I’ll tell them you found it. They’ll think it’s hilarious.”
We shared a laugh before Grace asked, “What did you think they were really doing?”
I shrugged, smiling. “Honestly? I thought they were cleaning the neighborhood as some kind of project. I even complimented you on how responsible they were.”
Grace shook her head, still smiling. “Well, in a way, they are. They’re getting fresh air and keeping Grandpa entertained.”
“True,” I said. “But next Sunday, I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show… treasure hunt and all.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Grace replied with a wink.