Kneeling by the tombstone, he murmured, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. Dad lost everything to gambling. We’re moving, and I’ll have to work as a mechanic instead of pursuing my dream of building airplanes.”
As he brushed away the moss from the gravestone, he discovered something unusual—coordinates etched into the marble. The numbers reminded him of the treasure hunts he used to enjoy with his Grandpa, and his curiosity was piqued. “Could this be one last message from Grandpa?” He quickly entered the coordinates into his phone and was astonished to find they led to a locker at the local railway station.
Hurrying to the station, Liam asked about a locker registered under the name R. Hudson. The receptionist confirmed that locker 417 had been untouched for over a year. With mounting excitement and frustration, Liam struggled with the combination lock. A distant airplane’s hum sparked a memory, and he dialed 1717—the model number of the first toy plane he and his Grandpa had built. The locker creaked open.
Inside, Liam discovered bundles of cash and an old brown diary. The diary’s first page left him breathless: “Dear Liam, if you’re reading this, you haven’t forgotten me, and I’m so proud of you. This money is for your dream of becoming a flight engineer. But before you decide what to do with it, you need to know about your father…”
The diary revealed a painful truth: years earlier, Liam’s father, David, had stolen half of Grandpa’s life savings in a moment of greed, jeopardizing Liam’s future. Despite his illness, Grandpa had worked hard to save enough money to give Liam a chance.
He even had the coordinates engraved on his tombstone, hoping Liam would find them when the time was right.Holding the diary, Liam’s tears mingled with determination.
He returned home to find his father, drunk and resentful, blaming Liam for his troubles. Liam offered his father a deal: money to save their home, with the condition that David quit gambling.
David agreed eagerly, but Liam was cautious. Hours later, David called, furious—he had discovered the money was fake.
Liam watched from across the street as his father exited the casino, illuminated by flashing lights. “You made your choice, Dad,” Liam said quietly, turning away with the real money still secure in his backpack.
Soon after, Liam stood before a new sign—Aviation Academy. Wiping away his tears, he whispered, “I won’t let you down, Grandpa,” before stepping onto the campus to chase his dream.
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