Love and Lessons
Once upon a time, there was a nice young guy named Will. He had a big heart, but his life got complicated when his parents, especially his mom, didn’t approve of him marrying the girl he loved. They thought he was too poor for her, but they didn’t know the whole story. Will’s dad, Sam Sutton, was actually a millionaire, but he decided to teach them a lesson by pretending to be broke.
Sam was a smart man who invented a super strong sealant for engines, and it made him a lot of money. He and his wife, Rain, enjoyed a great life with their baby, Will. They moved into a beautiful house and drove a shiny new car. But happiness turned into heartache when Rain passed away. Sam found himself raising Will alone.
Being a single dad wasn’t easy. Sam wanted to give Will everything he could, and he did. Will grew up kind, loving, and completely unspoiled. As he got older, though, people started noticing Sam’s wealth, and soon, it was clear that Will’s popularity came from his dad’s money, not his character.
Girls swarmed around Will like bees to honey, and at first, he enjoyed the attention. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that they weren’t really interested in him. They were after the luxury that came with being a Sutton. One day, with tears in his eyes, he told Sam, “Dad, the girl I love only wants to come with us on our private jet to Aspen and the Bahamas. She doesn’t care about me!”
Sam comforted his son and said, “You deserve someone who loves you for who you are, not for what we have.” So, Will decided to break up with that girl. Senior year was lonely, but Will had a plan. He excitedly told his dad, “I’m going to Yale in the fall, but I want everyone to think I’m a scholarship student.”
Sam was surprised. “A scholarship student? You? But why?”
“Because if I look poor and wear scruffy clothes, people will only like me if they really want to be my friend. Girls won’t want to date me for our money!” Will explained.
“That’s a brilliant idea, Will!” Sam said with a proud grin.
They got to work on the plan. Will and Sam shopped at thrift stores, and soon, Will was the scruffiest-looking student at Yale. The plan worked perfectly! He made many genuine friends and even met a girl named Eddy. They quickly fell in love, and by his third year, Will decided he wanted to marry her.
Excited, Will proposed to Eddy, and she said yes! But when Eddy invited Will home for Thanksgiving, things got tricky. Her parents, Marta and Farlow, were wealthy and wanted their daughter to marry a rich man, not a “scruffy” college student. They treated Will coldly, not wanting to show how much they disapproved of him.
Eddy noticed how her parents were treating Will and felt furious. “I’m going to marry Will,” she told them firmly. “And Sam is going to be part of our family, so you better get used to it!”
“Darling,” Marta replied, “the man is practically a derelict! Have you seen his clothes? He’s an embarrassment!”
Eddy shot back, “Mom, you are much more of an embarrassment than Sam could ever be!”
That night, as the family gathered around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts, Marta smiled smugly at Sam. “Don’t feel bad, Sam, we know you’re struggling!”
Then, Farlow handed Will a box containing a car key. “It’s an early wedding present. We thought you needed a better car. Your old clunker is at least twenty years old, Will!”
Will smiled and thanked them, and everyone went outside to see the shiny Porsche in the garage, complete with a big red bow. Farlow threw Sam a smug look, as if to say, “What can you possibly do to top this?”
But Sam wasn’t worried. He pulled an envelope from his pocket. “Eddy,” he said, “Will told me you two plan to move to New York after graduation.”
“That’s right!” Eddy replied. “He has an offer from a New York research facility, and I have an internship at the Met…”
“Well, finding a place to live in Manhattan isn’t easy, so I hope this helps…” Sam handed the envelope to Eddy.
Farlow sneered, “What’s that? A list of homeless shelters? A guide to the best Brooklyn soup kitchens?”
Eddy opened the envelope and gasped. “Sam! Is this for real?”
Inside were the papers for a brownstone in Tribeca! Will ran to hug his dad, and Farlow and Marta’s jaws dropped in shock.
Eddy turned to her parents. “Sam has given Will and me a home!”
“But…but…but…” Farlow stuttered. “You’re POOR! Look at the way you dress! You took the bus!”
“Well, Farlow,” Sam replied gently, “I want my son to be loved and accepted for who he is, not for the $570 million he will eventually inherit from me.”
After that, there were no more objections from Eddy’s parents. In fact, they became Will’s biggest fans and treated Sam with respect. The following summer, Will and Eddy tied the knot and moved to New York. Three years later, when they welcomed a baby daughter named Rain, Sam bought a house right next door to be close to them.
What Can We Learn from This Story?
Money can’t buy love or good health. Sam knew that if people knew he was rich, they would only get close to his son for his wealth. Also, never judge someone by their appearance. Farlow and Marta looked down on Sam for his shabby clothes, never guessing he was a millionaire.
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