Gabby, a young woman, sat in the lawyer’s office with her three siblings, Maya, Tasmin, and Robert. They were about to hear their late mother’s final wish as her will was read. Before them were envelopes. Gabby’s siblings opened theirs to find a one-dollar bill inside, causing confusion. Gabby’s envelope held a folded letter.
Maya snatched the letter and blurted out, “What the hell, Gabby?” The letter revealed that their mother had left everything to Gabby: the house, the savings account, all of it. The lawyer gasped in surprise. The mother’s decision was a thank you to Gabby for her love and dedication.
Gabby never sought to be the favorite. She simply felt it was her duty to be there for her mom in her time of need, without any expectations of a payout. The dollar bills her siblings received were a reminder of the time they hadn’t given their mom while she was still alive.
Gabby, feeling the tension, said, “I didn’t ask for this. Listen! I need you to understand me.” Her siblings were furious and ignored her pleas. To make things right, Gabby suggested, “Let’s split Mom’s savings equally. Not for luxury or wasteful spending, but as a safety net for each of us.” They agreed and went to the bank together.
Through this experience, the four siblings learned an invaluable lesson – family should always come first. They decided to have monthly gatherings and remained close.