At Grandpa’s funeral, 18-year-old Dahlia feels isolated as her family fumes over the pitiful $1 inheritance. But when a stranger slips her a secret note, Dahlia is pulled into a mystery only she can solve.
I stood by the graveside, hands clenched in the pockets of my too-small black dress, listening to the priest’s droning voice blend with the rustle of the wind.
This was the saddest day of my life, but everyone else in the family seemed more concerned with glaring at each other than mourning Grandpa.
I could feel their bitterness lingering in the chilly October air, thick like syrup. One dollar each. That’s all Grandpa left us in his will, and they were furious. But me? I wasn’t angry. Just… hollow.
Grandpa wasn’t supposed to be gone. He was the only person who ever saw me, not the mess-up or the spare kid nobody paid attention to, but me. He let me in when no one else cared.
I stared down at the flowers resting on his coffin. I’d brought him a red rose, and it stood out among the white daisies everyone else had placed on the casket.
“One dollar,” Aunt Nancy hissed from behind me. “One damn dollar! That man was loaded, and this is what we get?”
Uncle Vic let out a bitter laugh. “Right? I swear he did it on purpose, the spiteful old man.”
“Typical Dad,” Mom muttered, crossing her arms tight across her chest. “He always played favorites, and Dahlia here was his little pet. Bet she got something we don’t know about.”
Aunt Nancy’s eyes cut toward me, sharp as glass. “What did he leave you, Dahlia? Anything? Don’t act like you didn’t get something.”
I stiffened. “I got the same as all of you.”
Mom’s fingers tightened over my shoulder. “Are you sure?” she asked in a low voice. “You were always with him. Maybe he told you something… think hard, Dahlia. You owe it to your family to share whatever he gave you.”
Memories came rushing back of Grandpa’s goofy stories about long-lost treasure and the butterscotch candies he always kept in his coat pocket.
Sometimes, he’d wink at me and say, “One day, kiddo, I’m leaving you a treasure. Real treasure!” But it was just a game, a joke between us.
I shook my head and turned my gaze back to the coffin. “What Grandpa gave me was his love, his stories, and a place that felt more like home than my actual home. Those things were worth more than money, and there’s no way I can—”
“Nobody cares about any of that!” Mom snapped. “Think, girl! What happened to all of his money?”
I shrugged. I truly didn’t know the answer to her question and didn’t care. Grandpa was gone. He was my confidant, my safe place, my friend. I’d lost the most important person in the world, but all they cared about was slapping a price tag on his death.
“She knows something,” Vic muttered, loud enough for me to hear.
Their voices twisted together, accusing, scheming — like they could squeeze secrets out of me if they tried hard enough. But I had no secrets that could earn them more money.
The second they realized there’d be no fortune, they turned away from the grave and stormed off. I could still hear them bickering as they walked away, lashing out at each other like vultures. It made me sick.
“You must be Dahlia.”
I looked up to see a woman, maybe in her 60s, with kind eyes and a worn leather bag slung over her shoulder. Her smile was soft and secretive, like she knew something the rest of us didn’t.
“I was a friend of your grandpa’s,” she said, leaning in as if we were co-conspirators. “He asked me to give you this.”
Before I could respond, she slipped a folded piece of paper into my hand and whispered, “Don’t let anyone see it, especially your family.”
Her presence felt surreal, almost dreamlike, and before I could say anything, she was gone, swallowed by the crowd of mourners. My heart pounded in my chest as I unfolded the note.
111 locker — Southern Railway Station.
For a second, I stood frozen, the words blurring in front of me. Then it hit me: Grandpa’s “treasure.” A laugh bubbled up from my throat, inappropriate and wild, but I couldn’t help it. He wasn’t joking after all.
That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The note was tucked under my pillow like a secret. Grandpa’s voice echoed in my mind, playful yet certain: “Locker number 111… There’s treasure in there, kiddo!”
A weight settled on my chest, something between grief and hope. What if this wasn’t just some wild goose chase? What if Grandpa had really left something for me, hidden away where no one else could reach?
The thought twisted around in my mind until I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to know what was in that locker.
I called a cab the next morning. It was the first thing I did after I woke up. As I tiptoed past the kitchen, I could hear Mom muttering on the phone about Grandpa’s will, probably trying to squeeze sympathy or cash out of anyone who would listen.
I clenched my jaw and slipped out the door, the chilly morning air hitting my skin like a slap.
The ride to Southern Railway Station felt like the longest 20 minutes of my life.
My knee bounced with nervous energy as the cab wound through narrow streets, past graffiti-covered walls, and empty coffee shops just starting to open. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror but didn’t say a word.
When we finally pulled up at the station, I stepped out and asked him to wait for me. I clutched the note tightly as I entered the train station.
The station smelled like diesel and stale popcorn. People rushed past me in every direction — commuters, travelers, strangers with places to go.
I hesitated at the entrance, suddenly feeling small and out of place. But then Grandpa’s voice floated back into my mind, steady and reassuring: “Real treasure, kiddo.”
I took a deep breath and headed toward the lockers and I could hear my heart pounding. Rows of metal boxes lined the wall, each one looking identical: gray, dented, and slightly rusty.
My eyes scanned the numbers until I found number 111.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the folded note. The key was taped to the back. With trembling fingers, I peeled it off and slid it into the lock.
For a second, it jammed, and I panicked. But then — click! The lock turned, and the door swung open.
Inside was a duffel bag. It was old, faded, and heavy. My hands shook as I pulled it out and unzipped it.
The bag was full of cash. Bundles upon bundles of it!
I gasped, my mind reeling. It couldn’t be real, could it? I reached in and pulled out a stack, flipping through crisp hundred-dollar bills. There had to be at least $150,000 in there.
And tucked inside the bag was another note, written in Grandpa’s messy scrawl:
For my beloved granddaughter, everything I saved is now yours. Take it and live free, kiddo. The rest of the family may not see your worth, but I’ve always believed in you.
Tears blurred my vision, and I hugged the note to my chest, a knot forming in my throat. This wasn’t just money. It was freedom — a way out.
Grandpa always knew how badly I needed to escape this family. And now, he’d given me exactly what I needed and tricked everyone else in the process!
I zipped the bag shut, slung it over my shoulder, and walked out of the station, my heart pounding in tune with my footsteps.
The early morning sun was just starting to peek through the clouds, casting everything in a soft, golden light. For the first time in years, I felt… light.
During the cab ride back, I stared out the window, watching the city come to life. I had options now. No more suffocating family dinners, no more being ignored or treated like an afterthought, no more being the family scapegoat.
I could leave. I could build something new.
The thought scared me as much as it excited me, but Grandpa’s voice echoed in the back of my mind: “Live free, kiddo.”
As the cab pulled up to my house, I made my decision. I wasn’t staying. Not another minute!
I didn’t even bother going inside. I pulled out my phone, booked a ticket to anywhere, and told the driver to head straight to the airport.
With the duffel bag in my lap and Grandpa’s note tucked safely in my pocket, I smiled for the first time in days.
I was free. And for the first time in my life, I knew exactly what that meant.
This famous teen heartthrob is now 79 – try not to smile when you see him today.
One of the major musical stars of the 1960s and 1970s was Bobby Sherman. When I think back on it, I can hardly think of a single friend who didn’t at some point develop feelings for him.
Sherman sold millions of records, performed in front of thousands of people, put out several albums, and gained recognition as an actor. But eventually, at the height of his popularity, he made the decision to permanently leave the entertainment industry.
This, however, wasn’t because the 79-year-old thought his abilities had declined in any kind. No, he was fighting for something far more important: the preservation of life.
Everything you need to know about the renowned artist Bobby Sherman is provided here!
Bobby Sherman was raised in Van Nuys, a community next to Los Angeles, after being born in Santa Monica, California, on July 22, 1943.
Bobby Sherman’s childhood
He was reported to have mastered the trumpet by the age of 11, and subsequently the piano, trombone, piano, and of course, the guitar. Sherman went to Birmingham High School. He joined a band there and had a keen interest in singing. He apparently picked up the incredible skill of playing sixteen instruments throughout the years.
Following his high school graduation in 1961, Sherman enrolled in Woodland Hill, California’s Pierce College. A romance there would permanently alter the path of his life.
Sherman met his first lover while pursuing his studies in child psychology at Pierce College. She made the decision to bring him along to the cast party of The Greatest Story Ever Told one evening.
That was when Sherman had began to play music. Many folks in the San Fernando Valley knew he had a good voice because he sang with several bands there. Sherman so seized the chance to showcase his skills when he got to the party.
He subsequently recalled it, saying, “I was always the guy who had the guts to get up and sing in front of people.”
It probably helped a little bit because Bobby had party pals who were on stage with the band. Either way, he stood up in front of the group and sang What I’d Say by Ray Charles.
found during a party in Hollywood
As it was a Hollywood party, a number of entertainment celebrities were present. Sal Mineo, Natalie Wood, and Jane Fonda were a few of them.
They saw his talent after the show, and Mineo made the decision to mentor him.
“It was said by others, ‘Who’s handling you?’” Sherman remarked, “I had no idea what that meant.”
“Well, you know, I was a Van Nuys kid, and I was like, ‘What do they mean, handling me?’” I understood then that they intended representation.
He quickly became acquainted with Hollywood. Bobby Sherman was sent to an audition just three days later by an agent who had been tipped off by a partygoer. Bobby was cast as a featured character in Shindig, a new television series.
Even though Bobby was only in that capacity for two years, it was all he needed to leave his impact. At that point, he had become the national darling, and jobs were popping up out of every nook and cranny.
Sherman had guest appearances on a number of television programs after Shindig was canceled in 1966, including The FBI, Honey West, and The Monkees. Even though he had begun to gain attention in Hollywood, his major break came in 1968.
Bobby Sherman: acting, albums, songs, and music
Sherman spent two full years as the stuttering Jason Bolt in the television series Here Comes the Bridges. At the end of his run, his character stopped having stutters, and the show was eventually canceled.
Sherman discovered how well-liked Jason Bolt was by the public when he made an appearance at a Buffalo telethon. Suddenly, he was more than simply a rising star. Instead, he was now a celebrity.
Sherman told Tulsa World, “The show had just gone on the air, and we didn’t even have any records out yet.”
“Robert Brown, myself, and Greg Morris from Mission: Impossible from Here Come The Brides were requested to participate in the telethon, and things were going great until the fire marshal entered the room and announced, “We have a problem.” You must greet some individuals, so you’d better make your way to the second floor.
“They unlocked this window, and I peered outside, and the exit of this TV station was a sea of faces,” he continued. It was simply amazing. And that’s when I realized something was going on.
For Bobby, the ensuing year was “kind of limbo.” But that’s when he started getting interested in songwriting and experimented with his eight-track recording apparatus.
Bobby went on to become a professional singer, even if his voice wasn’t completely recognized at the time.
Bobby Sherman’s spouse, kids, and family
Sherman’s youthful fan base purchased millions of records between 1969 and 1971, during which time he released hits including Julie, Do Ya Love Me, Easy Come, Easy Go, and Little Woman.
One million copies of four distinct recorded albums and one million copies of six different single recordings were sold by him.
In 1971, he stated, “A song begins with an idea – one line.”I develop that into a full lyric. I then arranged the music to fit it.
Sherman starred in a number of guest roles after his 1970 and 1971 stint on the television show Getting Together, which was a spinoff of The Partridge Family and followed the lives of two songwriters.
Sherman initially married Patti Carnel in 1971, which also happened to coincide with his ascent to stardom. Christopher and Tyler, the couple’s two boys, were born.
Sherman made the decision to construct a scale replica of Disneyland’s Main Street in his garden because he wanted his children to grow up in an amazing environment. It took him almost two and a half years to finish the project, and it apparently cost him about fifteen thousand dollars to create.
The initiative wasn’t well received by everyone; his wife reportedly found the incessant hammering to be bothersome.
“I had no idea what home was,” Sherman said in a People interview. “She even threatened to kill me if I didn’t finish it.”
Bobby’s children served as the model for his new career in addition to inspiring him to construct his own portion of Disneyland.
Bobby rose to prominence on television before celebrities like Shaun Cassidy and even David Cassidy. Eventually, people like Donny Osmond “replaced” him.
But at the height of his popularity, millions of people loved Sherman, who was starring in popular TV shows and putting out hit tunes at the same time. Tiger Beat and Sixteen turned into two of his favorite records.
Sherman clarified that despite living the life of luxury that very few people get to experience, he would typically film five days a week and even have nighttime programs on the weekends. It’s safe to say that the hectic schedule had its effects.
“I didn’t know what home was for three years because it was so hectic,” he said to the Washington Post.
“I had no idea where I was, and I was lost.” I needed constant reminders. To be really honest, though, I had the best experience ever because of the fantastic concerts and amazing fans. Even though it was the classic love-in, I felt like I was totally taken advantage of.
Bobby Sherman gave up music to save people’s lives.
Then, in the middle of his enormous notoriety, Bobby made the abrupt decision to change careers to something completely different but equally significant.
In the end, he made the decision to turn around and give up his career in music and television in an effort to save lives.
Sherman’s former wife Patti was terrified of blood, and he was deeply involved in his children’s upbringing. Accidents happen frequently, as anyone who has reared children will attest, and Christopher and Tyler frequently fell and hurt themselves.
These falls occasionally resulted in minor cuts and scrapes as well as bleeding knees. Sherman made the decision to enroll in certain classes in order to better manage these kinds of circumstances. After taking an introductory course on first aid and CPR, he moved on to volunteer as an emergency medical technician.
“I rescued the life of a small 5-year-old girl on the very first call. Indeed, that is the most amazing feeling, I thought to myself. In an interview from 1994, Bobby recounted.
Sherman completed more training and went on to work for the Los Angeles Police Department as a first aid instructor for officers.
Emergency medical technician Bobby Sherman
Bobby was sworn in as a police officer in 1992 and appointed chief medical training officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. In the field, he gave birth to five children, and in 1994, he bravely faced hardship.
Sherman was awakened by an earthquake at his Encino, California, home on January 17, 1994. Rather than taking cover, he made the decision to hop in his truck and drive directly to the epicenter.
While some needed first aid, others there needed advise. Either way, Bobby’s expertise and presence were required.
Even though Bobby’s profession choice put him in danger and exposed him to many challenging circumstances, at his core he was still an entertainer and had many of the endearing traits from his days in the business. In fact, he ran across a few of his former admirers on the field.
He used to tell a tale about how, as a teen idol, his celebrity followed him around when he went on fire department paramedic rescue calls.
signed letters to patients
Bobby told The Times, “We were working on a bleeding woman who had passed out on one call in Northridge.”
Her spouse was staring at me nonstop. He exclaimed, “Look, honey, it’s Bobby Sherman!” at the end. The woman started as she came to. “Oh great, I must look like a mess,” she exclaimed. She appeared fine, so I reassured her not to worry.
Bobby kept using his improvised studio to record music for movies and TV series over the years. In 1997, he made his final appearance on television when he starred in an episode of Fraiser.
He participated in the “Teen Idol Tour” in the late 1990s with Peter Noone, Davy Jones, and Micky Dolenz from the Monkees. But he then made the decision to officially leave the entertainment industry.
Sherman thanked his supporters for everything and said it was difficult to maintain the success.
“My life’s work and accomplishments can be attributed to the blessings bestowed upon me by my fans.” The celebrity told Tulsa World, “It’s stayed with me, so I can have the opportunity to do things that I really love doing.”
Bobby Sherman’s current net worth is as follows.
Sherman said, “I don’t think there’s anything I would change, other than maybe being a little bit more aware of [the success], because I probably could’ve enjoyed the fun of it a little more.” It required a lot of labor. There were many tears, sweats, and bloodsheds. But the best of times was had by all.
In 2011, Bobby Sherman married Brigette, his second wife, and the two of them are still together today. They established The Brigitte and Bobby Sherman Children’s Foundation, a youth facility in Ghana devoted to fusing education and music, the same year they got married.
Bobby is 79 years old today. Still, I think you’ll all agree that he looks a much like himself because he still has a lot of his signature style!
Bobby Sherman was a fantastic actor and performer, and those wonderful years will always be missed!
To honor the legendary vocalist, kindly encourage your friends and family to read this article on Facebook!
Leave a Reply