Woman Mocks Old Music Box Husband Bought at Flea Market for Her Bday So He Asks Her to Open It – Story of the Day

A woman threw tantrums and mocked her husband for gifting her a second-hand music box for her birthday. He asked her to open it, and she was moved to tears when she recognized something more precious than diamonds and gold inside the box.

65-year-old Albert Jackson was lost in deep thought about what to buy for his beloved wife Ruthie’s 60th birthday. With only a couple of days left for his wife’s big day, old Albert didn’t know what to give her this time.

“I gave her that diamond necklace imported exclusively from Botswana on her last birthday. Shall I gift her a ring this time?” Albert thought. “No, I already gave her a ring for Christmas. What should I get her? God, please help me.”

Confused and in a bid to make Ruthie’s birthday memorable and special, Albert had an idea and checked the calendar for the next flea market in the city…

Albert Jackson wanted to gift his wife something special for her birthday. | Source: Pexels

“Ahaaaa! It’s on the 6th!” Albert exclaimed as he checked the dates for Northern California’s famous antique show—The Alameda Point Antiques Faire.

“I wanted to make your birthday special… But if this is how you react, let me take this gift back…But before that…Did you even open the box and see what’s inside first?” Albert cried.

Albert wasn’t a regular shopper at the famous flea market hosted on the first Sunday of every month. Still, he went by his instincts that he would find the best gift for Ruthie there.

Excited to see the sparkle in Ruthie’s eyes, Albert paraded the stalls on a pleasant Sunday morning, looking for his gift. He checked out several stalls, but nothing pleased him until an antique stall caught his attention.

“Great! Ruthie likes antique stuff,” he mumbled.

The store was adorned with an assortment of old gramophones, showpieces, musical instruments, and rugs. Albert rummaged through the antique pieces, and something about an old music box caught his attention.

He picked it up, and when he opened it, he realized that this was no ordinary box. Albert bought it on the spot, certain Ruthie would fly into his arms and tell him how much she loved it. He couldn’t wait to surprise Ruthie on her birthday.

An old music box caught Albert’s attention. | Source: Pixabay

On March 8, at midnight, Albert silently crept to his study to retrieve the gift that he had neatly wrapped. He tiptoed into back his bedroom with the gift and kissed Ruthie, who was still fast asleep. His kiss woke her, and she couldn’t stop blushing after seeing the gift box in Albert’s hands.

“Happy birthday, Ruthie. I love you,” Albert lovingly said, and he handed her the gift.

An excited Ruthie took it, her mind guessing if it was a precious necklace or a set of diamond earrings this time. To Albert’s shock, his wife’s smile faded and quickly wrinkled into a wave of anger he’d never seen on her face before.

“An old music box? Is this my birthday gift???” she growled and threw it on the bed. “How can you be so ridiculous? Take this thing away before I break it!”

“But honey. I thought you would love it,” Albert said, disappointed.

“Love it? I hate it! …It is nothing compared to the diamond necklace and rings you gave me before. How cheap of you to gift me a stale second-hand item for my birthday!”

Albert felt a sharp pang as Ruthie continued mocking him for picking something from the flea market as her gift. “You have lots of money! How dare you get me that old thing? How could you even think I’ll be happy with that gift?” Ruthie shouted and made a fuss about everything Albert said in his defense.

To Albert’s dismay, Ruthie was not pleased with his gift. | Source: Pexels

“But honey, this is worth more than all that diamond and gold I’ve given you before. Why don’t you see it from my perspective?”

“Your perspective? Are you blind? Don’t you see how old that thing is? Do I look like a kid who wants to get a music box, an old one, for my birthday?”

Ruthie went on and on about how much she hated Albert’s gift, and at one point, the poor old man lost his patience, especially after Ruthie asked him to get out and threw the music box on the floor, almost breaking it.

“ENOUGH! I SAY, ENOUGH! I wanted to make your birthday special,” Albert cried. “But if this is how you react, let me take this gift back.”

Ruthie calmed down in shock because she hadn’t seen Albert so upset before, on her birthday.

“But before that, I want to ask you something. Did you even open the box and see what’s inside first?”

“No, I did not. And I won’t. From the outside, it’s evident it’s an old, good-for-nothing piece of trash. I don’t expect to find anything better inside,” Ruthie retorted.

Albert was hurt, but he insisted his wife open the box at least and unwind it. “Just open it, please, then decide if you still want to hurt me.”

Resigned, Ruthie argued no more. She opened the box with hesitation and wound it, only to burst into tears shortly after.

“This is unbelievable,” she cried. Tears gushed as she looked at Albert with a sparkle in her eyes, just like he imagined. “D-Darling. I am so sorry. I didn’t know you would still remember this.”

Ruthie’s eyes sparkled with tears after she wound the music box. | Source: Pexels

Ruthie flung into Albert’s arms as the music box played a beautiful melody, the same one they had danced to on their very first date 40 years ago. “This is the best birthday gift I’ve ever had, darling. I love you so much, and I can’t believe you still remember the song,” Ruthie cried.

Albert dimmed the lights in their bedroom and danced with his beloved wife for a very long time. He looked into her teary eyes and kissed her on her forehead. “Happy birthday, love!” he told her and forgave her.

“Even a thousand pieces of diamond and gold jewelry will not compare to this moment. I love it, honey!” Ruthie said as tears of joy soaked into Albert’s jacket. The sweet melody from the music box filled the couple’s room with abundant love and precious memories of their first date!

Albert & Ruthie danced to the melodious tune recalling their beautiful first date. | Source: Pexels

What can we learn from this story?

• Some things are more precious than material wealth. Albert thought the old music box would make his wife Ruthie smile on her birthday. But after seeing it, she threw it and mocked him for gifting her something cheap. However, Ruthie was shocked when the music box played a melody they had danced to on their first date 40 years ago. She also realized it was more valuable than the gold and diamond jewelry Albert had given her before.
• Think and verify before you say anything because it might hurt others. After seeing the old music box, Ruthie yelled at Albert, thinking it was an ordinary gift. She failed to see his love for a moment and gave in to her worldly desires. Ruthie did not think twice before hurting Albert that moment, but after realizing his gift’s inner meaning, she felt sorry and apologized.

An elderly stranger gives a poor girl an old piano, but her parents scold her for bringing it home. One day, the family is startled to find a hidden casket with a life-changing fortune in it. Click here to read the full story.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.

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