A Surprising Discovery
When I returned home early from my vacation, I discovered a large hole in my backyard. I was about to contact the cops when I noticed a shovel at the bottom, which prompted me to reconsider. “What is this?” I mumbled as I approached the edge. At night, I set up a watch and watched someone jump over the fence and into the hole.

Unexpected Encounter
I crept outside and confronted the digger while shining my phone’s flashlight down. To my surprise, it was George, the guy who had sold us the house. “Frank?” he asked, similarly shocked. “What are you doing here?” He said, “My grandfather hid something valuable here. I thought I could dig it up while you were away.” George made a deal: help him dig, and we’d split whatever we discovered 50/50.

Digging for Treasure
We spent hours searching and telling stories. George had lost his job and his wife had cancer. “This treasure,” he said, “could change everything for us.” As we dug, George told stories about his grandpa, who distrusted banks and buried treasures. Despite merely smashing pebbles, we grew closer.

A New Friendship
In the morning, with nothing found, George appeared defeated. “I really thought… “I was so sure…” He apologized, and we filled the hole. When we got to George’s house, his wife Margaret was concerned. “George, you didn’t.” We soothed her, and she agreed to pay for the yard repairs. I declined and joked about constructing a pool instead. As I drove home, I had a feeling of connection. George’s optimism had been contagious. I told my wife, Karen, everything. She grinned: “Only you, Frank, would spend all night digging for treasure with a stranger.” We agreed to invite George and Margaret home for dinner, aware that the real prize was the new connection we had formed.