But back in sixth grade, he'd secretly sold it and blown the money on an all-night internet café binge.
When Grandma found out, she broke down crying on the spot. She even spent a fortune afterward, pulling every string she could to track it down.
She never found it. Not even by the day she died.
And now here he was, twisting the story, repackaging his own ingratitude as grievance.
After that day, James moved out with Meryl.
To milk sympathy from everyone they knew, the couple deliberately rented a cramped, run-down one-bedroom in a remote suburb.
Life was rough, sure, but that didn't stop them from flooding social media.
In the photos, Meryl sat outside a building that looked one strong wind away from condemnation, hands cradling her belly in the sunlight.
The caption read: "Baby, Mommy's so sorry for dragging you into this. Even your own grandma doesn't want you. It's my fault for coming from nothing. Mommy's sorry."
Post after post followed.