We can never really know what’s coming, no matter how much we plan or guess. The future often surprises us, whether through random events or the actions of people we trust. Even though these surprises aren’t always pleasant, they can teach us important lessons and sometimes become funny stories later on.

The Story:
I was at a work lunch and saw my wife at the restaurant. It was strange because 20 minutes earlier, she had texted me saying she was at home. I was about to call her name, but she was looking at her phone, smiling and typing, so I just watched her quietly. Then, suddenly, my phone buzzed.

I was shocked to see a photo of her. She had sent me a selfie from home with a face mask on, saying, “Can’t wait for you to come home! xoxo.” I went straight to her table to ask her what she was doing there, and she looked pale when she saw me.

Just then, the waiter came and gave her bags of takeout food. It turned out she was planning a romantic dinner for us at home and was picking up food from my favorite restaurant. That’s why she had been so secretive—to keep me from suspecting anything.