Getting the chance to take an international vacation is the trip of a lifetime for any young child. While the trip itself is exciting enough, sometimes the element of surprise—unexpectedly discovering you’re headed for a fun, faraway land—can be just as exciting as the trip itself.
Sean McGrath found that out for himself at the very last possible minute back on April 5, 2017. The then-12-year-old boy had ridden along to the Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland, thinking that he was just in the car to see his grandparents off, as they left on their trip to Spain.
When he got out of the car to give them a farewell hug, he was instead given the surprise of a lifetime. His dad, Colum, who had pulled out his phone and surreptitiously started to record him, suggested that his grandmother hand him her phone so the boy could look up the flight information.
His grandmother readily agreed, handing over her iPhone to the young boy to help her out while she made sure she had everything for the plane. “Open up the boarding passes,” his dad urged him. “Make sure that the boarding passes are there, and that they’re all correct.”
Sean pulled up the app for the tickets, checking first the one for his grandmother, Jennifer McGrath, and then one for his grandfather, Anthony McGrath. The tickets should have ended there. When his finger hit the phone screen a third time, though, he wasn’t at the end of the boarding passes—instead, there was one more in the group, and it had his name on it.
The young boy looked up at his father in disbelief but was met with all smiles from his father and grandparents. He couldn’t contain his tears—but his father quickly went to work, handing out everyone’s luggage (including the neatly packed suitcase for Sean himself, which had been smuggled into the car without the boy’s knowledge), and then giving his son his passport.
“Have fun,” his dad laughed, giving him a big hug. “Enjoy your holidays.” In response, the surprised Sean asked: “Really?” as he wiped away his happy tears. “Seriously?” the boy questioned. His dad continued chuckling. “Really,” he assured his son. “You’re going to Spain!”
Sean made his way around the circle, hugging each person in turn. Thank you, he told his grandmother, then his grandfather, then finally his dad. Hugs, and thanks, to make sure everyone realized (as if his reaction hadn’t sealed the deal) exactly how grateful he was for the chance to head on the holiday.
Even once he headed for the entrance to the airport, Sean was still a bit in shock that he was really being given the gift. His response to his dad’s urging of him to enjoy his flight was to double-check if all this was real.
“Am I really going?” he asked for yet another time, even going as far as to unzip his suitcase to see if his clothes were actually there and ready for the trip. But when he noticed the new shoes he’d bought just the day before sitting neatly in the suitcase, it finally seemed to sink in.
Needless to say, this is a trip that should stick with Sean for the rest of his life!
