My little boy
came into the kitchen this evening
while I was fixing supper.
He handed me a piece of paper
that he'd been writing on.
So. . .after wiping my hands on my apron,
I read it. . .
and this is what it said:
For mowing the grass. . .$5
For making my own bed this week. . .$1
For going to the store. . .$.50
For playing with my baby brother
while you went shopping. . .$.25
For taking out the trash. . .$1
For getting a good report card. . .$5
and. . .
For raking the yard. . .$2
Well. . .
I looked at him standing there expectantly
and a thousand memories
flashed through my mind.
So. . .
I picked up the paper and
turning it over.
this is what I wrote:
For the nine months I carried you
growing inside me. . .No Charge.
For the nights I sat up with you,
doctored you and prayed for you. . .No Charge.
For the time and the tears
and the cost through the years. . .No Charge.
For the nights filled with dread
and the worries ahead. . .No Charge.
For advice and knowledge
and the cost of your college. . .No Charge.
For the toys, food and clothes,
and for wiping your nose. . .No Charge.
Son, when you add it all up,
the full cost of my love is. . .
No Charge.
Well. . .
when he finished reading,
he had great big tears in his eyes.
And he looked up at me and he said,
"Mama, I sure do love you."
Then he took the pen and
in great big letters he wrote. . .
