NO CHARGE
MY LITTLE BOY WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN THIS EVENING AS I WAS PREPARING SUPPER. HE HANDED ME A PIECE OF PAPER 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 BABY BROTHER
WHEN 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, 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 THE 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: PAID IN FULL.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
