As I looked around I noticed that every so often there were signs that said, Every thing that we sell is only one dollar. I didn't put quotes around that because I am not sure exactly what the sign said, but something to that effect.
That particular day my husband and I filled our cart to the brim with items that we generally bought at the grocery store only when they were on sale.
After that initial trip about once a month we would find ourselves in that little store always with smiles on our faces. We were on a fixed income and once a month we were able to buy things that we really enjoyed for a price that we could afford.
Many of you know that I love to write children's stories on my Grandma Lu's Winter Wonderland blog. I have fallen in love with a little three year old girl who is the granddaughter of one of my dear friends. I send Marlee on all kinds of adventures. She has prospected for gold, gone on a hot air balloon, and even foiled the mean old giant in Jack and the beanstalk; not to mention stowing away on a pirate ship.
Marlee was only sixteen months old when I first started documenting her little shopping trips to the mall with tiny little two or three paragraph "stories."
As time went on she and her best friend, Stashia a big old wrinkled dog of her Grandma B's became best friends in my stories. They told each other their problems, ( I can remember potty training for one), shared secrets, and even played tricks on Marlee's Grandma B.
Before I knew it, the tiny little baby in a stroller was almost three years old. Her family and friends were going to have a tea party for her birthday party theme.
Once again my husband and I picked out little trinkets at this little dollar store to put in her birthday gift bag for her big day. I can remember putting a little tiara with little pink stones in my shopping cart for her and a little bracelet. Neither of these things did Marlee need, but my husband especially, thought that she would like them.
At the check out counter there was a grandma and her very cute little granddaughter waiting in line behind us. The little one was busy to say the least and like many children continued to plague her grandma by wanting to add more things for her grandmother to buy for her. I guessed her age at about three years old or younger. In her hands she had two little tubs of Play Dough and a small ball that sparkled the size of a tennis ball.
The little one was getting fussy and had seen things at the "gotcha" shelf that she would have liked to have. Her grandmother said, "I'm sorry little one, but this is all the money I can afford to spend today"; three dollars and tax. I suddenly felt like I should do something. I told the cashier to add her little things to my bill. My husband raised his eyebrows and I said, "Yes, this is part of Marlee's birthday gift. I know she would like to share."
The lady and her granddaughter looked at me like I was Santa Claus and continued to thank us onto the parking lot. Remember, three dollars. Those two folks have plagued my dreams and my thoughts for at least two weeks. I just needed to write this down.
I finally told the grandma, "If you ever get a chance to have three extra dollars do something nice for someone you think could use a boost someday." She smiled a worried smile and said, "I will if I can."
That's the end of this story. I am hearing of so many grandparents that are raising grandchildren regardless of their age or health. I thought that might have been the case that day. It was the right thing to do that day.
