Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Only $4 Short!

We are campers! We love camping and have for years. I have a whole scrapbook dedicated to our camping trips - really that album is just the beginning of our camping adventures - with more coming!

This weekend my parents went with us and camped out in the local hotel! They no longer have a camper or camping equipment and all the cabins were booked. We still had a great time, because they only slept in the hotel and spent the rest of the time with us.

On Saturday, we had a discussion with the older kids about their bike riding and not to come back separately again - they were to stay together and compromise on where they would go and what they would see. Big P warned that if they came back separately again, they wouldn't get back on their bikes for the weekend! Ouch!

Sunday came along and my mom and I were having a nice time visiting outside in the early morning. My dad had slept in. The big kids and B.3.5.B. wanted to take a trip down to the park store. They had some change and my mom gave them her change. They probably had about $2 in total. They wanted to get some treats to share. And off they went!

About 20 minutes later, P.8.P. came back saying "I'm not coming back separate, but I need to tell you. C and B are up at the park store and C wanted to get some treats for everyone, but we need some more money - we are 4 DOLLARS short!"

My mom and I immediately started CRACKING UP!!! I could hardly breathe I was laughing so hard and my mom was crying!!! We thought she was going to say 4 cents or 40 cents and I thought to myself that someone could have helped them out with that - but no, we were talking 4 BUCKS here!!!

When Big P started asking what they were buying, she made a list - "well, he got chips and bean dip for you dad, and a Mr. Goodbar for mom, and a peanut patty for Grandma..."

We asked what they were doing up there and she said "just waiting for me to come back with more money!"

All I could picture was these two poor children, no shoes, dirt all over their faces (probably from playing in it!) and this downtrodden look because they were too poor to buy JUNK FOOD!! LOL They did have shoes on (and socks for that matter), but I'm sure the rest was true to life!

Big P gave her a $10 bill, because that is the smallest bill he had and off she went. A little bit later, they came back with their bounty in hand. We started laughing all over again. I started snapping pictures as fast as I could - this was one for the blog and for the scrapbook!



So they started divvying up the treasure - Big P got a bag of Fritos and a can of bean dip (now we know where all the money went!), I got a Mr. Goodbar, my mom got a peanut patty, C.11.B. bought himself some SweetTarts, and P.8.G. got some Skittles. When I asked what they got for B.3.5.B., their eyes popped out of their heads and said "Oh, we forgot to get something for him!!" Hello - he was there the whole time. We found out later that while they were waiting at the counter, he was trying to pillage candy into his pockets!! They made sure it was returned before they left.



B.3.5.B. is trying to figure out where his goodies are! At least big brother shared!

Big P asked for his change, but there was little to be had - less than $2. Big P said "WHAT??? I gave you 10 dollars! Where is the rest?" This was the first I knew of the $10, because I was laughing too hard when he gave it to her to notice.

C.11.B. said in a most earnest voice "well, the total was $8.88." Come to find out, he hadn't used any of the change he had gone with. They just wanted to pay and get out of there. Apparently the park store cashier had been mean to them and impatient. Who could have done such a thing?! I think it was probably the cutest thing ever a boy and his little brother over to the side of the counter as new customers came in, too poor to pay for their food! LOLOLOL

He did tell us that 2 people tried to help him by asking if he needed any money and how much. The first person heard "we need $5" and quickly declined by saying "hmm, I wish I could help you" and they probably laughed all the way to their car! The second person asked if they could help and C.11.B. tried to make it sound better by saying "we need $4 or $5 dollars." Hmm, yea, that sounds much better!!!

And all the while, all Pete could say was "You didn't tell them you were homeschooled, did you????"

Looks like Mama needs to work on estimating cost and doing some practical math!




Most definitely joyfully busy at home,
Christine

4 comments :

Anonymous said...

Too funny! LOL

And that last pic is precious!

Anonymous said...

haha mom told me this story, and all i could picture is this happening!! lol also, i definitely could picture you laughing--REALLY HARD- like almost crying laughing!!]
love ya
kimbo

Anonymous said...

Oh my oh my. I laughed and laughed until I had tears coming down my face again. I relived the whole scene again.
I think it was even funner this time.
I love you all so much and we had a great time with you.

Oh by the way, Daddy said he was glad I had convinced him to come back to the camp on Sunday. See told you!

Brandi in TX said...

This story is so funny. I am glad I got to hear it over the phone!

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