Pocket Money and the Rented Dog

Three days before Christmas daughter realized that while she had made a Christmas card and drawn pictures for her father, she hadn't bought him anything. "It is ok," I told her. "He prefers the things you make anyways." But she didn't believe me. She needed to buy him something and had no money at all. 

In her desperation she went to her brother. "I won't give you any money," he said. "But I will show you how to get some..." And with that, I saw him wandering off with her, searching the Target parking spots for coins. 

After two days of searching the parking spots of every place we went to, she had collected just over a dollar, mostly in pennies. She was very pleased.

"So," I asked her. "What are you going to buy him?" 

"A pack of chewing-gum, " she answered. "Papa will love it."

I was hiding behind a magazine rack while she was paying. It took her and the very patient cashier forever to count all the pennies and then do a recount.

Just after Christmas while staying at my parents-in-law and their very new and happy golden retriever puppy Freddie, daughter sat down next to husband and asked thoughtfully, "Papaaaaa? On this trip we rented a house on the beach. And we rented a car. Can you rent a dog, too?"

"Good question," he said. "Are you thinking of renting Freddie? You should probably ask your Grandparents."

The same evening, while Grandma was getting comfortable on the couch, daughter made her move. "Grandmaaaaaa," she smiled. "Can I please rent Freddie? And how much would it be?"

"Well," Grandma said, "how much money do have?" 

"I have 36 cents left after buying Papa's Christmas present," daughter answered.

"You are lucky," Grandma said, "it costs 30 cents to rent Freddie for 10 days. But, please, no pennies."

So, daughter rented a dog this vacation. Freddie came with a list of resposibilities like taking him out, scratching his belly, feeding him and brushing his fur. For 10 days she never missed one thing on the list.

When we drove up to Savannah after our visit with Grandma and Opa and Freddie, daughter sat uncharacteristically quiet for a long time. "Are you okay?" I asked her, turning to look at her. She nodded and said, "that were the best 30 cents I have ever spent."             

Our Christmas table on Amelia Island this year. The tiny package contains husband's chewing gum. And daughter was right, he did love it.