The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost
five.
Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a
circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.
"Oh please, Mummy. Can I have them? Please, Mummy, please!"
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and
then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's
upturned face.
"One pound ninety five. That's almost £2.00. If you really want
them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you
can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's
only a week away and you might get another pound coin from
Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and
counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share
of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if
she could pick dandelions for ten pence.
On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new pound coin and
at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown
up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, play group, even to
bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or
had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her
neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready
for bed, he would stop whatever cache building he was doing and
come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the
story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you
can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with
the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my
favorite."
"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he
brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked
again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The
brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you
can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves
you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on
her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he
noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her
cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"
Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her
daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace.
With a little quiver,she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for
you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached
out with one hand to take the pound-shop necklace, and with the
other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet
case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.
He had them ready all the time. He was just waiting for her to
give up the pound-shop stuff so he could give her genuine
treasure.
Yes dear reader .... that man was me, and it just shows the
lengths I will go to to make a parking waypoint
cache from tupperware.
Apologies for this one, but enjoy the Holy Gail!
