Too Sweet Not to Share

It was a weekday morning during the school year. My son was in the first grade, and it was the day he was going to the book fair. He already knew which book he was going to buy because his class had visited the fair a day or so earlier just so the children could browse the selections with their teacher. My little blonde haired, blue eyed reader had told me that his book would cost $4.00. As I was giving him those four one-dollar bills, he said, "It's $4.00, but you can pay $5.00." I stopped and looked at him, "Well, is it $4 or $5?", I patiently asked. "It's $4.00, but you can pay $5.00." I thought he may have not remembered whether or not it was $4.00 or $5.00, so I was reaching in my purse for another dollar. As I was giving him the money, I said, "Here's $5.00." Our confusing conversation continued, "well, it's $4.00, but you can pay $5.00", he said. By this time, I was getting a little frustrated. I had to finish getting ready for work and time was getting away from us. I said, "If it's $4.00, don't give the lady $5.00, okay?" My seven year old's reply? "Well, on the back it says $4.00 CAN $5.00." I immediately started laughing and told him that I would explain that on our way to school. I hopped in the shower and finished my morning routine. By the time we walked out the door, I had forgotten that I needed to explain what the "CAN" $5.00 meant. Later that day while at work, I suddenly remembered what I had forgotten to do. All I could think of was that precious baby being confused as to why he's going to pay $4.00 for a book when he could be paying $5.00.

My once confused first-grader is now in middle school. He and I still enjoy laughing about the CAN story.