This is part 2 of a 6 part series entitled, “A Tribute to Mother.”

O is for Oops, I’ll have to do it over.

I was probably six or seven when I walked up to May’s to buy groceries. I gave her the list and the money. She put the groceries in the bag, added up the cost, opened the cash register and gave me one cent change.

On the counter were two jars of suckers. One was a looped paper stick which held a clear circle wrapped in cellophane. They were yellow, orange, or red. They cost one cent. The other jar had a straight paper stick, a round ball on the end, hard on the outside but with a soft filling. They were wrapped with brown (chocolate) or red (cherry) paper. They cost two cents.

I stood and looked at the stickers a long time. May asked, “Do you want one?”

I want the one that cost two cents but I only have one cent. May said, “I’ll give it to you for one cent.”

PROUD of my deal, I hurried home with the groceries and told Mom what I had done.

She wasn’t happy. “Roselyn, that was not right.” She went in her purse, pulled out a penny and said, “Go back and pay full price.”

I trudged back-May was gracious.

My pride was hurt, but my heart was light. Even today, when tempted to negotiate to my advantage, I remember…

O is for Oops, I want to do it over.