by Eugenia Moten

Created on: May 31, 2008

"Mom, listen to this. Are you listening to me Mom?" Candy, six years old was so excited as she ran into the kitchen.

Her Mother was standing at the counter peeling apples as she ran into the kitchen. "Listen to what Candy?"

"Mom, I can do it now. I can count. Do you want to hear me?"

"Of course I want to hear you" her Mother said.

Candy took a deep breath and looked up at her Mother. "One, two, three, four, five, six and seven." "How did I do Mom?"

"Why Miss Candy, I think you have been holding out on me" her Mother said.

When Candy smiled up at her Mother, it was very obvious that her two front teeth were missing. She smiled so big that her tongue went right through the spot where her teeth were suppose to be.

As Candy tossed her head back with laughter, her two long black braids with red bows swung and hit her softly in the face.

"Mom, I used these to count" Candy said.

"You used what?" Her Mother asked.

"I used the pennies that were on the table by the big book," Candy said.
"
Her Mother turned and looked down at Candy. "Honey, what big book?"

"See Mom, there's more where these came from." Candy opened her little hand to show her Mother. Not only did she have pennies in it, but also had some dimes and nickles.

"Show me where you got these from" her Mother said.

Candy ran ahead of her Mother. As she did her two black shoulder length braids with the red bows swung in the air. She almost slipped out of her white slippers. She stopped for a second and giggled with here Mother.

"Over here Mom."

Her Mother followed her into the Living Room. It was a warm summer day and the fan was on by the window. The yellow curtains were blowing softly. The plant that was located by the fan danced in the air every time the wind hit it.

Candy pointed. "Right here and there is a lot more too."

Her Mother looked down at the table.

"Candy, that's not a book. I was changing wallets. I bought a new one."

"Mom, it looks like a big book."

"The old one was too small and I couldn't keep all the change in it. Would you like to have my old one?"

Candy jumped in the air. As she did her red and white dress went up very high. One of her white slippers fell to the floor. Her braids hit each other and one of the red bows got stuck on one of the buttons on her dress.

"Oh Mom thank you so much. You're the best." Candy grabbed her Mother around her waist and squeezed her very hard.

"Miss Candy, her Mother asked, would you like the rest of the change that came out of the wallet?"

"Mom, of course. Thank you."

Candy turned and ran down the narrow hall.

"Where are you going Candy?" Her Mother asked.

"Mom, I need to practice counting all of my money" she said.

Her Mother smiled as Candy disappeared down the narrow hall into her bed room.

Faintly her Mother could her counting, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven and this time eight.

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