AUNT MILLIE'S MARIGOLDS (Word Count 959) (standard:adventure, 957 words)
Author: Rosie Jay	Added: Oct 07 2006	Views/Reads: 3226/1993	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Amy plans to buy her mom a "real" present after saving up her allowance, only to encounter a disappointing setback.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


With nothing left to be done, they started for home.  Amy was too
unhappy to talk and Mary Beth had no more solutions.  “If you still 
want to make something, call me and I’ll help,” she offered as they 
parted. 

Mom sighed with relief when Amy walked in.  “My goodness, where in the
world have you been?” I’ve been waiting—and worrying!” 

Amy apologized.  “I’m so sorry, Mom.  I...I just forgot about time.”  It
was true enough, but Amy just couldn’t tell her the rest of the sad 
tale.  After all, how could she spoil Mom’s birthday with no-present 
news? 

Before Mom could reply, a familiar voice rang from the kitchen.  “Hey
there, sweet cakes, I’ve been waiting for you too.” 

“Aunt Millie, what are you doing here?” 

“Now would I miss your mother’s birthday?  I brought her a present, but
I like to think it came from both of us.” 

Amy was puzzled.  “From both us?” 

Aunt Millie pointed to the dining room table.  There at the center sat a
shiny blue vase—bursting with beautiful golden-yellow marigolds. 

“Isn’t that something?” Mom said.  “Aunt Millie made that lovely vase in
her ceramics class, and the flowers are from that packet of seeds you 
gave her last May.  Don’t they brighten up the room?” 

Sure they did, but who cared?  Amy’s plan had fizzled—big time.  Then, 
suddenly all the words came tumbling out—how she planned to buy a real 
present, how she lost the money, and  how she and Mary Beth retraced 
their way all the way back to school,  with no luck at all.  When all 
the words were spilled, she glanced at the marigolds.  “And how can you 
say those flowers are from me?” she declared.  “Aunt Millie brought them, 
didn’t she?” 

“Yes, Amy, absolutely true,” Mom gently replied.  Then, with the softest
voice ever, she tried to explain.  “But even flower seeds are gifts, 
and in this case they kept on giving—from you to Aunt Millie to me.  
Besides, you went through a lot today, all because you cared so much, 
and that was truly your gift to me, don’t you see?” 

“Yes indeed,” Aunt Millie whispered. 

Amy sighed.  If that were true, thinking of it that way would surely
make her feel better.  She began to let the warmth of Mom’s words sooth 
her sagging spirit.  Then, after hugs all around, she thought about her 
very best friend who had cared a whole lot today. 

Tomorrow, if Mom didn’t mind, she would bring Mary Beth some of those
beautiful golden-yellow marigolds. 


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