Carrie's mom was born on Valentine's Day, February 14th. This year, Carrie really wanted to do something special for her mom. She had watched all the commercials and read all the newspaper ads for gifts and things to do and places to eat. So many things, so many places to go. But this only made Carrie depressed, for Carrie only had seven dollars and eighty-five cents to spend on her mom's birthday present. And that money took her a long time to earn.
Sometimes Carrie would find some of that money in between the cushions of her family's living room couch. Sometimes it was lying on the ground to and from her way to Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, where she was still in the third grade. And a little of that money came from doing little chores around the house, like giving her mom a neck rub or washing the dog, Dexter, after he went out for a walk when it was raining.
Oh, Carrie really did try her best to save for this day. But there was that one Susie Woosie doll she just had to have because all the other girls at school had one, too. These days, that doll was just sitting in the closet getting dustier and dustier each day. Mind you, it was pretty expensive, but that was the only thing that Carrie really spent any money on. Otherwise, she was saving up for her momfs birthday present (Well...there was that cute little piggy bank she needed so she could keep all her money she saved. And, well, I guess there was the Susie Woosie makeup and accessory kit that, of course, all Susie Woosies needed - how could anyone take care of Susie Woosie if you didnft have one of those! Oh, and there was Carriefs CD slash Radio slash DVD slash TV slash PC combination glow in the dark nightstand that also told the time, sang ten songs and woke her up one hour before school). Okay, so she could have tried a little harder to save. But now all she had was seven dollars and eighty-five cents. What was Carrie going to do?
There was no way she could ask her mom to borrow the money. How was she going to explain to her mom what the money was for? And Dexter, he's a dog, he doesn't have any money! No, Carrie also had her pride. She wanted to get something for her mom by herself. But what was Carrie going to do?
She approached her mom seeing if she needed any neck rubs, maybe get a little spare change. "Mom, how are you feeling? You must be tired after a hard dayfs work! How about a neck rub?" said Carried.
"Thanks, honey. I'm fine. Actually, I feel pretty good. Besides, Carrie, I'm a little short on money this week. Sorry, sweetie." said her mom.
"Hmmcno luck with mom," thought Carrie. "How about the couch?" Carrie went straight for the couch cushions. She tore off all the cushions, dug deep into the side pockets of the couch and came up with a bigcforty five cents. So now Carrie had eight dollars and thirty cents. Still not enough. What was Carrie going to do?
Carrie's mind was racing. What was she going to do? Lemonade stand? Only if someone wanted frozen lemonade! It was February. Look for coins outside? Not with a foot of snow on the ground. How about shoveling the neighbors' driveway? No, Billy Thompson already did that. Hey, how about selling Susie Woosie? Right, what girl within thirty miles didnft have one? It was only the most popular doll ever! It was hopeless. What was Carrie going to do?
Carrie got a little frustrated. She threw herself on her pile of stuffed animals and toys in her bedroom. Crack! What was that noise? Carrie dug under all her toys and stuffed animals. She found a slightly cracked plastic case full of beads that her aunt Nellie bought her last year for her birthday. It was a jewelry kit with all kinds of beads and strings. At the time, Carrie thanked her aunt Nellie for the gift, but she was really interested in Susie Woosie at the time. So Carrie kind of took that box of beads and threw it in her pile of toys in her room. But now, Carrie really took an interest in the box.
Carrie never realized how many different colors of beads there were. In the box, there were plastic beads, colorful stones, beads that looked like shiny metal balls, charms in the shape of dogs, cats, and hearts. "Hey, maybe I could make mom a bracelet!" thought Carrie.
So Carrie got to work. Putting all those beads in different combinations, Carrie really had a lot of fun with this. An hour passed, then another hour. Before she knew it, five hours passed. And Carrie was still enjoying it. Carrie certainly found her talent! By the time she took a break, Carrie made not only a couple of bracelets for her mom, but some matching earrings, six friendship rings, five necklaces, a nose ring (a nose ring?) and a collar with shiny plastic beads and letters that read D-E-X-T-E-R for her dog.
Well, it was Valentine's Day, and Carrie gave her mom the birthday present. Her mom was so surprised and excited to get the gift. "Carrie, this is wonderful! Such pretty colors. But where did you get the money for this?" said Carriefs mom.
"I made it! It didn't cost me anything." said Carrie.
"Carrie, I think you really have a talent for this! This is even nicer than the ones I saw in the store the other day!" said her mom.
Carrie thought so, too. As a matter of fact, that gave the enterprising young Carrie McBride an idea. She asked her mom to take her to the local flea market so she could sell her jewelry. It was such a big hit, she sold out. So Carrie made hundreds of more bracelets, necklaces and dog collars (no more nose rings!) and she asked her mom to take her to many other shows and flea markets where she could sell her new talent.
Needless to say, Carrie no longer has to worry about only having eight dollars and thirty cents. And Susie Woosie, that forgotten doll that went into Carrie's closet for a while, came out again (someone at school just bought the little sister doll to Susie Woosie, Sally Woosie, and the whole Susie Woosie craze started up again). Guess who bought one of the first Sally Woosie dolls! And now Carrie has a lot of change to spare. The gift Carrie gave to her mom really turned out to be a great gift for herself!
Carrie's Gift
