My little boy came into the kitchen this evening while I was fixing supper, and he handed me
a piece of paper he'd been writing on, and after wiping my hands on my apron, I read
it, and this is what it said, for mowing the yard, $5, making my own bed this week, $1,
and going to the store, 50 cents, and watching little brother while you went shopping, 25
cents.
For taking action.
out the trash one dollar. Getting a good report card, five dollars. And raking the yard, two
dollars. Total old, fourteen seventy-five. Well, I stood there looking at him expectantly
and a thousand memories flashed through my mind. So I picked up the pen and turning the
paper over, this is what I wrote. For the nine months I carried you, growing inside
me, no charge. For the nights I sat up with you, doctored you, prayed for you, prayed

you no charge for the time and the tears and the cost through the years there's no charge
when you add it all up the full cost of my love is no charge
for the nights filled with dread and the worry of hate no charge
for advice and the knowledge and the cost of your college no charge
for the toys food and clothes and for wiping your nose
there's no charge son when you add it all up the full cost of my love is no charge
well when he finished reading he had great big old tears in his eyes
and he looked up at me and he said mama i sure do love you then he took the pen and in great
big letters he wrote
you
paid in full
when you add it all up the cost of real love is no charge