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"Mummy, can we go to the shops? I’ve
got my pocket money from last week and I want to buy some sweeties," Ross
asked.
"There are so many other wonderful
things you can spend your pocket money on, Ross. Why not buy a book, or
some paper and pencils to draw?" his mum replied.
"I’ve got plenty of books, Mum, and
lots of drawing paper and pencils. I want some sweeties. Will you walk to
the shop with me?" Ross begged.
"Of course I will, Ross. I need to
pick up a can of beetroot and some beans. Grab the umbrella. It looks like
another drizzly day," Mum said, peeking through the curtains.
Ross and his mum walked down the
street towards the shops. It rained lightly. "Hello, Mrs. McFarland," Mum
said as they passed her walking her dog.
"Did you see the dog, Mum? It was
wearing a woolen jumper," Ross laughed. He turned for another look at the
dog. "Imagine going to all that work, knitting a jumper for a dog!"
"Aye, Ross, that’s a lot of work. I
know how much work goes into knitting your jumpers. The dog’s had a lot of
Fair Isle pattern in it. That’s too much work for a dog," she agreed.
A red, double-decker bus rode past,
splashing water onto Ross’s legs. "Mum, did you see that? My feet are
soaking now," he whined.
"They’ll dry, Ross. Let’s hurry up.
I don’t want to get splashed on," she chuckled.
They picked up the pace and soon
stood in front of the shopping center. "I’ll go and look for sweeties,
Mum. You go and get your beans and beetroot. Pick up some haggis and
potatoes so we can have chips for dinner tonight," Ross said and ran off
to find his sweeties.
His mum walked up and down the
aisles, looking for the beans. She found them and picked up three cans.
She spotted the beetroot and picked up a can of the pickled variety and
put it in her cart. "I supposed I’d better get a haggis," she mumbled and
went to the butcher department. "One haggis please," she said. Soon the
butcher handed her the haggis, wrapped in white butcher paper. "Thank
you," she smiled. "Now, potatoes for Ross’s chips." She picked up five new
potatoes, a ripe garden tomato and an onion and went to pay for it.
Ross was having a dilemma. He
couldn’t decide which sweeties to buy. There were so many choices. "Do I
want chocolate or licorice or maybe some sea foam? Maybe I should get some
of each? Oh, those jelly babies look good too." He finally made his choice
and went to pay for them.
"Did you get your sweeties?" his mum
asked as they walked out of the store. The rain had stopped so she didn’t
need to open the umbrella.
"I got a few things, Mum. I’ll show
you when we get home," he smiled. "Did you get the haggis for tonight?"
"I got the haggis, a big one. It’ll
be delicious, and yes, I got tatties so you can have chips with it," she
assured him.
That night they sat down for supper.
The haggis was steaming as Mum cut it open. The chips were crisp and
salted and the beetroot was tangy and vinegary, just like Mum liked it.
"This is delicious, Mum. Thanks," Ross said. When they were finished
eating, he put his bag of sweeties on the table. "I got you something
special for tonight, Mum. I know these are your favorites," Ross said. He
pulled a huge chunk of milk chocolate-covered sea foam and some Turkish
Delight.
"Oh, Ross, those look scrumptious.
Thank you. That was kind of you to use your pocket money to buy something
for me. I hope you got something for yourself," Mum said.
"I did," Ross replied and dumped the
rest of his bag onto the table. There were jelly fish, and licorice drops,
and black currant drops filled with chocolate in the center, and all sorts
of other sweeties.
"Ross! Don’t you go eating those all
tonight!" Mum said, surprised at all the sweeties.
Ross laughed, "Don’t worry, Mum. I
won’t. I’ll only eat one or two a day. These have got to last me until my
next pocket money comes along."
Mum made them both some hot cocoa
while they watched the tellie. The rain fell outside; a fire glowed in the
living room, keeping Ross and his Mum warm and cozy while they nibbled on
their sweeties. |
