How does it feel to have $15 at the book fair?
On Tuesday like leaves being blown in the wind, the flyers for the school book fair flew around the house. These flyers were so exciting that the fresh snow and the promise of enough snow to build a snowman were absolutely no match. The book fair was Friday and methodical planning quickly had started in the eyes of the two young elementary students in my house. Daddy had already told them that each would have $15 which when I was a little would get you about three books and plenty of useless knick knacks. In today’s economy is the equivalent of a book and maybe something on the side. So these little ladies definitely needed to prepare for their little feet hitting the book store pavement.
Although kindergarteners got to see the book fair, they were not permitted to purchase during school hours. A second trip would be needed in the evening for my littlest daughter, but the young shopper did not know what she wanted to get. Her first grader sister had already made her selections and was more than willing to help her sister spend her $15. So on Friday evening, my two daughters entered the book fair with the younger sister having no idea of what she wanted while her older sister had already spent her younger sibling’s money in her head. My kindergartner ran from table to table, picking up book after book until a certain book caught her eye and the game was all over.
The book was eight pages long, but the shortness of the book did not matter as there was three finger puppets of her favorite mouse, duck and cat. The book was $14.99 and the tax exceeded the amount that we permitted the girls to spend. My littlest daughter’s hands were clinched around the book with no easing of the grip in sight. A momentary nod between my husband and I only meant one thing, pay the tax. At the register, my kindergartner proudly said her name as well as her teacher’s name and with a quick exchange of a dollar, the book was hers.
I remember book fairs being magical and this trip was nothing less. Books can be so much fun and my littles surely love them, even those with finger puppets!
