And after wipin’ my hands on my apron I read it – and this is what it said:
For Mowin’ the Yard – $5.00 And for Makin’ my own Bed this Week – $1.00 And for Goin’ to the Store – 50c An’ playin’ with Little Brother, while you went Shoppin’ – 25c Takin’ out the Trash – $1.00 Gettin’ a Good Report Card – $5.00 And for Rakin’ the Yard – $2.00 Total owed – $14.75
Well, I looked at ‘im standin’ there expectantly And a thousand mem’ries flashed through my mind So I picked up the pen, turnin’ the paper over.
This is what I wrote:
For nine months I carried you Growin’ Inside Me – NO CHARGE
For the Nights I’ve Sat Up with You, Doctored you, Prayed for 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 Worries Ahead – NO CHARGE
For Advice and the Knowledge And the Cost of Your College – NO CHARGE
For the Toys, Food and Clothes and for Wipin’ 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 readin’ 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:
PAID IN FULL.
When you add it all up …
The cost of real love is – NO CHARGE.
