A VISIT TO THE 5 & 10
WRITTEN BY LOIS NEWBEGIN VALENTIN
Mrs. Splash did her housecleaning work in the house late Friday with the help of Mag and Molly, as on Saturday, they were going to the 5 & 10. They always liked to go shopping and look around.
Saturday morning came. They ate breakfast, then hurried to get dressed. They had on identical purple plaid dresses and purple ribbons in their hair. What pretty girls ! Mrs. Splash was so happy to see them in dresses as they usually wore pants and shirts.
They walked to the store which was very far. They didn’t care. They loved to walk together. Finally they arrived.
Mag and Molly exclaimed, “ Look! Look at all the things there are. Can we go look by ourselves?”
“Sure, for a little while, but behave, “ said Mrs. Splash.
They walked from aisle to aisle until they came to the pocketbook section. They looked at all the different colors, sizes, and textures. They counted how many has zippers, snaps, buttons, or nothing at all. A few even had secret compartments. The girls called them “pockeydoos”.
Later they went to look at the toys. Then walked to the yard goods section and looked at all the material and notions. They loved material. Sewing was an interest to both of them. They saw denim, silk, satin, and cotton.
The girls had brought some money but not enough for what they wanted to buy. They rushed to Mag’s mother to ask her for money. At first, she said no, but changed her mind angrily after they started to fuss and have temper tantrums.
The girls ran back and bought some material and thread that they needed. They paid for it., then waited for Mrs. Splash at the front of the store. Then they all walked home- each carrying a large bag.
Mrs. Splash was still very upset. She wanted to know what they bought, but they wouldn’t tell her. She sent them to their room until they had a reasonable explanation.
The girls were happy because they wanted to stay in their room and work on their project. Finally, two hours later, they came out of their room and apologized. Then they gave Mrs. Splash a big package all wrapped upin different colored contact paper which had been stuck to a paper bag. She opened the bag and tears came to her eyes.
It was a patchwork quilt made of the material that they had just bought in the store and some scraps that Mag already had.
Mrs. Splash hugged the girls tightly then put the quilt on her bed. To this day, whenever she sees a quilt, she remembers and a trickle of tears run down her face and she smiles.
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