The Perfect Present

Miriam took her shiny red coin box off the shelf. She emptied the box and put the coins in her pocket. The sound of the coins jingling brought a proud smile to her face.Today was Miriam’s mother’s birthday and Miriam was going to get her the perfect present.

“I’ll be back later," Miriam called, as she headed out the door. With a bounce in her walk and a smile on her face, Miriam made her way down the street. She was very excited about her secret plan to buy her mother the perfect present

Miriam watched her neighbor Mrs. Green hang her laundry. When suddenly a brisk breeze picked up a yellow towel and blew it across the lawn. “I’ll get it,” Miriam called as she dashed towards the towel. Just as she was about to grab it, she fell flat on her face. Miriam brushed herself off and handed the towel to
Mrs .Green. “Thank you very much Miriam,” Mrs. Green said as she pushed some grass off of Miriam shoulder.

Putting her hand deep into her pocket Miriam checked to see if all her coins were still there. She had seen a photo album she knew here mother would love. I hope it’s still in the store when I get there, Miriam though to herself as she skipped down the street.

Can you help me; a small boy pleaded as he pulled on her pink shirt “My balloon got caught in that big old oak tree”? “Sure,” Miriam said as she looked up and saw the blue balloon dangling from a branch. Clenching her teeth and trying not to think about her fear of heights, Miriam climbed the big oak tree and rescued the runaway balloon. As she made her way down the tree she got caught on a branch and heard the jingling of her coins crashing to the ground."Yippee!" The boy said running off with a smile on his face and the balloon in his hand.

Scrambling on the ground trying to collect her coins, Miriam imagined how her mother would react when she opened the present. Her mother had the biggest smile Miriam had ever seen. Sometimes Mommy smiled so long and wide, Miriam could count her front teeth.

As Miriam got closer to the store she told herself she would not stop anymore. Miriam loved looking around the colorful streets, but now all she wanted to do was get to the store.

Miriam was waiting at a red light when she noticed Mr. Miller struggling with his wobbly wagon. She was very tempted to look away. "If I stop again," she thought to herself, the store will close and I’ll have nothing to give Mommy. Her thoughts were interrupted with the sound of shattering glass. Mr. Millers wobbly wagon had given away and all his groceries were scattered on the sidewalk.

Miriam looked around to see if anyone was walking over to help him. Everyone was busy doing their own thing, nobody noticed Mr. Miller. Miriam crossed when the light turned green and headed right for Mr. Miller. She really wanted to walk straight to the store, but her legs led her to his side. “Careful, don’t touch the broken glass,” Mr. Miller said in a weary voice.

Miriam gathered up all the loose fruit and put them back into the bag. Her hands were all sticky from the purple liquid that covered the sidewalk beneath her feet.”
"How are you going to get this all home?" she asked."Taxi! Taxi! "Mr. Miller called waving his hands at a passing yellow cab. "Help me put the bags in the taxi and I’ll be fine." Mr. Miller thanked Miriam for helping and gave her a tissue to wipe her dirty hands.

As she wiped her hands, Miriam raced for the store. A big yellow and black CLOSED sign greeted her as she tried to make her way into the store.Trying very hard to hold back her tears Miriam headed home empty handed.She really wanted to get her mother that pretty purple album with the lacy edges.

When Miriam got home, she heading right to her room. Feeling dirty, tired and very sad she lay on her bed wondering what she would give her mother. As a smile formed in the place of her frown, Miriam leaped off her bed. Taking down her arts and crafts box, she began to feel better. She sat at her desk and began drawing, cutting and gluing.

A little while later Miriam found her mother in the kitchen making dinner. "What do you have there," Mommy asked noticing Miriam holding a stack of purple papers with lacey edges and a pleased smile on her face. “Happy Birthday to you…” Miriam sang in a jolly voice. "It’s your birthday present!"

They both sat at the kitchen table and Miriam gave her mother the homemade book.
Each page had a drawing of Miriam helping people around town. She had made her very own photo album with her day’s adventure.

Mommy placed Miriam on her lap and smiled the widest smile Miriam had ever seen. Sweetie, this is the perfect present.