no charge

my sister's little boy came in the kitchen one evening

while she was fixing supper

and he handed her a piece paper he had been writing on

and after wiping her hands on an apron

she took the letter in her hands and read it

and this is what it said: for mowing the yard

five dollars

and for making up my own bed this week

one dollar

for going to the store

fifty cents

and playing with little brother while you went shopping

twenty five cents

taking out the trash

one dollar

and for getting a good report card

five dollars

and for raking the yard

two dollars

total owed

fourteen seventy five

well she looked at him standing there expecting

and a thousand memories began to flash through her mind

so she picked up the pen and she turned the letter over

and this is what she wrote to that little boy: for the 9 months i carried you growing inside of me

no charge

for the nights i sat up with you doctored you and prayed for you

no charge

for the time and tears and the costs through the years

there is no charge

when you add it all

up the real cost of my love is no charge

for the nights filled with dread and the worries ahead

no charge

for the advice and the knowledge and the costs of your college

no charge

for the toys

food

and clothes and for wiping your nose

there's no charge my son

when you add it all the real cost of my love is no charge

after that mom finished talking to that little boy

he looked up at her with grand big ol' tears in his eyes

and he said

mama

i sure do love you

and then he reached out and he got the letter and he turned it over

and he wrote in grand big words: paid in full

when you add it all the real cost of my love is no charge