“I would like to buy this,” Kiera said as she laid a measuring cup down on the table in front of me.
“You would? Well, we have one of these at home.” I replied. “Go put it back, please.”
She grinned and took the measuring cup back to the box of kitchen items that was sitting on the carport floor. It was Saturday and Aaron, Kiera and I were helping his family with an estate sale in Bangs. Actually, Aaron and I worked while Kiera randomly found things that she wanted to “buy.”
I was lucky enough to play the part of the cashier at the sale. After waiting on a few people, Kiera made another appearance. This time she slid a basting brush on the table in front of me. “Look, a paint brush! I want to buy this.”
“Oooh…we actually do need one of these, but it’s not a paint brush.” I gently corrected. “I will buy this. Have Sissy put it with the not for sale pile, please.”
Happy that I had liked her “treasure,” Kiera took off in search of her sister.
We stayed steady for a while and I would often see Kiera looking over a customer’s shoulder as they peered in boxes. As we begin to slow down, Kiera approached my table. This time she had found a music box in the shape of a grand piano. It was a little dusty and dirty but she turned the knob and the music began to play beautifully.
“I want to buy this.” She stated. “It’s three.”
I glanced down at the music box to see that it did indeed have a $3 sticker on it. I decided that I would get it for her. Before I could tell her to take it to the not for sale pile, she piped up and said, “Here’s my three.”
She held her hand out, palm up, holding her imaginary money. I grinned at her silliness and thanked her for her purchase.
“You have to give me change.” She declared, holding her hand out.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I laughed. I didn’t bother correcting her that if she had in fact, given me $3, she wouldn’t have received change back. I reached in my pocket and pulled out her pretend change. “Here you go.”
She looked at my hand and back to my face. “No. You have to give me REAL money.”
Laughing, I managed to respond “I’m not giving you real change for your pretend money!”
At this point, I am not sure if this was an innocent act from a four-year old princess who doesn’t grasp the concept of money or the act of larceny from a budding four-year old con artist. Let’s go with the first one.
Either way, shopping with her when she gets older should be a treat.
