Shopping for groceries

“I cannot believe you snuck that into the cart!” – My little brother’s done it again.

“You could’ve taken it back” – protested my father chuckling, and as usual, not helping much.

“When? At the register? And make a complete fool of myself? No, no, no… this has to stop young man. We cannot afford things that aren’t on the list. If you’d told me sooner I might’ve somehow squeezed it into ‘the others’ section on our list, but not like this… It completely throws off the balance our groceries budget.

“Oh please, honey, it’s only a toy. I’m sure we’ll manage.” – again with a chuckle.

“It’s not only a toy. It’s an expensive toy. By the way, why do you need it anyway? I’m sure I saw the same red car somewhere among that pile of toys you don’t use in your room.”

“I do. I’m sorry. It’s not for me.” – whispered my brother, more to himself, but I heard it.

Dad parked the car and all of us picked up two bags from the trunk. After putting them on the kitchen table I decided to stay there hoping to hear the rest of the conversation.

“So, who is it for then? I heard you back in the car.” – I asked him quietly.

“For a friend.” – he whispered.

“Yes? Which friend?” – Mom was apparently standing behind us.

“David.”

“Who’s David?” – dad joined.

“Honey, I’m sure David’s parents buy him gifts all the time, just as we do… and it’s ok about the car this time, but…”

“And where does this David live? Do we know his parents? When and where did you meet him? Dad was trying to sound calm, but there was a touch of panic in his voice, I could tell.

He told him the address. “What? Sweetie that’s impossible, there are no houses there.”

“He doesn’t live in a house. He’s my age and he lives in an alley. He doesn’t have parents and I met him a week ago when he saw me throwing away my tuna sandwich. He asked if you could have it because he didn’t eat that day.”

“Oh…” – the three of us gasped.

Mother’s eyes were in an instant full of tears. There was a moment of silence and then she exclaimed: “Well go get him!”

Dad was puzzled. “Go and pick that boy up. It’s freezing outside. He’ll dine with us!”

“What? I thought we didn’t have money…” – I was being sarcastic.

“It’s three day before Christmas, we’ll manage. Come on, go you two!” She almost pushed dad and me out. “I’ll make some food.” Before we left the house I saw mom wrapping the toy in a paper. My brother was up in his room. She shouted: “Bring some other toys too! And some of your sweaters!”

Later in the car I told my dad that it’s ok if they don’t get me the cell phone I’ve been begging for for months as Christmas present.

“Well, tough luck, son, ‘cause your mother already bought it.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and the pc game you asked for, too.”

David spent the winter with us. Nothing changed, we still went shopping every Saturday and got the same things as always. How? I guess we managed.