Teacup Cafe XXIV

[Mari]

No, I was just going to say that I'm off for bed for an hour or so before leaving the house.
So, no more last-minute translation requests from friends, no more solving of absolutely "life-threatening" problems of others till in the middle of the night, no worrying about my own future, NO HOMEWORK... for 8 days!
See you all soon! *hugs everyone within reach and outside it*

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

Bye! Have fun!

[shesabrandybuck]

We'll be thinking about you in the time being!!! enjoy yourself!
*waves goodbye*

[Nautipus]

Bye Mari! I'll take care of Bunicula and Aeran for you.

This'll warm your heart right here:


The necklace

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

'Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?'

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face

'A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.'

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, 'Do you love me?'

'Oh yes, daddy.. You know that I love you.'

'Then give me your pearls.'
'Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite.'

'That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night.' And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, 'Do you love me?'

'Daddy, you know I love you.'

'Then give me your pearls.'
'Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.'

'That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.'

And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.

As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
'What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?'

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, 'Here, daddy; this is for you.'

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

That's so nice!

[tolkienfan]

Nice story Nautipus, hadn't heard that one yet.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Nice? I'd terminate visitation, let alone custody.

Parenting is not about manipulating children by being untruthful with them.

Being God is not about it, either. It's a miserable, untrue, EVIL version of love.

[Earniel]

Amen! Who says a little girl will appreciate real pearls more than the necklace she long wanted and worked for?

[katya]

Yeah, the story makes sense on some levels but... I definitely think the dime store pearls have more value, and the father sounds like the loser boyfriend who says "You'd do ___ if you loved me". I'm not convinced that the girl's action had anything to do with love for her father.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by katya

Yeah, the story makes sense on some levels but... I definitely think the dime store pearls have more value, and the father sounds like the loser boyfriend who says "You'd do ___ if you loved me". I'm not convinced that the girl's action had anything to do with love for her father.

And likely to set her up to be manipulated by such folks. Ooooh! Makes me so mad!

[klatukatt]

Would anyone be up for a Shakespeare Quote game along the lines of DYKT? I would love to moderate it.

You would probably have to do Play, Act, and Scene numbers to make it interesting.]


Edit: Oh what the hey. I'm gonna start it anyway.

[The last sane person]

Wow it looks like people leapt onto that post.

All I was gonna say was: Cute, but debatable.

[klatukatt]

Qua? Whateveres. I'm goin to a party and I"m already drunk. Ah weel. Must meen tonight's gonna be good.

[BeardofPants]

Personally, I woulda thought the dime-store pearls woulda meant more for her than real ones since she worked and saved so hard for 'em. Oh, and the emotional manipulation by 'dad' there's a good way to ensure a ****ed up kid.

[Curufin]

Agree with Sis and BoP.

I'm back in Derry, but not worth much tonight...so tired!

Night, all!

PS...off to read Children of Húrin until I fall asleep...just got it in soft cover at the airport...

[Curufin]

*hugs*

Bye Mari!!! Have fun!!!

She's going on vacation just as I get back.

I'm sitting here eating Belgian chocolate. Soooo good.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by Curufin

*hugs*

Bye Mari!!! Have fun!!!

She's going on vacation just as I get back.

I'm sitting here eating Belgian chocolate. Soooo good.

Sounds like a nice morning.

My whole weekend went in the dumpster last night. I'm mostly just sulking, other than my interesting conversation with you. Thank you.

[Curufin]

I'm sorry to hear that. Care to share? Or not? Either way.

Yeah, that was a good conversation up there. Even if I did kind of call myself a Middle-earth-whore. Ah well.

Why do pictures take so bloody long to upload?

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by Curufin

I'm sorry to hear that. Care to share? Or not? Either way.

Yeah, that was a good conversation up there. Even if I did kind of call myself a Middle-earth-whore. Ah well.

Why do pictures take so bloody long to upload?

My LARP was cancelled. I'm missing the Bat Mitzvah of a dear friend of mine because I was needed to run this LARP, and then it was cancelled, due to fear of rain. @@

I'm bummed. I tried to arrange another activity, but everyone I wanted was already committed. So I should be working, *sigh* Instead, I'm sulking, and thinking covetous thoughts about carbs. at me.

[hectorberlioz]

Give in to the power of carbs...you know you want them, those deliciously wicked and wickedly delicious carbs....