I had just put on eye shadow and was reaching for the mascara
when my 9yr. old daughter came home from school. She said
she had a letter from her teacher for her dad and me. “Oh, okay,”
I thought, unfolded the lined notebook paper, and read aloud.

*Mr. and Mrs. Moen,

One of the students in my
class recently lost her mother’s
gold earrings. Mariah found
these earrings and returned
them.*

I smiled. She was a good girl, had done the right thing.
Sometimes, she brought ‘things’ home she said
she had found or were given to her by her classmates.

*The girl’s mother asked me
to give Mariah a ten dollar
reward for being honest. I
gave her the money this
morning.*

Another smile. She would be eager to travel the hour
to the Wal-Mart in Safford to spend her money,
probably on doll clothes. She loved her dolls.

*In class today, we talked
about St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
and why they sponsor the
Math-a-thon. Following our
discussion, Mariah donated her
ten dollars to the Math-a-thon.*

I felt the poignant piercing of my heart flow
to prickle my eyes, causing me to catch my breath.
As the words warmly blurred, I glanced
at my shining daughter, and almost sobbed.
Quickly, I finished the letter.

*You have an AWESOME
daughter. I’m so glad that
she’s been in my class this year.

Thank you,
M. Arrington*

She smiled delightedly and went to find a snack,
leaving me filled with tenderized emotions. I had
asked her what her classmates had thought
of her giving her money up to help St. Jude’s kids.
As she had turned away, she said, “I gave it to her
after the kids went out to recess, Mom.”

I have an AWESOME daughter…

The overflow of tears slid proudly down my cheeks.
Luckily, I hadn’t put my mascara on yet.

Erin Elizabeth Kelly-Moen
© Copyright 5/17/04