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 it in her hands and read it And this is what it said: For mowing the yard $5 And for making up my own bed this week $1 For going to the store $.50 And playing with little brother while you went shopping $.25 Taking out the trash $1 And for getting a good report card $5 And for raking the yard $2 Total owed $14.75 Well she looked at him standing there and expecting And a thousand memories flashed through her mind So she picked up pen and turned the paper over and this is what she wrote: For the nine months I carried you Holding you inside me no charge For the nights I sat up with 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 full cost of my love is no charge For the nights filled with grey And the worries ahead No charge For the advice and the knowledge And the costs of your college No charge For the toys, school, 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 her little boy He looked up at her great big o' tear in his eyes And he said "Mama, I sure do love you" And then reached out he got the letter and turned it over and he wrote in great big words Paid in full When you add it all up The real cost of my love is no charge