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A Gift for My Mother

In: English and Literature

Submitted By emil010n
Words 966
Pages 4
It is not to be had for love or money

It is common to say that money is not everything, but for the 10 year-old Lucy from Viv McDade’s short story “A Gift for My Mother” money causes her parents’ unhappiness, and they mean everything to her. Lucy lives in South Africa with her mom and dad who she really values. Lucy is constantly a witness to her parents’ financial discussions, which the short story underlines from the first page: “How much is there this week?” asked my mother, and she gave a little laugh. “As much as I’ve earned, that’s how much.” “What you’ve earned isn’t enough for us to live on.” (p. 1, ll. 31-34) They manage just to scratch a living, and it affects their marriage so they only dare to tiptoe around each other: “He took a deep breath...” and “My mother’s voice was tired and small when she answered him.” (p. 1, ll. 28-29) It seems as an old topic of discussion which has followed them for many years and slowly ruins their marriage. Lucy is just like other children: She wants the best for her parents, and she will do anything to make them happy. One day Lucy finds out that her mother turns happy when she receives a bunch of flowers, so Lucy conceives the idea of collecting some wild flowers so she can earn money to give to her mother. Lucy describes every flower she picks in details, and the wild flowers underlines her innocence and unspoiled mind. Lucy finds a wooden peach box where she puts tins of water and collects different kinds of daisies. Afterwards, she divides them into ten bunches and begins to sell the flowers in the vicinity. It goes very well. She ends up with four shillings and sixpence, and Lucy cannot wait to show her mother. She dresses up nicely and picks up her mother at the bus stop, but her mother is not impressed with Lucy’s business. Lucy’s mother is too proud to accept help so she forces Lucy to return all of the

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