Her mother was sick in bed, there was no food in the house
So the mother called to her child, daughter we need some food
Please, can you go to the store, here is thirteen cents, buy some cereal
The little girl said mom, here is a drink of water, I'll go buy the cereal

The little girl, she was six years old, first time in a big grocery store
The door, opened like magic, so she stepped inside with thirteen cents
Clutched tightly in her little hand. She looked around, every thing she smelled
Was so new to her, no odor like she was use to at home and she smiled

Then a man walked up to her and asked, can I help you child?
She held out her little hand and opened it up, to show thirteen cents
Mom sent me here, to buy some cereal, but I don't where it is,
Can you help me mister, I have never been here before?

He replied, this is your lucky day child, our thirteenth anniversary
Everything your heart desires, is free today. The little girl did not
Know, what everything is free meant, but she had thirteen cents
Her mom gave her permission to spend it all for cereal

Child, come with me, I'll show how much your mom and I love you
He picked her up, set her in a grocery cart and said,let me show you
What I mean, when I say, everything is free, get ready for the ride of your life
He said, point at what you want, I'll put it in the cart for you, first was the cereal

The little girl looked at the man and said, cereal is all I need, he wiped his eyes
Then he said, listen child, this is the store's thirteenth anniversary and
Everything is free, what about a fully-cooked ham, or a carton of soft drinks?
The child just looked at him and said, I have thirteen cents for cereal

Now, may I pay, I need to walk back home, Mom is waiting for me.
The man said, sure child, I'll take you to the check out stand
Still in the basket she said to the man, thank you sir, this was fun
Mommy will be surprised, my first time to buy food and I did it right

The check out clerk, took her thirteen cets for a box of cereal that cost
$5.95 without tax and put it into a plastic bag and gave it to the child
The man who had met her, asked, may I walk you home? The little girl
Said, I don't know, it may be okay, if you walk behind me, Mommy said, be
Careful

So, the little girl and this man, walked back to her house, as she went in
She turned and said thank you sir, then she closed the door of her home
Next day, a knock was heard at the little girl's door, and when she opened up
The door, there was this same man and two trucks, one full of food

The other was full of furniture, a T.V., even a clown who laughed and played
The little girl, cried Mom, come see who is at the front door. Mom was to
Sick to walk, much less, reach the front door, so grateful for the cereal
She had to stay in bed but, said, child, close the door, be safe

The man that helped the child buy cereal for thirteen cents, owned all the store chain's
Thirteenth year of business when this little girl walked in with thirteen cents
So, the story goes, this little girl got a college education, mom is doing fine all for

Thirteen Cents

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