In Memory of Lena...

Mother sent Lena to the Company Store
With a dime and a very small list
She was told to buy two mouse traps
Pretty soon, she was sorely missed



So Junior trudged to Freeburn after her
And there she was by a gumball machine
It seems they were out of mouse traps
And Lena wanted that gum she'd seen



Getting change from the lady at the counter
Lena now had five pennies and a nickel
If Mother ever found out what she'd done
That little girl would be in a pickle



Junior told her she had better not do it
But stubborn Lena put a penny in the slot
Out came a bright red gumball
Mother's dime had just gone to pot



Lena wanted her brother to have one too
And decided to spend a penny for another
But Junior knew if they wasted that money 
There'd be heck to pay from Mother



They finally got home and there was Lena
Chewing that gum a mile a minute
All the while wailing and squalling
Hiding her hand with the nine cents in it



Mother tried her best to console her
Told her everything would be fine
Lena stopped bawling and finally confessed
"I lost a penny out of that dime!"



Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
August 25, 2008
All Rights Reserved