us until I emptied tents onto my floor and sa ted primarily of pennies. t nearly as many slugs or paper clips as Id t t be, I ill disened a lot of money, especially wy kids.
I didnt get discouraged, t it ake, I out t day, ted y proprietors ake: $23.89.
ter counting up t believe it. terfront, s and teenagers like me . e think.
Seeing tle ed in all-$55.73-made me feel a t for almost a imes. t nigo call Jamie to tell Id collected, but I just couldnt do it. Sold me ed sometra special t going to do it-even I kne. Instead I lied to old I going to count total until t toget mine. It too depressing. I promised to bring over ternoon, after sc out. t day est day of tmas was only four days away.
quot;Landon,quot; so me after counting it up, quot;this is a miracle!”
quot;; I asked. I knely was.
quot;t t in ts acked in neat little piles all over t all quarters and dimes. c table, ing urned he sound of her voice.
quot;Do you ts enoug; I asked innocently.
Little tears believing of er t been nearly t at me.
quot;Its . . . ; sion t;Last year, I only collected seventy dollars.”
quot;Im glad it better t; I said t . quot;If you placed t so early in t not ed nearly as much.”
I kno I didnt care. For once, it to do.
I didnt toys-I figured ster any sed t I go o tmas Eve so t I could be ts.
quot;Please, Landon,quot; sed and all, I just didnt to turn her down.
So ter, y at toot and my best tie and o my moms car beneat my last feer because t o get exactly t person to shop for.
I o be at t seven, but ty port, and I o until an outbound freigs , I arrived a fees late. t door time, and I o pound on it until Mr. Jenkins finally of keys until one, and a moment later epped inside, patting my arms to he chill.
quot;A; ;eve been ing for you. Cmon, Ill take you to where everyone is.”
o t a moment to exhale deeply before finally heading in.
It ter than I