The Married Life of Chad and Meg

Funny Money

Summary: Chad wants to buy his mother a music box for her birthday.

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"I'll see you soon, ladies. I'm off to buy a present for my mother" said Chad.

"Grandma!" said Kristen and Idina.

"I saved as much money as I could" said Chad.

"What are you gonna buy her?" said Meg curiously.

"I'm gonna buy her a music box with skating ballerinas on top" said Chad.

"Ooh!" Kristen and Idina squealed.

"Yeah, I'm told it's beautiful. Would anyone like to come along?" said Chad.

"Me! Me!" Kristen squealed as she hopped to her father's side.

Chad laughed and said "Alright, Kristen. Would you like to come for the ride, Idina?" said Chad.

"No" said Idina.

Chad and Kristen drove to town and stopped at a gift shop owned by Chad's good friend Cathy Lane.

When they got there, Chad picked Kristen up so she could see the music box on display.

"That's the music box I want to give Grandma for her birthday. Do you like it, Kristen dear?" said Chad.

Kristen nodded and stared at the beautiful ballerinas on the music box.

Then as soon as she was put down, she tugged on Chad's jacket to get his attention.

"Thirsty" said Kristen.

"Well... alright. You can buy a drink. But make it small; I don't have much money. I'll wait for you right here" said Chad.

Kristen took her father's wallet and walked into a candy store owned by Cathy Lane's cousin, Patty Lane. 

"Well, hi-ya, Kristen!" said Patty.

"Patty!" Kristen squealed.

Then she went to a shelf and found a set vampire teeth with red liquid in it.

"Well! I see you noticed our selection of vampire teeth with oozing cherry syrup inside. They're only two dollars" said Patty.

Kristen paid and stuck the vampire teeth in her mouth. She drank some of the cherry syrup, but got some on her clothes. 

Not knowing what she did to her clothes, Kristen went back to where Chad was with the teeth still in her mouth.

"Well, you bought something small, but I was not expecting the juice on your clothes" said Chad.

Kristen shamefully removed the vampire teeth from her mouth and hung her head.

"That's alright, sweet. You didn't spend too much money, at least. But we may need to clean you up so Cathy doesn't think you ate someone" said Chad.

He was about to turn around, but then he turned back and made a joke by saying "You didn't, did you?"

Kristen laughed at her father's words then followed him to a nearby laundromat.

She watched the dryers spin while Chad did the paying.

"That's one dollar for the soap... one dollar for the washer... and one dollar for the dryer. Oh, dear. Money down the drain, Kristen" Chad sighed.

As soon as Kristen's little dress was cleaned up, she could wear it outside again.

"Now we better get back to Cathy's gift shop before I run out of money" said Chad.

Kristen ran towards a diner and said "Hungry!"

Chad looked at his watch unsurely.

"It is lunchtime... Okay, Kristen. But just a quick snack" he said.

Kristen had lunch in the diner. Chad didn't eat as he wasn't that hungry.

"One peanut butter sandwich, two coconut cupcakes and a banana shake cost four dollars, Kristen. We are going straight back to Cathy's gift shop without spending another penny" said Chad strictly. 

Kristen nodded and they did get to the gift shop.

"Hello, Chad. Hello, Kristen. What can I do for you?" said Cathy.

"I'd like to buy the music box with skating ballerinas for my mother, Cathy" said Chad.

"What a lovely present" said Cathy.

She gave Chad the music box saying "It's a hundred dollars".

"A hundred dollars?" said Chad.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. The ice skates are made with real gold. A fancy trinket like this is always made expensive" said Cathy.

"Oh dear. I only have five dollars left" said Chad.

"Five dollars... Hmm. Here's an idea. Singing bluebird earrings are on sale for four dollars. Gift wrap is free" said Cathy.

"God bless you, Cathy" Chad sighed in relief.

Kristen paid while her father picked out the wrapping paper.

"Four dollars for the earrings... one dollar change. You take care of this dollar, Kristen. Don't spend it all in one place" said Cathy.

Kristen went back to Patty's candy store and found a green set of vampire teeth with no syrup.

"Hello again, Kristen. I see you found our glow in the dark vampire teeth" said Patty.

"Grandma" said Kristen.

"Good choice! Most people like glow in the dark vampire teeth much better than the oozing cherry kind. And glow in the dark vampire teeth are half price. Only one dollar" said Patty.

Kristen paid with the dollar change and left.

She found Chad by his car when she got outside.

"There you are, Kristen. Where's my one dollar change?" said Chad.

"Grandma" said Kristen showing her vampire teeth.

"Oh, blimey, Kristen. You spent our last dollar. I suppose, we don't need to pay to drive home" said Chad.

The two drove back home where Chad's mother, Alice Chadwick opened her gifts.

"I'm so glad you like your presents, Mother" said Chad.

"Oh, I just love my singing bluebird earrings and my glow in the dark vampire teeth" said Alice.