Henry's antics #143

Henry currently has a fascination with money. He is always counting it, passing it out to people and then promptly telling me I need to give him more. So when we arrived at Top Foods yesterday, I was dismayed to find out two things: 1) he managed to bring in his wallet, which is something that I try to avoid at all costs. It doesn't have a place for coins, so he just tucks his many pennies into the dollar bill section which is always a disaster. And 2) he announced to me that he'd like to buy something because: "I have a LOT of money, mommy." I was in a fairly patient mood, and the kids had been good, so I told them they could both pick something from the candy bins. Havah picked 5 candy corn pumpkins, then went back to quietly reading her book. Henry picked 3 large gumballs and after some discussion that, no, he doesn't get to eat them now, we have to buy them first, got back into the car (shopping cart) clutching the little bag of gum.


When we get up to the registers (note: a long line of people immediately forms behind us) Henry starts arguing with me about when he should put up his precious bag of gum. Again, I'm trying to be patient today, so I begin unloading the rest of the stuff and decide that I'll pay for everything else first and then Henry can have his own transaction. This is where everything starts to go downhill. Henry is sitting quietly in the car shopping cart when suddenly ALL his pennies fall out of his wallet, through the open floor of the car and onto the floor (beneath the cart and every which way) With a yell, he gets out and goes in front of the car, lays down flat on his tummy trying to get all his pennies, one by one with his little fingers. Meanwhile, I still haven't paid for all my groceries because I can't scoot up to the debit machine due to Henry's position on the floor. Not to mention how darn long the cart/car is, so there is no way I can reach the machine from where I am standing. The cashier is impatiently waiting and the line is getting longer behind me. (In case you're wondering, Havah is still reading her book oblivious to everything else.) I'm quietly trying to hurry Henry along which only causes him to yell: "I AM HURRYING!" Finally, he gets his pennies, I scoot forward, pay for my groceries and then we begin Henry's transaction. The cashier tells us that the total for the 3 gumballs is 20 cents. I tell Henry the total and together we begin counting his money. One problem. He only has 16 cents. I tell him that he needs 4 more pennies and I will help him out. I do. It's done. We take another step away from the cash register and Henry loudly points back at the cashier and loudly yells, "He took all my money! It's HIS fault that I don't have anymore money!" At this very moment, Havah, who has put down her book and decides to join in the conversation says to me: "mom, the cashier guy asked you how you are doing today, and you didn't answer him. That wasn't very polite of you." "Sigh..."