Living from paycheck to paycheck is a fine way to live (I guess) until one of your paychecks falls through because the lady who is supposed to sign it went out of town. And then some of the kids you are supposed to be nannying get the stomach flu... So, I've been scrounging around for ways to put gas in the car so I can go to work in Ann Arbor. On Thursday, I had a little adventure.
I babysat John Garrett (who's parents are letting me pay for the van they let me use by babysitting for them for free). While he watched the Labyrinth in Erinn and my living room, I remembered the bottles and cans from the Christmas party that were bagged and in the basement. After the movie, I loaded John and the deposit-fest into the van and headed over to the Value-Plus grocery store where I knew there was a deposit despenser...
I did not think about it much. I didn't take into account that John has my coloring and therefore looks like my son. I didn't think about the fact that I would be entering a grocery store with a cart full of beer bottles, a four year old (who looks six), and no wedding ring. It didn't cross my mind that I would be going in there with bottles and a "son" and coming out with cold cash. It all just never crossed my mind until I got there.
While we were throwing the cans in the despenser (and taking joy at the crunch sound they make), an elderly gentleman parked his walker by the shopping carts to get a closer look so that he could display his obvious disapproval. I got tons of looks from other people and then wondered if this is what being a young single mother would be all about... Though I guess the beer cans were 60% of the reactions. We had to wait in line to get the slips cashed from the cashier. She gave me an amused look. On the way out John asked why we didn't get any food. "Because I need money for gas." He, also, glowered at me in disapproval. I never felt so poor in my life.
I couldn't help but be thankful that I'm no single mother. And wonder if this is the kind of mother I'd be...
