Graduation party was a great success! All my friends received wonderful presents：a diamond, a watch, or something else special. I was wondering what surprise my family prepared for me.
And when I got home — there was the pink dresser set! The one in Mr. Schiller’s store that I always admired! Mama and Papa smiled at my excitement.
The next morning, I showed my wonderful dresser set to my sister Christine. She looked at me and said, “So you got what you wanted. Guess what Mama exchanged for that. Her silver brooch!”
“What? That’s the only thing her mother left her! If I knew — I would never let her ——.” I started to cry then, and Papa touched my shoulder gently. “Mama wanted you to be happy, more than she wanted the brooch.”
I knew what I must do. And on my way to the store, I thought of how difficult it was for Mama to ask Mr. Schiller to take the brooch as payment.
Mr. Schiller checked the dresser set carefully. Bravely, I asked, if he would give me back the brooch, I would work for him every single day of my summer vacation. It was not so hard as I imagined. He kindly agreed.
I left the store not only with Mama’s brooch but with a job that started tomorrow. I felt very proud. It seemed that the dresser set suddenly became a childish and silly thing.
I pinned the brooch on my dress. I would keep it forever.
