No chargemelba montgomerywriter: harlan howardrecitation:my little boy came into the kitchen this evenin'while i was fixin' supperand he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writin' onand after wipin' my hands on my aproni read it - and this is what it said:for mowin' the yard - five dollarsand for makin' my own bed this week - one dollarand for goin' to the store - fifty centsan' playin' with little brother, while you went shoppin' - twenty-fivecentstakin' out the trash - one dollargettin' a good report card - five dollarsand for rakin' the yard - two dollarstotal owed - fourteen seventy-five.well, i looked at 'im standin' there expectantlyand a thousand mem'ries flashed through my mindso i picked up the pen, turnin' the paper over,this is what i wrote:for nine months i carried yougrowin' inside me - no chargefor the nights i've sat up with you,doctored you, prayed for you - no chargefor the time and the tears.and the cost through the years, there's no chargewhen you add it all up.the full cost of my love is no charge.for the nights filled with dreadand the worries ahead - no chargefor advice and the knowledgeand the cost of your college - no chargefor the toys, food and clothes and for wipin' your nosethere's no charge, sonwhen you add it all up,the full cost of my love, is - no charge.recitation:well, when he finished readin'he had great big old tears in his eyesand he looked up at me and he said,"mama, i sure do love you."then he took the pen,and in great big lettershe wrote: "paid in full."when you add it all upthe cost of real love is - no charge.from: "oldtimer" <oldtimer@dzn.com>