Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Case Of The Mysteriously Missing Coupons

By Kathleen Ryan


Standing in the entryway beside your sweet two year-old daughter and beautiful teens you successfully dig the keys to the minivan from your oversized handbag as the kid's jump up and down like monkeys in anticipation of a day filled with shopping and fun. You return to digging, but this time in vain. You dig and dig and dig. You know you your coupon stash in her bag, so why can't you find it!

The oldest kid dashes to the minivan in search of the prized coupon folder, whilst you make your way to the office upon vaguely recalling perhaps seeing the coupons beside the computer in the office the last time you did some clothing and fashion shopping online. Your eye immediately focuses in on that stack of files that your husband swore he would organize, but still hasn't. Is that the coupons sticking out from under that stack? You quickly move the stack to its proper place (the trash) and underneath you uncover that women's interest magazine you sister gave you two years ago that you still haven't read. You toss it aside and then like manna from heaven, there it is... that beautiful word "coupons" handwritten ever so carefully onto the envelope. "Woo hoo!"

Back in the kitchen, you proudly entrust this sacred envelope into your daughter's possession and loudly proclaim it's time to do some Burlington Coat Factory shopping. Everyone is ready to rejoice, until your daughter opens the envelope to find it empty save two outdated coupons - you know the ones... that Chuckie Cheese coupon your were looking for but unable to find when trying to plan your son's birthday party and the Edible Arrangements special occasions coupon that you couldn't find when hoping to send Mom some of their yummy fruit truffles.

A lesser person might feel hopeless and give up, but not you! No, because you understand the value of the Internet. "Give me two more minutes and we'll go," you tell the kids as your run back into the office. "Gosh," you think to yourself, "I am so diligent with conserving cash."

Back in the office, you realize the printer is out of ink. Of course it is! Hey, didn't you see a coupon for printer ink in your coupon folder? Oh, the irony. What is that sticky mess that just touched you? You turn to find your daughter's chocolate-smeared hands tugging at your arm Guess who got into the sweets? Looks like all types of chocolate known to human kind drip from her fingers. "Mom, is it time to go? Are we ever going to go?" "Let's go, Mom." "Let's go!" You shirt is ruined. The coupons are nowhere to be found and the printer is out of ink. Aside from quickly scheming up vacation ideas and escaping for a few days, what can you do? Being the good church going Christian family that you are, you look at your silly daughter, smile and announce the the shopping shall commence! And out the door you all go.




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