Grocery Money

She kept the twenties folded up
Behind her favorite picture of her and her daddy and her brother
Grand Canyon nineteen-something-or-other, and the sun was going down
And they were standing with their backs to the world
Tuesday afternoons she’d pick me up from school
Big yellow Buick, and we’d do all the things moms and daughters do
Couple of dresses, brand new pair of shoes
She could never say no to her baby girl
We’d empty the cart one piece at a time
While the milk and the bread and the corn made the register chime
She’d stand there so confident and sunny
While I prayed we had enough grocery money
There was pan steak and peas at least once a week
She always grabbed a couple cans of Campbell’s soup for me
Chef Boyardee in a box and soda for the scotch
To keep our daddy’s disposition good
He worried more than a daddy should
Emptied the cart one piece at a time
While the milk and the bread and the corn made the register chime
She’d stand there so confident and sunny
While I prayed we had enough grocery money
And I never thought twice
About her sacrifice
One afternoon a week she’d spend her afternoon on me
And I got anything I wanted
And we’d hide it in my closet
We’d empty the cart one piece at a time
While that milk and the bread and corn made the register chime
And she’d stand there so confident and sunny
And she’d look down and smile, and call me honey
While I prayed we had enough grocery money