To be read slowly out loud, as if reminiscing.
Well, I had two weeks vacation comin’,
so I thought I’d drive down to Florida:
spend some time with an old friend,
date a few girls,
make a few parties,
and just kinda live it up again.
So I packed up my car,
and then I called my Mom in Tennesee,
and told her what I planned to do.
She said, “Son, are you comin’ by?”
And I said, “Mom, I’m really pushed for time,
but I’ll see you in a week or two.”
And I was drivin’ through this little town in Georgia
when I remembered:
today’s Mama’s birthday.
Well, I thought, I’ll just stop and
wire some flowers; shouldn’t take too long;
then I’ll be on my way.
So I walked into a flower shop
and the first thing I saw was this little boy,
with his eyes full of tears.
I said, “What’s wrong, son?” He said,
“Mama loves roses. And today’s her birthday,
and I haven’t seen her in almost a year.”
He said, “I live with Grandma now.
But I promised Mama some roses,
’cause I talk to her all the time.
I wanted to give her five,
’cause that’s how old I am.
But the lady said I couldn’t buy ’em with just a dime.”
I looked around, and the little boy was gone.
But all of a sudden the door flew open
and he come runnin’ back in and he said,
“Mister, I forgot to thank you for the roses.”
He smiled, he shook my hand,
and ran back out again.
Well, I started on out of town.
And I was feelin’ real proud of myself
for thinkin’ of my Mama and really carin’,
when I looked out the window
and I saw that same little boy,
kneelin’ by a grave in an old cemetery.
I stopped my car and walked over to where
the little boy was kneelin’ down. And he smiled
up at me and said, “This is where my Mama stays.
She says she sure does thank you
for these pretty roses.”
Well, that’s when I had to walk away.
And I drove straight back to that flower shop
and I said, “Lady,
have you sent those flowers to Tennessee?”
She said, “No, not yet.”
I said, “Well, never mind.
I’ll just take them back with me.”