It Pays To Double-Check

(I am ten years old and see my mom frantically searching through some papers for something.)

Me: “What are you looking for, Mom?”

Mom: “I left a check here for the bank and now it’s gone! Where is it?” *looks accusingly at me* “YOU took it!”

Me: “What are you talking about? I didn’t see a check anywhere.”

Mom: “You took it! You took it!”

Me: “No, I didn’t!”

Mom: “Go look in your room for it! I need it!”

(I go and pretend to look in my room, since I know I didn’t take any check. I find a book to read and read it, and go about my business. The next day, we are sitting, eating dinner.)

Me: “Mom, did you find that check you lost?”

Mom: “What check?”

Me: “The one you were looking for and accused me of taking.”

Mom: “Oh, that check. Yeah, I uh, found it. It was in my uh, car.”

Me: “See? I didn’t take it. You should say, ‘I’m sorry for accusing you of taking it’ to me!”

Mom: “Why should I apologize? I found it. Eat your dinner; it’ll get cold.”