Nine weeks of above and beyond effort it took him; then, “it took all of my money, but it was worth it because you look like a princess”.

 

His third grade teacher issued all a check book in which the children received credit for perfect work, polite behavior, and good citizenship. Poor work, rudeness and a lack of caring was costly. At the end of every grading period (9 weeks) they took their money to auction. They perused a variety of donated items and the bidding began.

 

There it was this opulent necklace fit for the queen. It had 10, one was missing, large pear shaped yellow stones and a single diamond (or so he thought). He imagined this stunning piece draped elegantly around his queen’s neck. He waited, being tempted by nothing, focused and driven – he had to have it. Finally the moment came; he began to worry that he would not reach his goal. The bidding began and was fierce, yet victory was his.

 

He raced home and could not wait, he clasped it around her neck and as he stood looking at her and she at him – it was a hallmark moment. The look on his face was priceless – he was standing before the queen of all queens – his mother. The silence was broken by his words, “it took all of my money, but it was worth it because you look like a princess.”

 

Years later he returned home from school, his gift lay on the kitchen counter. She asked, “do you remember this?’ He dropped his head and responded with a soft, “yes”. As he looked up his flushed cheeks showed his embracement as he said, “I know it is not real”. And as she opened a new box to reveal a new duplicate necklace she whispered, “No but this one is.” “Wow, you made it real!” he was amazed and delighted.

 

A 14k yellow gold replica lay in the box. The yellow stone were now Natural purplish blue Iolite (historically nicknamed – poor man’s sapphire); the diamond, want to be, was now a Natural White Sapphire. Why poor man’s sapphires? His birthstone is sapphire.

 

May 26, 2006 the day he graduated from High School their private moment was revisited when with diploma in hand, now standing taller than her, he hugged her and whispered, “Thanks Mom, I could not have done it without you... And, by the way, my necklace looks good on you.”