It was a warm and bustling morning in the village when CUTIS woke up to the delicious smell of fried shallots wafting from the kitchen. The sunlight streamed through the bamboo windows, painting golden stripes across the floor. His mom, always up early, was already busy preparing the family’s shopping list.
“CUTIS,” she called, “today you’re going to the market for me. I have too much work here.”
His eyes lit up. He loved the market—it was noisy, colorful, and full of interesting smells. There were stalls selling everything from crispy fried snacks to juicy tropical fruits. Most of all, he loved the challenge of bargaining.
Mom handed him a small cloth bag with money inside. “Here’s 50,000 riel,” she said. “Please buy vegetables, a kilo of pork, and some rice. And CUTIS…” She paused and gave him the look. “This is all the money we have for today’s food. Be careful.”
He nodded earnestly. “Don’t worry, Mom! I’ll be like a ninja with the money.”
A Stroll Through the Market
The market was already alive when CUTIS arrived. Women carried baskets balanced on their heads, men pushed carts full of coconuts, and vendors called out prices in loud, musical voices. He walked through the maze of stalls, holding tightly to the cloth bag in his hand.
First, he bought a bundle of leafy greens from Auntie Srey, who gave him a big smile and threw in some lemongrass for free. Then he headed to the butcher’s stall, where the smell of fresh meat mixed with sizzling fried garlic from the food vendors nearby. After buying the pork, he reached into the bag to double-check his remaining money.
But… his heart stopped.
The bag felt too light. He opened it—empty. Not a single riel inside.
The Panic
CUTIS froze in the middle of the crowded market. His hands began to sweat. He retraced his steps, scanning the ground, the stalls, the people. He even checked inside his shirt pocket in case he had put the money there without thinking. Nothing.
“Maybe I dropped it at Auntie Srey’s stall,” he thought. He ran back, out of breath, but Auntie Srey shook her head sadly. “Sorry, CUTIS, I didn’t see anything.”
His mind raced. What would Mom say? He knew that 50,000 riel was a lot for their small family. Without it, they wouldn’t have enough food for the day. His stomach twisted into knots.
The Walk of Shame
He gathered the vegetables and pork he had already bought and began the slow, heavy walk home. Every step felt like a drumbeat of guilt. “I should have been more careful,” he muttered under his breath. “Why didn’t I check my bag more often?”
When their small wooden house came into view, CUTIS’s legs felt weak. He pushed the door open slowly, expecting to see his mother’s angry face.
Mom’s Unbelievable Reaction
Mom looked up from the table where she was washing some herbs. “You’re back early,” she said with a gentle smile.
CUTIS swallowed hard. “Mom… I—I lost the rest of the money. I don’t know how, but it’s gone. I’m so sorry.” He put the vegetables and pork on the table, his head hanging low.
There was a pause. He braced himself for the scolding. But instead…
Mom chuckled softly. “Is that all?” she said.
CUTIS looked up, confused. “You’re… not mad?”
She wiped her hands on her apron and walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Money is just money, CUTIS. I’m glad you’re safe. People can lose money, but they can’t replace you.”
His eyes widened. “But… we don’t have enough for the rice now. What will we do?”
Mom smiled in that calm, mysterious way she always had. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it work. Sometimes life takes things from us, but it also gives us chances to be creative.”
Making the Best of It
Mom pulled out some cassava roots she had been saving and peeled them. “We’ll have cassava and pork stew today. No rice needed. And tomorrow, we’ll figure out something else.”
CUTIS helped her cut the vegetables, still amazed at her lack of anger. He had been ready for tears, shouting, or at least a lecture—but instead she had turned the problem into a lesson.
“CUTIS,” she said as they worked, “when something bad happens, you can either let it ruin your day or you can turn it into a story. And this will be a funny story one day.”
He grinned shyly. “A funny story about me being careless?”
“A funny story,” she corrected, “about how my son came back from the market poorer in money but richer in wisdom.”
A Surprise Knock at the Door
As they were cooking, there was a knock at the door. It was Uncle Dara from the market, holding a familiar cloth bag. “CUTIS!” he called. “One of the vendors found this on the ground. Is it yours?”
CUTIS’s jaw dropped. “Yes! That’s my money!” He took it eagerly and looked inside—every last riel was there.
Mom laughed so hard she nearly dropped the ladle. “See? Life takes, but life also gives back.”
CUTIS handed the money to her, but she pushed it back. “You keep it. Next time, you’ll be extra careful. Consider it your lesson fund.”
The Lesson That Stuck
They sat down to eat the cassava and pork stew, which turned out to be surprisingly delicious. CUTIS realized that even without the rice, the meal was warm, filling, and made with love.
That night, as he lay in bed, he replayed the day in his mind—the busy market, the sinking feeling of loss, Mom’s calm voice, and the joy of seeing Uncle Dara with the money.
He understood now what his mom meant: problems are temporary, but the way you react to them can change everything.
From then on, whenever he went to the market, he tied the money pouch tightly to his belt and checked it every few minutes. But more importantly, he carried with him the memory of his mom’s unbelievable reaction—a reminder that kindness and calm could turn a disaster into a story worth telling.
Epilogue
Weeks later, CUTIS told the story to his friends at school. They laughed and teased him about “donating to the market floor,” but he laughed along. Because deep down, he knew the day he lost the money was also the day he gained something far more valuable—a little more wisdom, and a whole lot more love for his mom.
And from that day on, every time he heard the clang and chatter of the market, he didn’t just think about bargains and fresh food. He thought about that warm morning, the lost money, and the mother who proved that sometimes, the best reaction is the one no one expects.
