My Brownie

One fine day, this past summer, my friend Dominique asked me if I would like to be a co-leader with her for a Girl Scout Troop. "Sure" I said. I'm always game to take up a new activity that costs money, time and lots of volunteer work.

We had a slow start rounding up interested parties, but boy did we take off as a troop during Girl Scout Cookie season. Cookie sales are not my forte. Selling anything is not my forte. I like to buy. I love to buy. But selling....ugh.

At first, I listed my goal for selling cookies as 5 boxes. "5 boxes!" My friend Monica stared at me in surprise. "Yes. 5 boxes is a fine goal. You know, that's 5 boxes for each girl." (Celeste is a Brownie and Emme is a Daisy.)

"Monica,", says my friend Monica W. "Surely you can sell more than 10 boxes. Everyone loves to buy Girl Scout cookies. They practically sell themselves. I set my goal for 100 boxes."

"Yes, well," I reply. "I like to set my sights low so that I when I pass my goal, I feel good about myself."

Monica, the psychologist by trade, raises her eyebrow at me.

"Fine. I say. 50 boxes."

The next day, I get a call from Dominique. "We've already sold 200 boxes, and we've just begun!" Nice.

Michelle sends me an email. "Wow. I sold 100 boxes at work today. The first day!"

hmmm

Bruce took our order form to work. But guess what? One of his co-workers jumped the gun and took his daughter's form to work the week before the sale even started. (whine). He sold 100 boxes.

"Give me his troop number. I'm reporting him." I growl.
"There is no way I'm going to hunt him down to get the troop number so that you can report him." Bruce laughs at me. bwahahaha rings in my brain.

Celeste, who is listening in, says, "Mom, let me sell the cookies at school."

"Oh boy" I think. All of her classmates are Brownies. One has cornered the market already. She is in for disappointment. Ignoring my protective instinct, I say "Okay, Celeste, I'll put a form in your backpack to take."

She came home with 20 orders.
*
This Sunday afternoon, my Celeste, my shy, darling little daughter tells me, "Mom, let's go sell Girl Scout cookies. Now." I groan inwardly. "But I've already changed my clothes. Go ask Dad."
"No way." Says Bruce.
"Mom, all you have to do is put on some jeans. You'll be fine."

I put on some jeans and off we went.
We spent two hours in our neighborhood. Celeste would walk up to each door and bravely ring the doorbell. "Hello" she would say in her delicate little voice. "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies?"

My neighbors were no pushovers.
As I watched with anxiety, I heard:

Neighbor: "How much per box?"
Celeste: "One package for 4 dollars".

Neighbor: "When are you going to deliver them?"
Celeste: "I will be back with your cookies March 1st."

Neighbor: "Do you want me to pay now?"
Celeste: "You can pay now or when I deliver your cookies."

My steel magnolia.
I had not coached her on what to say. I had not pushed her. I was ready to go home after 3 houses, but she didn't want to stop. Steadily she went on, politely offering her cookies, answering questions and admiring pets. I am filled with admiration for her.

This tiny little kid sold 54 boxes today. All on her own with me simply there as her adult escort.

This is what Girl Scouting is all about. Courage, Confidence and Character. I had the privilege of watching it in action right before my very eyes.

I learned a lot today.

Emme who had accompanied us, looked up at me with those huge hazel eyes. "When I'm a Brownie, can I sell Cookies door to door too?"

Knowing it's not so bad, and even something to look forward to next year, I answer,
"Of course my love!"