Tess was a precocious eight years old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother Andrew.  All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money.  They were movig to an apartmen complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor bills and the house.  Only a very costly surgery would save him now and it was looking like there was noone to lon them the money.  She heard Daddy say to her tearful mother with wispered desperation, "Only a miricle can save him now."

     Tess went to her bedroom and pulled down a glass jelly jar from it's hiding place in the closet.  She poured all of the change onto the floor and counted it carefully.  Three times even, the total had to be exactly perfect.  No chance for mistakes.  Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexal's drg store with the big red indian chief sign above the door.

     She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too intently talking to another man to be bothered by an eight year old at this moment.  Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffling noise, nothing.  She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster, no good.  Finally she took a quarter rom her jar and banged it on the glass counter, that did it.

     "And what do you want?", the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.  "I'm talking with my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he saidwithout waiting for a reply to his question.  "Well, I want to talk abot my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone.  "He's realy, realy sick...and I want to buy a miricle."  "I beg your pardon?" the pharmacist asked.  "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing in his head and my Daddy says only a miracle ca save him now so how much does a miracle cost?"  "We don't sell miracles here, little girl.  I'm sorry but I can't help you." the pharmacist said, softening a little.  "Listen, I have the money to pay for it.  If it isn't enough then I'll get the rest.  Just tell me how much it costs." she replied.

     The pharmacists brother was a well dressed man.  He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of miracle does your brother need?"  "I don't know," she replied with tear welling up in her eyes.  "I just know he's realy sick and Mommy says he needs an operation.  But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."  "How much do you have?" he asked.  "One dollar and eleven cents," Tessanswered barely audibly. "and it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."  "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man, "a dollar and eleven cents is the exact price for a miracle for a little brother."

     He took her money with one hand and grasped her hand.  "Take me to your house, I want to see your little brother and meet your parents," he said.  "let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."

     The well dressed man was Doctor Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery.  The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long util Andrew was home again and doing well.  Mom and Dad were happily talking about he chain of events that had led them to this place.  "That surgery," Tess' Mom wispered, "was a real miracle.  I wonder hw much t would have cost?"

     Tess smiled, she knew exactly how much a miracle cost.  One dollar and eleven cents.......plus the faith of a child!