One Money

In the Sunday School class,
five children cluster
around the plywood table.
Finger paint pictures,
smiling Jesus stickers
cover panelled walls.

The plastic offering bowl
moves one to another.
Amy reveals her palm of pennies.
The children gasp at her wealth;
she beams at her mound of pennies,
spills them slowly into the bowl,
batting her eyes at the clanging.

The plastic bowl jingles
as it passes to Andrew.
Holding one yellow loony,
he meets myh eyes and mumbles,
"I only have one money"

It takes all I have
not to laugh
at his shame.