The Day the Coins Slept

Mia's grandpa keeps a small box of coins in his kitchen.

Every morning, he puts a few coins on the table for bread and milk.

One cold Monday, the shop near his house stops taking cash.

A young worker points to a sign: "Card or phone only." Grandpa looks at his coins and feels strange.

Mia takes out her phone and pays for his bread in two seconds.

"See?

It's easy," she says.

But Grandpa misses the sound of coins in his hand.

That night, Mia draws a picture of a coin with a smiling face for him.

"The coins can sleep now," she says.

Grandpa laughs and puts the box on the shelf.