Holy Christ on Crutches..they are charging two tickets for my sorry ass brownies?

Tonight, as I approach the door, Ching is standing there in his tennis whites.  (Did I tell you, he signed up for tennis lessons on Thursday nights?  Well, my Friday night are now free!)
CCW-We forgot an event.  Laurel really wants to go to the book fair.
JCW-(I didn't forget.  I thought we should say no..we should say no!)
CCW--While I have to go, Lisa said she could stay longer if you take Laurel for 30 minutes.
JCW--(I still haven't said a word)  Laurel, let's go..(30 minutes..let's get this over with..)  I hope my mother of the year award has a purple cheesy ribbon on it.

This is another PTO event that Laurel's elementary school is hosting tonight.  A book fair where we pay retail for books (that I could get much cheaper from Scholastic book order) to the PTO and they do what with it? I am not making accusations but where the hell is my money going?  Every time, Laurel and I go to a small school event, there is some sort of gouging.  At the "Back to School Picnic", there were t-shirts and trinkets along with tickets to buy so you could get a dessert.  (Some sad dessert that I donated.  Holy Christ on Crutches..they are charging two tickets for my sorry ass brownies?)    Then there was some sort of holiday activity that I blocked (actually, I think Ching took her).  Laurel and I attended a version of the Suessical.  While Laurel was going to see it for free on a Wednesday morning with her class, she insisted on being seen at opening night.  This was $7 for me and $5 for Laurel.  Cotton candy and t-shirts were also lurking..I rush Laurel by. And then there is freakin' book fair..

While we are on the way,  Laurel and I are negotiating books:
JCW-Two books max..I buy one, you buy one. (Believe me this girl has been squirreling cash.)
LAW-I would like to get two books myself..and could you get one?
JCW-(God damn..why am I negotiating?  I am the boss.  I AM THE BOSS!)

As soon as we get to the fair, Laurel targets a Barbie book.  Oh, freak me..hard.
LAW: Mom..why do you hate Barbie?
JCW:  (Wang family focus..) Laurel, when I was a girl, Barbie wasn't a smart girl.  She hung out at the beach house with Ken.
LAW:  Who is Ken?
JCW:  Her pretty boyfriend.
LAW:  Mom..in this book she is a vet.
I look at the book..This is book is crap and I eye a Fancy Nancy book..so much better.  In the Barbie book, (Barbie) isn't a vet.  She is a pet owner that decides to help the vet.  With the white coat, she helps her friends' pets.  Her friends are named Lacey and Nicki..apparently, she hangs out with strippers.  And then Barbie loses someones kittens?  Yeah, not bright.
JCW:  Barbie isn't a real vet in this book.
LAW: Please..(her eyes are pleading with me.)

If I were stronger, I would have argued my point.  But I don't.  I acquiesce just to get out of this crappy book bound circus.  But it doesn't end there.

LAW:  Mom!  There are used adult books in the library.
JCW:  (Of course my stuff would be used.)
LAW:  I would like to buy you a book.
JCW:  Laurel--that is very kind of you..(but Mommy is reading 50 Shades of Porn (Gray) and trying to avoid the crap parts..the crap parts that interest Daddy more than Mommy.)

We escape without a used book for me.  I have given $17 to the PTO..again, not sure where that goes.  And I go home, knowing that I will have to read this Barbie book four times before bed.  Good thing I bought I bottle of wine prior to meeting Ching at the door.