A Porch & A Pen is where Laura Lea Cupp writes plainspoken, porch-tested stories about healing, humor, and small-town survival—mess and magic included.

26 Cents and a Broken Blade

I carry a pajama pocket.

Not a metaphor. Not a memory. A real, tiny square of soft fabric snipped from my Momma’s pajamas, stitched into a makeshift pouch that holds two coins: a penny and a quarter. They came from her wallet, and they carry a song.

“26 Cents,” by the Wilkinsons. A penny for your thoughts, a quarter for the call, and all of your Momma’s love. That’s what the song says. We sang it together, and now I carry it with me—always. The coins aren’t just currency. They’re communion. They’re a promise that I’m never too far gone to be reached, never too far away to be loved.

And then there’s my Daddy’s pocketknife.

One blade’s broken. The tip’s gone, evidence of a plan that didn’t quite work out. But it’s still his. Still mine. Still strong. I carry it because it reminds me that broken doesn’t mean useless. That worn doesn’t mean weak. That love, like steel, can be dulled by time but never destroyed.

These are the things I carry. Not for show. Not for survival. But for the soul.

We all carry something. A photo. A phrase. A scar. A scent. A song. The trick is to know what’s worth the weight. For me, it’s a pajama pocket and a busted blade. It’s Momma’s love and Daddy’s grit.

Article From A Porch & A Pen

Blog By Laura Lea Cupp

A Porch & A Pen is Laura Lea Cupp’s blog—a plainspoken, porch-tested space where she writes about small-town survival, emotional grit, and the sacred mess of healing.

Laura Lea Cupp is a writer and blogger from London, Kentucky, whose work blends porch-tested humor, emotional grit, and small-town survival. She shares stories rooted in healing, family, and the sacred mess of everyday life—often with her husband Berry by her side and a busted blade or pajama pocket in tow. Her blog, A Porch & A Pen, is a living archive of resilience, tenderness, and truth told plain.

All images & text © Laura Lea Cupp

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