Story By: Andrew Frinkle Jane was at the gift shop near the exit of a

How Much?

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Jane was at the gift shop near the exit of a theme park. She’d spent all day playing, eating snacks, and

drinking sodas. Now, it was time to spend the last of her allowance on a few nice things to take home with

her. If she had money left over, maybe she’d even go ahead and buy something small for her little sister.

Jane  looked  over  the  items  on  the  shelves.  There  were  so

many cute things! There were hats with her favorite characters on

them,  plush  dolls  from  the  coolest  movies,  and  all  sorts  of  pretty

jewelry  items,  too.  Maybe  she’d  get  her  sister  a  pencil  or  a

keychain, but that was only if she had enough money.

She sighed. “There are so many things, but so little money.”

She only had twenty dollars left, which seemed like a lot to

her, but she didn’t see much in the store for less than seven dollars,

and those were small items. What could she get her sister?

There it was. Her sister’s favorite character was a pink lizard with goofy eyes. It was from ‘A Lizard’s

Tail.’ Jane  looked  at  the  price  of  Pokey  the  Pink  Lizard.  It  was  $6.95.  “About  seven  dollars,”  she  said,  “that

gives me thirteen more dollars for myself.”

It didn’t take her long to find two more things she liked, a keychain for $5.95, making about thirteen

dollars, and then a pen set for $6.95, making it twenty. Very pleased with herself, she took her purchases up

to the counter and waited in line. Adults and other children were standing nearby, and she thought they were

a little envious of how well she’d shopped, but maybe she was just imagining things.

When it was her turn, she put the three items on the counter and waited for the cashier, a kindly old

man, to scan the three items in and hit the total button. “That will be $21.04.” The old man announced.

A  strange, sinking  sensation  ran  through  Jane’s  gut.  “Twenty-one  dollars?  I  added,  and it  should  be

twenty.”

“Plus 6% sales tax.” He informed her helpfully.

“But I only have twenty, and…” she pulled a quarter, a few nickels, and a dime from her pocket.

“You’re still sixty-four cents short. Would you like to put back one of your selections?”

Hearing that was like a punch in the face. “No, I want them for twenty dollars.”

The man glanced around the store to see no one else in line and sighed. He dug a pen set out of the

drawer. One pen was missing. “I can give you this pen set for a dollar off. It’s missing one pen.”

“Deal!” Jane said excitedly. It wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly better than not getting the pen set.

“Young lady, always leave a dollar to spare for every ten dollars you spend. It will pay for tax.”

“I’ll  remember  that  in  the  future.  Thank  you,  sir!”  Jane  smiled  and  completed  her  purchase,  and

remembering to pay for tax was not something she forgot.

How Much?

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Use the information in the story to answer the questions below.

1. Where is Jane?

A. at the grocery store

B.) at a gift shop

C. at a zoo

D. at a museum

2. Who all does Jane want to buy something for?

A. only herself

B. herself and her mother

C.) herself and her sister

D. herself and her friend

3. What problem does Jane have at the cash register?

A. She stole something.

B.) She doesn’t have enough money.

C. She lost her money.

D. None of the above

4. Why didn’t Jane have enough money?

A.) She forgot about tax.

B. She forgot to pay for all three items.

C. She added wrong.

D. She has Canadian money, and they want American only.

5. How does the old man help Jane?

A. He lets her steal an item.

B. He gives her an item for free.

C. He helps her choose which item to put back.

D.) He finds a discounted item so she can afford everything