The Gum on the Shelf

Ages 9-12

Mindy has three dollars from her father, and the milk costs two forty.

She has said it over the whole way, down the hill and across the road and past the dog that barks behind the fence. Two forty. She has three.

In the shop she takes a small carton from the fridge, and carries it to the counter in both hands. On the way she passes the shelf by the register, and takes a packet of gum, the green kind, and puts it down beside the milk.

The woman rings up the milk, and then the gum, and says the total.

Mindy looks at her three dollars. She looks at the gum. She does not have it.

She slides the gum back across the counter, with one finger, as far as the edge. She keeps her eyes on the milk.

The woman picks it up and puts it back on the shelf, and does not look up.

Mindy pays, and holds out her hand for the change, and gets sixty cents. She puts it in her pocket and takes the carton. At the door she turns. The gum is on the shelf, with the green edge sticking out.

She goes out.