The Year Money Grew on Trees - Aaron Hawkins [73]
In the evening the traffic pattern had completely switched, and Amy's side of the road was swamped while Lisa sat around nervously. She insisted that we load all the remaining boxes of apples onto the wagon and park it on the other side of the highway, about one hundred feet from Amy.
The final boxes and bags were sold in a blur of activity as a seemingly endless stream of cars and trucks moved toward Shiprock. Right around 7:00 p.m., Sam carried the last full box to a waiting pickup and it was over.
"We're all out!" Amy shouted to cars that kept pulling off the road. "You have to wait till next year."
"Michael, pull down that sign so people don't stop anymore," I yelled to him.
We yanked up the pup tent, threw everything onto the wagon, and forced the tractor through the traffic and across the highway toward home. Lisa grabbed Amy's jar of money and went into her room and shut the door. Everyone else stood outside pacing around and talking nervously. I bit my lip and stared at my feet, hardly daring to think about what was going on behind the door.
Lisa reappeared after about half an hour. "I'm done counting; everyone can come in," she said, trying to sound very important. We all squeezed into her room, and I sat on her bed next to Amy. Lisa had lined up at least a dozen jars full of money on her floor. She held up a spiral notebook, where she had kept track of numbers and dates.
"Okay, I first want to announce today's results. My team had a total of $116 more than Amy's," she said, with a proud grin.
"What are you talking about?" asked Amy, who sounded annoyed. "I didn't even know you were keeping track of that. Your side of the road was better, anyway."
"Okay, okay, let's not argue about that," I said, laughing uncomfortably. "We were all helping each other, so I don't think it matters. What we care most about are the totals."
Lisa flipped a page in her book very officially. "Today was by far our biggest day," she began.
"We know, we know! Just tell us the numbers," said Michael impatiently.
"Today's total was $3,518," she barked out.
Everyone's eyes opened wide in appreciation.
"And the grand total?" I asked.
"We made $9,180. Plus thirty cents."
I had a feeling I would remember that number for the rest of my life. Everyone looked at each other as if a rocket had just gone off.
"We're so rich!" yelled Michael.
"Now we just have to figure out all our shares," said Lisa excitedly.
I didn't say anything to interrupt their celebration, and I kept the same wide smile on my face. I looked over at Amy. She was smiling happily, too, but in her eyes I could see a look that said, "I'm glad it's you who has to tell them and not me."
Chapter 17
Bags of Cash and Secret Envelopes
The celebration in Lisa's room continued for another hour or so. By the end, nearly everyone was delirious from a combination of newfound riches and physical exhaustion. Michael had decided we should all pool our money and buy a boat that we could go up and down the river on. None of the girls seemed interested in this idea, so he spent most of the time trying to convince Sam and me how fun it would be.
At the same time, Lisa was making plans to use all the money to build a snow-cone stand up at the road. "We could really clean up. This apple money is nothing compared to snow cones," she kept saying.
I let them talk themselves out before I spoke up. "Before we can spend anything, though, I need to pay off our bills and give Mrs. Nelson her part," I said to disappointed faces.
"Why don't you do it now?" asked Michael.
"I want to go to the bank and trade in some of these smaller bills," I said. I also wanted someone else to count it all, but I didn't dare tell Lisa that. "I've got to try and convince Mom to take me when they're open."
"Jennifer and I can help you ask her," Lisa volunteered.
"Okay, but I think we better keep this all to ourselves until everything is settled. Don't even tell our parents how much we made," I said, trying to sound very secretive.
"Good idea," agreed Michael in a loud whisper. "They might try