Payback on Poplar Lane by Margaret Mincks

Author:Margaret Mincks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2018-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

16

Rachel

I emptied my turtle change purse onto the kitchen table.

Thirty-two dollars and fifty cents. An eight dollar and fifty cent profit on my very first day as a professional businesswoman!

There was just one problem. All my pyrite was gone.

I checked my satchel clock. 4:01 p.m. The Children’s Museum closed in fifty-nine minutes.

I grabbed my money and sprinted faster than I ever did in gym class. While I ran, I did some math in my head (Janet March called that “multitasking”). I could still afford only eight pieces of pyrite, but it was better than nothing.

On the way back home, I remembered my promise to Clover to split the profits. But you have to spend money to make money. From what I’ve read, that’s how business works. She would understand.

—

“Join the track team, Scoots?” Dad asked as I came into the kitchen, huffing and puffing. “That’s great! Experts recommend team sports for socialization.”

“Nope,” I said. “Business is hard work. And good exercise.”

After Dad and I ate chicken Parmesan penne and cleaned up the kitchen, the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find a leprechaun on my front porch.

“Hi, Puppet!” Daniel Gronkowski said. “Special delivery from Peter!” He handed me a folded piece of paper. The words CEASE AND DESIST glared at me, in red marker.

“What’s this?” I asked.

Daniel shrugged. “I can’t read.”

“Where’s Peter?” I asked.

“Asleep.”

It wasn’t even dark yet. If I could raise an eyebrow, I would have.

I opened the letter: “Notice of violation. You are violating a neighborhood code by pouring glitter on sidewalks.”

Neighborhood code?

“Real doctors have shown that glitter causes allergies. Therefore, you’re a threat to public health. We strongly urge you to cease and desist El Dorado (A 4-D Interactive Experience), effective today.”

“Cease” means stop. On the second day of fourth grade, Ms. Ryan put a CEASE THE CHATTER sign up in our classroom. She pointed to it when she wanted kids to stop talking (usually Clover). I wasn’t sure about desist, but I could put it together well enough. Peter wanted me to shut down El Dorado.

There was more: “By sending this friendly notice, my client, Peter Gronkowski (Founder, CEO, CFO, COO, Entrepreneur, Innovator, Emperor) hopes he won’t have to sue you. Best, Diana Sharpe-Gronkowski, JD.” A 10 percent off coupon for any Peter Presents, Inc., Rocks Rock! purchase was stapled to the bottom of the page. It was expired.

This was no “friendly notice.” This was a threat.

I felt leprechaun eyes watching me closely.

“Thanks,” I told Daniel. Dad says you shouldn’t shoot the messenger because it’s not their fault.

“Okay,” Daniel said. “Bye, Puppet!”

I shut the door, searching the letter for clues. Would Peter’s mom actually sue me if I kept El Dorado open? I pictured myself in handcuffs, and Mrs. Gronkowski standing before a judge, screaming, “She poured glitter, your honor!”

No, I decided as I marched into the kitchen. Did Peter think I was that big of an idiot? Didn’t Mrs. Gronkowski have better things to do, like put murderers in prison?

Peter sent a four-year-old to do his dirty work.

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