Flat Broke by Gary Paulsen

Author:Gary Paulsen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-07-11T21:00:00+00:00

7

The Successful Person Knows When to Revise and Expand His Plans Quickly

Later on Saturday, after I’d scrubbed my filthy skin raw to remove the grit of a thousand cumulative years of dust and crud, we had a family dinner.

Luckily, my parents had both been working really hard and it was a fast dinner of turkey tetrazzini from the freezer. Afterwards they went to “read.” That means doze on the couch. I waited until Mom’s head fell back and Dad started snoring before I ran over to the college campus to make sure the game at the dorm was going well and collect my fee. Then I ran to the store and then to Auntie Buzz’s office to take Daniel’s hockey team grape soda and tortilla chips and collect my fee. “Don’t make crumbs or spill,” I told them. But I still made a mental note to come by early the next morning to clean up after them.

I worked fast and was home in time to meet JonPaul on the driveway; he was coming over to watch movies, like he does every Saturday night. I peeked into the living room on our way to the kitchen. My mother was actually reading and my father was thumb-typing on his phone, but neither had noticed I was gone during their little catnaps. I was hardworking and stealthy. Awesome.

I whipped up a batch of that dry breakfast cereal/melted chocolate/melted peanut butter/melted butter/dash of vanilla/tons of powdered sugar stuff we like so well.

“Man,” JonPaul said, “there is nothing as wonderful in the world as late-night munchies.”

That reminded me of the lame lemonade stand idea that I’d set aside. As JonPaul snarfed, I thought back to Goober’s dorm room earlier that evening when I’d dropped off the tortilla chips and soda and gone over the rules again. Then I remembered watching my mother and father drink coffee and come to life every morning of my life before they leave for work. I also took note of the fact that I’m something of a night owl and can get by on less sleep than the average fourteen-year-old.

“I’ve got it!” I jumped up and started pacing. The best ideas come when you pace. I don’t know why. I guess people with brains like mine need activity to jump-start creativity. Or else I was on a sugar high.

“Got what?” JonPaul looked at me warily.

“Our new venture. You, me and Sam. Catering.”

“Huh?”

“College students are pretty much fried and dragging at around ten-thirty, eleven at night after a full day of classes and then studying all evening. Right?”

He nodded.

“Okay, so we rig up a coffeepot and throw together a few batches of cookies and brownies. We borrow Markie’s wagon and drag it around campus at night selling munchies.”

“You think that’ll work?”

“Why wouldn’t it? They’re hungry, craving sugar, but too lazy or busy to go get stuff. We bring the supply to the demand and bingo! We’ll clean up.”

“You’re amazing, Kev. The way you …”

“Thanks, JonPaul, it’s a gift.”

“How are we going to pay for the cookie and coffee stuff?”

“I made money today cleaning garages.

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