Mrs. Orr said, before ducking into the room. Kids began hanging up their coats and backpacks and shuffling into the classroom. “Nick, have a look at this,” Kia said as she pulled something out of the pocket of her jacket. “Wow! It’s a Julius ‘The Jewel’ Johnson basketball card! Where did you get it?” “I spent all my birthday money on cards last night,” Kia grinned. “All your money?” “Every cent I had.” “And your mother said you could?” I couldn’t believe it. There was a pause. “Well, she didn’t say yes,” Kia admitted, “but she didn’t say no either.” I gave her a confused look. “So what you’re saying is … ?” “She doesn’t exactly know I bought them. And she never will, unless she counts my cards and finds out I have two hundred and eighty-one instead of one hundred and ninety-two,” she explained, pulling out a hand full of cards from her other pocket. “But if she does find out, she’ll kill you.” “No she won’t. She said I couldn’t just waste my money.
