Times are getting hard around here Grandpa began Your grandmother has to get a job to help out with the bills April’s eyes widened She glanced at their grandmother who nodded in agreement That means that from now on we’ll have to count on you four to help out around the house You’ll no longer be getting your allowance unless you do your chores Your grandmother and I have to work hard for our money We feel that you all should do the same That’s not fair James exclaimed His fi st pounded the armrest He could not believe what he heard You expect us to do chores Why can’t Grandma just clean after she gets home from work How dare you April shouted 6
Grandpa raised a hand in warning to April He eyed James Your grandmother and I are not as young as you are Grandpa said Since you were young you’ve eaten the food we buy you You’ve worn the clothes we buy you Now you are old enough to help out and keep the house clean He turned and smiled at Grandma Rose She handed him the list of chores keeping a copy for herself Grandpa handed them to Charles who passed them down When James read his list his eyes narrowed Wash the dishes Set the table Cook dinner Take out the trash He fl ung down the paper and folded his arms again I’m not doing it You can’t make me 7
You’re right Grandpa smiled coolly I can’t make you but I won’t pay you either Fine James got up and stomped out of the room and up the stairs Seconds later he slammed his bedroom door James swore loudly in his room Even though he was twelve he’d never done chores before His grandparents had just given him money whenever he needed it Now they expected him to clean and dust What a waste of time He would rather hang out with his friends An hour later James stormed out of the house He walked up the street until he came to the recreation center Moochie his best friend sat on the steps with a group of boys James’s age What’s up Moochie James said 8
Hey James The boys bumped fi sts Man my grandpa says we have to do chores for an allowance now Can you believe that James shook his head You call that chump change he gives you an allowance My brother can pay you twice that much in a day for less work Moochie chuckled James’s eyes widened If he could make twice as much by doing less work he was all ears What does he do James asked Moochie looked around as if he didn’t want to be overheard He moved closer to James and lowered his voice Let’s just say he pays boys to Moochie whispered uh move merchandise for him 9
