After Leslie left, Chelsea was enjoying the feeling that the Panini gave her. Now, she was certain that it was the Panini making her feel really good. She started thinking, Maybe I should save up some of my allowance so I can buy some. But as the time went by, she started feeling impatient. She wanted a jar right now. She decided to ask her parents for the money, figuring that the worst thing that could happen was being told no. "Hey Dad," said Chelsea. "Can I have $20?"
"What do you need $20 for?" asked Mr. Daniels.
"Leslie let me try some of her facial cream," said Chelsea. "It's imported. I really like it, the way it makes me feel. It's hard to find but Leslie told me that she can get me a jar but she needs $20."
"Why don't we talk it over with your mom?" said Mr. Daniels. "Hey honey. Come out her for a sec."
"What's up?" asked Mrs. Daniels.
"Mom," said Chelsea. "Can I have $20 to buy a jar of facial cream? It's the kind that Leslie always uses. She let me try some and I really like it."
"Well, $20 seems like quite a bit of money for a jar of facial cream," said Mrs. Daniels. "You can get some really nice stuff at the drug store for a lot less than that. Come on. I'll take you down there."
"No!" said Chelsea. "This stuff is different. It makes me feel really good. It must really make your skin release toxins."
"Well," said Mrs. Daniels. "You seem to really want this stuff. I suppose you can have the money."
"Oh, thanks mom!" said Chelsea. So Chelsea wrote Leslie a letter including a request for Panini and included the $20. A few days later, Chelsea came home from school to find a package waiting for her. She opened it up and found a jar of Panini and a letter. She didn't hesitate to open the jar and put some on her face. Then she read the letter. Putting the Panini on her face after school became part of her after school ritual. It helped her relax after a hard day at school. At this rate, it took her a month to use the whole jar. When she realized she was running out, she went back to her parents. "Mom, can I have $20 to get more Panini."
"Didn't we just buy you a jar?" said her mom.
"Yes," replied Chelsea, "but I love it so much that I've been putting it on every day."
"Well," said Mrs. Daniels, "I'll give you the $20 but you're gonna have to make this jar last longer or we won't buy you anymore. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know."
"I promise," said Chelsea. "Thanks mom." But Chelsea didn't keep her promise. She started getting an urge to put it on when she got up in the morning. When she tried it one morning, it was great. Chelsea had never been a morning person but the Panini woke her right up. It made her day so much better. It only took her two weeks to finish her second jar. When she realized it was almost empty, she went to her dad. "Dad, I need $20 to get some more Panini."
"No," said Mr. Daniels.
"No?" said Chelsea. "But I really like it. Please." At that time, her mom came into the room. "Mom, can I have $20 forÂ…"
"No, Chelsea," said her mom.
"But I need it," said Chelsea.
"Honey," said her dad. "We're not doing this to punish you. It's just that $20 every two weeks is a lot of money. Your mother and I just think that you need to learn the value of money. Why don't you look for an after school job?"