Val Meets Money
I don't own Girl Meets World!
Lucas's arm was wrapped around Val's shoulders as they walked to history together, Maya, Zay, and Farkle a few steps behind them.
"And then I said, were you born this stupid or did you take lessons? Ha!" Farkle honked, making Maya snort.
"And what did Coach Gleason say to that?" Lucas wondered.
"You know him," Farkle's shoulders dropped "He made me run laps."
The group burst out laughing at the genius's dejected expression. Farkle's dour look melted and he joined in. As they approached the classroom, Val spotted Riley sitting soon the bench outside, she had her nose buried in a book but looked up as she heard them come down the hall.
"Val! Maya!" Riley stowed her book in her bag, jumping to her feet "Ready for class?"
"No." Maya avoided eye contact with the brunette, fiddling with her bag.
Val watched as Riley slumped, she really had been trying to earn their forgiveness, in her own Riley way. She'd bought a box of donuts, Val's favorite, with her own money and left them outside her door. She'd cleared the table after every meal, washing the dishes and putting the leftovers away. A warm new hat was left on Maya's locker, clearly handmade, and the next day a silver locket with a note inside.
I'm sorry.
Val still wasn't sure if this was real or not, if her sister just felt guilty and would slide back into her old ways the moment they forgave her. She wanted it to be genuine, but time and time again Riley had hurt her, why would this time be any different?
"Let's get to class." Lucas moved so he was holding her hand.
Val let him tug her gently through the door and to her desk, where a crisp dollar bill was sat.
"Hey! A dollar!" Maya whooped, her mood instantly improved "They're finally paying us to come here."
"Everyone says school is a full-time job, why shouldn't we get paid for it?" Zay held his dollar up to the light "Yep, that's a real one, right there. I could buy a cookie with this."
"Maybe they should pay the teachers a reasonable wage first." Val pointed out, shrugging her bag off her shoulder "They're the ones who have to deal with us."
Maya picked up her dollar "The dopes. I'd come here for nothing. You know why? I have to. It's the law. Stupid law. They chose to work here."
"Wait," Riley looked around the classroom "Everybody has one."
"So," Cory tried to lean against the doorframe but slipped, falling over "Aack!"
"Frame is still broken from Janitor Harley finding that spider." Val called, hiding her laughter behind her hand.
"I knew that." Cory pushed himself up "So, what do ya got there?"
"It's a trap!" Maya shouted, standing up "Everybody just give your dollars to me, and I'll hold them is what I'll do. Yeah."
Yogi moved to hand Maya his dollar, but Val shook her head "You won't get that dollar back."
"Spoil my fun, why don't you?" Maya sat back down with a pout.
"The United States government says that these pieces of paper are worth something." Cory started class "What makes them valuable? Farkle, do it." He pointed at the boy genius.
"Paper money used to be certificates that you could exchange for their equal value in gold or silver." Farkle recited "Before that, people would trade or buy things with livestock, colored stones, or shiny objects."
"I like colorful stones." Val perked up.
"I like shiny objects." Riley agreed.
The class stared at them, it was easy to forget just how much the twins really were alike.
Cory pulled two shirts from behind his desk, identical grey and bland with the word "Bleh." printed on them "Which one of these shirts is better? Same size, same color, same shirt. One of these comes from Cheapo's and costs $12.99, The other one comes from Demolition and costs 36 bucks. So which one's the better shirt?"
Riley cracked her knuckles "My time has come. Watch a fashionista at work. Ow." She shook her fingers out.
Val laughed "They're the same shirt."
Standing up, Riley started to analyze the tees "The Bleh shirt on the left, though appearing to the untrained eye to look the same..."
"Ooh, we're getting technical." Zay started to take notes.
"It's the same shirt." Cory shook his head.
"...Is not from Demolition, making it inferior."
"Same shirt."
Riley held to her hand "I will take the Demolition Bleh."
"You already did." Cory handed the shirt over "This is your shirt. You spent 36 Washington's on it."
"It costs more so it's better." Riley removed the hanger and held the shirt up, showing it off to the class.
"Same exact shirt from the same exact manufacturer that sends it to a million different stores all over the world." Cory herded his daughter back to her seat.
"Made with the same exact materials by the same exact workers in a million same exact factories." Val sighed, knowing her fathers plan as he'd had her snag the shirt from Riley's closet the day before.
"Mine's better." Riley rubbed the hem of the shirt on her cheek "It feels good on my face."
"Three, two, one." Val counted.
"This is your shirt." Cory held up the other hanger "I changed the labels this morning."
Riley flung the tee away as if it had burned her "This shirt hurts my face! Gimme that one."
Cory handed it over and she sighed lovingly, making her father and sister fall further into despair.
"I would know my shirt anywhere."
"Three, two, one." Val counted again.
Riley's eyes widened in realization, looking at the shirt she'd thrown away "That's my Demolition shirt, isn't it?"
"Why would I change the labels when I can just talk?" Cory laughed "Obviously, you people will believe anything anybody says about anything."
Val cleared her throat loudly "Ahem."
"You don't count, honey, your know your own mind."
"For I know I shall find my own piece of mind for I have been promised a land of my own." (1) Val sang softly.
Lucas didn't bother to hide his smile, his girlfriend was adorable "Mr. Matthews, are you teaching us that money has no real value?"
"I'm teaching you that money is paper we put our faith in. Wars are fought over it. Most crime happen because money is involved."
"Nobbin' with all them muckity mucks, I'm blowin' my dough and goin' deluxe!" (2)
"I'm safe." Maya cheered.
"And there I be! Ain't I pretty? It's my city, I'm the king of New York!" (3) Val hummed, tapping her hands on her desk in lieu of actual tap dancing.
"I'm teaching you that the value given to money is a lot less important than how it's used. That's what matters."
Val switched songs mid lyric "Oh the things I could do, if I had a little money, it's a rich man's world." (4)
"Sweetheart, I'm begging you." Cory tried not to laugh, this was important.
"There are too many musicals with money as a central theme for me to stop." Val grinned "Should've thought of that when you were planning your lesson, huh?"
"You're never gonna stop, are you?"
"You had to know this was gonna happen."
Cory shook his head "You are your mother's daughter." He looked back at the rest of the class "Don't be misled by trendy brands and shiny objects."
Farkle raised his hand "So, what should we do with our money?"
"Buy food." Lucas suggested.
"Have shelter." Offered Maya.
Riley looked down at her shirt "Do charity." She quickly pressed it into Maya's hands.
Maya gasped "Riley, you gave me the Demolition one. Sure you didn't make a mistake?"
"I'll admit I did not see that coming." Zay pulled his stash of popcorn from his bag and settled in to watch the show.
"Charity with a full heart." Riley nodded "No mistake."
"What about doing business?" Farkle asked, drawing the class's attention back to the topic at hand "My father is the Minkus of Minkus International."
"Yeah, he's been in the news a lot recently."
Lucas looked over at his friend "I hear he's risking a lot of his company on a new technology."
Farkle nodded "It's something he really believes in, but he doesn't know if it's gonna work yet."
"When will he find out?" Val asked "Why risk so much if you don't know if it's going to work out?"
"Not sure. When he does this kinda stuff , he's..." Farkle hesitated "Not around the house very much."
"Farkle, how come you never have us over to your house?" Lucas wondered "We've been friends for two years and I've never been."
"I've already told you."
Maya shook her head "I've been friends with you a lot longer than two years and I've never been to your house either. You say you're embarrassed by it, but how big could possibly be?"
"I don't know, I haven't seen it all." Farkle joked.
"If it helps, Annie's house is bigger." Val reached over and patted his hand "But, Farkle, the amount of money your family has couldn't change how we think of you...As long as you keep letting me borrow your library."
"Where is Annie?" Zay asked.
"Italy, her parents had a work trip and insisted she come with them. Something about learning the family business."
Riley looked over at Farkle "We couldn't love you any less just because you have more than us."
"Not anymore." Stuart Minkus appeared in the doorway, looking close to tears.
Cory pointed at his old classmate "Minkus."
"Hi, Cory. Is it okay if I speak to Farkle about a minor issue?" Stuart let out a singular sob.
"Uh, Minkus," Cory laid a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder "Is this one of those where we go out in the hall and talk?"
Farkle's father nodded and fled the classroom. Farkle quickly rose from his chair and followed him. Val made eye contact with her father and raised her eyebrow.
"Go."
Val stood up and headed to the hallway. Mr. Minkus was curled up on the bench outside the room, Farkle stood over him, looking helplessly confused.
"Oh boy." Val sighed.
"I just found him like this." Farkle shrugged.
Val leaned over and gently poked Stuart's arm "Mr. Minkus, you okay in there?"
Cory joined them, concern creasing his features "You know, it's interesting. I was just teaching the class about the value of money and how we place too much value on shiny things."
"That's good..." Minkus nodded distantly "Because, son...I've lost all our shiny things." He started to cry again.
Farkle looked up at his best friend and his teacher. His world was turned upside down.
Lucas's arm was around Val's shoulder as they sat in Topanga's after school, pooling their money to give to Farkle. Maya and Zay sat on the poufs next to them, while Riley was bent over in the window seat digging through her purse.
"Okay, I was able to find $24 in all of my piggy banks and drawers." Riley held up her stack of bills.
"I sold a couple baseball bats online. I've got $58 to kick in." Lucas added his money to the table.
Zay dug in his pockets for a moment before he whooped "I've got $0.75!"
The group stared at him as he obliviously added the meager contribution.
"Okay, then." Val laughed a little "I've got $127 from saving my allowance and babysitting Auggie. So together we can give Farkle $209.75."
Riley gently nudged Maya with her foot "Maya?"
"Together we can give Farkle $209.75." Maya shifted uncomfortably "Great job, guys!"
"Hi, guys." Farkle came in, making a beeline for his friends.
Riley bounced up "Hi, Farkle!" She grabbed the money from the table "We wanted to give you something. $209.75."
"Thanks, but I think it's Maya who can help me out best." Farkle declined, politely pushing the money away.
"How?" Maya's face scrunched up, what could she do to help? She didn't even have any money to contribute.
"I want you to give me lessons on how to be poor."
"Done." Maya nodded "$210 a lesson."
"I only have $209.75."
"That'll work too. Lesson one complete."
Farkle took the money from Riley and handed it straight to Maya "You have less than we do, Maya, but you live a really good life. You don't just survive in this world. You thrive. That's what I've always loved about you."
Maya blushed "Thanks, Farkle. Not much to tell you...except you see these clothes I wear? Shawn bought them for me, and I take care of them, and I appreciate them. I don't have much, but I try to appreciate what I do have."
"That's really good advice, Maya. I mean, I have so much. I don't really appreciate any of it." Farkle drooped "Now it's gonna be gone."
"Well...Let's go to your house while you still have it." Riley suggested.
"My house?"
"Yeah." Riley nodded "Lucas was right, Farkle. You've been to our houses. We haven't been to yours."
"You don't have to if you don't want to, Farkle." Val said pointedly "We won't think any different of you, whatever you decide."
"Yeah, I just don't think it's a good idea." Farkle shifted uncomfortably.
"Farkle, we get it. You were rich. You have a nice room." Lucas put his hand on his friend's shoulder "We don't care."
"Well, I just want to hang out with you guys at your places." Farkle shook his head.
"Why?"
"Riley, it's his decision." Val scolded.
"I just want to understand." Riley defended hotly before realizing her sister had a point, forcing people hadn't worked out so well for her in the past "I mean, it's up to you, Farkle. But, I mean, we're your friends. Maybe talking about it will help?"
"I don't know, I just like your places." Farkle shrugged desperately.
Maya stood up "Your room can't change how we feel about you, Farkle. We're going to your house."
Maya marched out of the cafe, Riley following close behind.
Zay pushed himself up "I'm gonna, uh, make sure they don't get far. Lucas?"
"Coming." Lucas stood up to "You got this?" He asked Val.
"I got this."
He quickly kissed her cheek and chased after the two girls. Val turned to Farkle, who was rubbing his hands on his jeans nervously.
"Farkle?" She asked "What's on your mind?"
"Just...I want to hang out at your guys' places. I like them better." Farkle tugged at his sweatshirt "You've been to my house, Val. You know that when they see it, they'll treat me differently. I don't want that."
Val took his hand gently, rubbing soothing circles with her thumb "If you really don't want them to come to your house, I'll make them stop."
"I know, thanks. But maybe they're right. It's not fair that I've been to all your houses and you haven't been to mine."
"It's not about fair, Farkle. It's about privacy. But if you're sure, maybe we can help you appreciate it before it's gone."
"I'd like that." Farkle took a deep breath "Yeah, okay. Let's do it."
Lucas, Riley, Maya, Zay, and Farkle's jaws were on the floor, staring at the endless expanse of Farkle's penthouse home. Val snapped a quick picture and sent it to Annie.
"Why is your mouth open?" Lucas asked, looking over at Farkle.
"Maya's hitting me."
Maya's fist thumped against his hip again.
"Maya." Riley frowned.
"Look at this stuff!"
"Isn't it neat, wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the girl, the girl who has everything." Val sang, grabbing a feather boa from nowhere and using to pull Farkle out of Maya's reach. (5)
"How can you not hit him?"
Maya moved to chase after them but Riley caught her hand "You need to stop!"
"What's he gonna do about it?" Maya threw her hands in the air, pulling out of Riley's grasp "Little...rich boy? What is that? A train?"
The engine blared it's horn as it pulled into the room.
Farkle grinned "I'm gonna send you far far away." He pushed Maya into the car, and waved as it left.
"You have boarded the 'C' Train for the kitchen, the skating rink, and the Minkus Megaplex 17." The conductor announced.
Riley walked over to the window "Farkle, how do you possibly live here? Look down there, the people are ants."
"Look up there." Lucas craned his neck up "I just saw a comet fly by."
"My ceiling's a planetarium." Farkle explained.
"Ooh, I see Venus!" Val was peering through a telescope aimed at the stars.
Riley noticed Farkle was fidgeting again "Don't worry, you're still the same Farkle no matter how much money you have." She tried to reassure him.
"I told you the money wouldn't change you in our eyes." Val nodded, agreeing with her sister for once.
"I don't think money could change any of us." Lucas nodded, pulling his friend into a quick side hug.
Choo-choo!
The train pulled back into the room, Maya was decked out in a Audrey Hepburn style dress, pearls, a tiara, and enormous sunglasses holding a large cat in her arms
"What?" She asked, taking in their stunned expressions "I stopped at the gift shop."
"And I am wrong." Lucas shook his head, laughing.
"What? Me and this cat will look wonderful strolling down the Champs-Elysees." Maya strutted off the train and struck a pose "Being poor lesson number two: we will never stroll down the Champs-Elysees."
"Paris." Farkle handed her a pair of VR goggles "Enjoy."
Meanwhile Lucas and Zay had found the virtual reality golf course and were taking turns swinging the club while Val took pictures of them looking goofy from her spot by the bookshelf.
"Whoo!" Lucas cheered as he hit the ball "That has some distance!"
"My turn! My turn!" Zay pushed him out of the way and lined up for his shot.
Riley sat down next to her sister and started looking at the video games lined up on the wall "I don't get boys. Farkle, what is this? Zombies Eat Your Brains Four? Do you really play this? I'm ashamed of you."
"Try it." Farkle tossed her a controller "Val, wanna try?"
"I'm happy with my book, thank you." Val grinned "I want to reread Percy Jackson, but I can't find my copy of The Lightning Thief anywhere, thanks for letting me borrow this one."
Maya laughed flirtatiously "Stop it. What, what this old thing? No, I just got this out of the closet. No, Jean Pierre L'Fontaine. As fun as this is," She took the goggles off "It isn't real. Lesson number three on being poor: way too easy to get caught up in what's not real. You've got a great big room, Farkle. It just...keeps us too far apart from each other."
Sure enough Lucas and Zay were now taking turns playing virtual baseball while Riley was engaged in a vicious battle on the tv and Val was curled up with her book on the couch.
"Die, suckers! Die!" Riley screamed, not noticing the sentimental moment happening behind her.
"That's nice, Riley." Val turned a page, not looking up "Just don't get blood on the carpet."
"HOME RUN!" Lucas and Zay tried to give each other a high five but missed and knocked themselves over instead.
"That's lesson number four, right? It's better to be together." Farkle looked around the room at his friends.
"Always." Maya agreed.
Farkle had expected Lucas and Zay to go straight to the sports and he wasn't surprised that Riley had become engrossed in a video game. At least Val wasn't acting strange, or at least not any stranger than usual. When she came over they'd often find themselves in the library with stacks of books, just enjoying the peace and quiet as they read.
Mr. Minkus walked in "Hey, guys. Great to see you enjoying our house. Why haven't you been here before?"
"Oh, hi, Minkus." Riley quickly turned around to smile at the host "Nice crib." She spun back to the screen "DIE!"
"Only if you eat all your veggies." Val flipped another page, still not paying attention to her sister.
"Very sorry, you know," Maya struggled to find the words "For the unfortunate turn of events."
"Thanks." Minkus nodded "I've always felt that it's not the event that reveals the man, but how the man responds to the event that reveals his true character."
"That's deep." Val finally looked up "Oh, hi, Minkus. When did you get here?"
"How are you responding, sir?" Lucas had untangled himself from Zay on the floor, finally removing his VR glasses.
"I watch cartoons." Minkus stared into the distance "I eat cereal without milk because my tears fill the bowl. Stuff like that."
"That's...Poetic? I guess?" Val marked her page and got up to pat his shoulder "Are you okay?"
"Ha ha ha no."
"I want you to know I don't care if we live like this or not." Farkle offered his father.
But this didn't seem to soothe Minkus "Why not, Farkle?" He asked "Aren't you proud of what we've done?"
"I'm not really sure of what we've done, Dad." Farkle shrugged "I know if the stock market goes up, you're happy, and if it goes down, you're not. I know the busier you are, the less I get to see you, and if you're wondering why I've never brought anyone but Val here before, it's because I'm a little embarrassed."
Everyone looked away, feeling like they were intruding on what should be a very private moment.
Minkus looked hurt "By me?"
"No." Farkle immediately denied "Never by you. By all this stuff we have. We have so much. Why do we deserve it?"
Stuart didn't have an answer for his son. He stammered for a moment before muttering something about needing a drink and ran for it. Farkle flopped back on his bed, arms crossed as he watched a star shoot across his ceiling.
"Lucas, you got him?" Val asked.
"I got him." Lucas nodded, sitting down next to Farkle "Dude, you have a water bed?"
Zay raised his hand "So if we've got him, who do you have?"
"I've got the other one." Val swung herself onto the train "Clang, clang, clang went the trolley. Ding, ding, ding went the bell. Zing, zing, zing went my heart strings. From the moment I saw him I fell." She sang as it chugged out of the room. (6)
"See, she says words, but I don't know what they mean." Zay sighed.
"It's from Meet Me in St. Louis." Riley paused her game "Val likes that musical."
"How do you know that?" Maya asked.
"I'm trying to be better." Riley stood up "Val likes musicals, I want to understand why. It started as just listening when she talked about them, but then I guess I got curious."
"Huh."
In the Minkus' kitchen, Stuart had his head under the sink, letting the water run over his face.
"What are you doing?" Val asked, hopping off the train.
"I'm trying to drown." Minkus gurgled, wetly.
Val snorted "I don't think the sink is deep enough for that."
"Maybe it is! You don't know!"
"Yeah, okay." Val turned the tap off "I think I know."
"Farkle's embarrassed." Minkus took the towel Val offered him and started to dry his face off "I never realized he was so embarrassed."
"You have a big job." Val pointed out "You work hard so Farkle can have all the things he wants in life and more."
"And he's still embarrassed. I thought I was giving him the world. I thought he was proud of what Minkus International has accomplished."
"I think he is proud, but he's also in middle school. We're all embarrassed by our families in middle school." Val pointed out. "I mean, my Dad is my teacher. Now that is embarrassing. But it doesn't mean I love him any less."
"Your father is embarrassing." Minkus agreed, laughing a little "I don't know what to do now. I've failed my company, I've failed Farkle. And I'm turning to an eighth grader for parenting advice!"
"Would it help if I told you my parents took my parenting advice when I was like six?"
"Did it work?"
"No, not at all."
"I've got nothing left to loose." Minkus sighed "Hit me."
"You need to talk to Farkle. Actually talk to him." Val grabbed an apple from the bowl on the counter "Farkle likes to know what's going on, he likes information, data. Let him ask his questions and answer them. You know he's curious about the company?"
"He is?"
"He is. He wants to know how it all works, how all the pieces fit." Val split the apple and offered half to Minkus "But you don't have to just talk to him about the company. You shouldn't, in fact. Get to know Farkle, learn who he is. Because I can tell you about him until the cows come home, he's my best friend, but that is no substitute for the real thing."
Minkus took the apple "My son is lucky to have a friend like you. Thank you, Val."
"What can I say?" Val climbed back aboard the train "You ain't never had a friend like me!" (7)
They'd all reconvened at Maya's house, they'd been too focused on Farkle to bother ditching Riley so she was sat at the little desk in the corner, fingering the guitar that sat next to her. Lucas was petting the ferret that came through Maya's wall and curled up in his lap, much to his girlfriend's disgust. Maya sat on her bed, sketching the scene before her. Farkle was staring out the window, watching the people as they crossed the streets.
"What do you think?" Maya turned her sketchpad around showing them the drawing of them all relaxing in the bedroom.
Zay came in with a cup "Very nice, but where am I? Also, you're out of orange juice...now."
"I think you're the best there is." Riley told the blonde artist as Val chucked a pillow at Zay "Look at us. We're having a really good time."
"I like this little ferret." Lucas grinned, petting the critter "Isn't he cute?"
"You know I adore you, right?" Val asked.
"Yeah?"
"And I think it's great that you're so good with animals of all shapes and sizes?"
"Yeah?"
"And you need to get that thing away from your face because it came out of a hole in the wall and we're in New York and you are going to get mauled by a ferret and I'm sorry but there is no cute way to frame that for my father."
"...Uh?"
"Also it's definitely at least part rat."
"Ugh!" Lucas dropped the creature and it scurried out the door.
"Ooh thank you." Val shivered "Now please go wash your hands?"
"You make an excellent point." Lucas dashed out towards the bathroom.
Farkle laughed and stuck his head out the window "Hi." He called.
"Hey, what are you doin'?" Maya asked, getting up to see what he was looking at.
"There's people right outside your window. I wish I had that." He looked up and down the sidewalk "Where are they all going?"
"Right now? They're going home, Farkle."
"Do you know them?" Farkle pointed at a woman going by "What about her? Do you know her?"
Maya laughed at his excitement "Yeah, that's Mrs. Abruzzo."
"Why is she wearing two jackets?"
"I always ask her that." Maya shook her head "She said she just doesn't have time to get a warmer coat, but she says she's fine."
"I don't think she's fine." Farkle disagreed, watching Mrs. Abruzzo pull her jackets tighter around herself against the sharp wind.
"Yeah."
"Hi, Mrs. Abruzzo!" Farkle greeted and got a wave in return "You have a great room, Maya, with a much better view than mine."
"I'm glad you appreciate it, Farkle."
Riley squished in next to them, pushing her head out the window too "Hi, guys."
"My room is an idiot." Farkle sighed "It has everything in it except for the most important thing."
Lucas came back in and draped himself over Farkle's back in a hug, shoving his face out the window to "Us?" He teased.
"How can you put a price on that?"
"You can't put a price on joy, Farkle." Val joined the group hug on Farkle's other side, though she didn't try to get her head through the window.
"You don't even try." Riley wriggled out of the pile "There's no way to put a price on what's truly valuable."
"Who needs money at all?" Farkle asked, as they all resumed their seats "Lesson five, right?"
Maya pointed at him "Wrong. When you don't have it, you learn when it comes in handy. I mean, I'd fix the leak in my roof, do something about the cracks in the plaster, definitely patch up that hole Ginger came through a year ago."
Riley leaned over "Your cat that's a ferret is a rat?"
"Definitely a rat." Val shuddered.
In history the next day Cory had a pie chart drawn on the board.
"He thinks it's math class again." Zay groaned as he sat down "How many times is this gonna happen?"
"This is the world. You see this piece of pie?" Cory pointed to the section that was shaded in.
"These are probably the worst pies in London. I know why nobody cares to take them, I should know, I make them. The worst pies in London, if you doubt it take a bite." (8)
"These are the people in the world who have pie, and this is everyone else in the world who lives on less than $2 a day." Cory gestured to the unshaded area.
"Oh my gosh." Riley murmured, the reality of the world was so very sad, the shaded section was so much smaller than she'd known.
"These are the people in the world who have access to immediate medical care and do not live in abject poverty." Cory colored a sliver of the shaded section red "This is us. These are the people who get to wake up in their warm beds and they get to eat waffles in the morning. This is us. This is them. Look at me. Pay attention to this. Now, I've tried to teach you guys that the secret of life is people change people. Well, today we're going to get more specific."
Farkle shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Cory tapped the board "This is us. This is them. What's the secret of life? Anybody?"
"What us does for them." Maya answered slowly.
"Kindness. Charity. That's what changes people. That's the secret of life." Cory pointed at the blonde "And thank you."
Maya squinted "I'm an 'us?'"
"You're an 'us.'" Cory nodded "You're blessed. We're all blessed."
"I'm sorry I ever complained." Maya looked down, embarrassed "I'll never complain about my leaky roof again."
"Riley?"
The youngest Matthews girl had tears in her eyes "What us does for them."
"Secret of life." Cory smiled "Your assignment today is to think about what good you guys would do if you had money. Who would you help?"
"I am...humiliated." Farkle stood up and rushed from the classroom.
Val looked at her father and raised her eyebrow.
"Go."
She followed the genius out, grabbing his bag as she passed his desk.
"Val?" Lucas called, making her pause "You got him?"
"I got him."
Val called Minkus as she walked down the street towards Farkle's building "Hey, I'm going to be in the lobby of your apartment in twenty minutes and you need to be there."
"Hello, Val. How are you today? I'm watching cartoons, thank you for asking."
"I don't have time for the pleasantries, I will meet you in the lobby and fill you in. Then you have a chance to fix the problem."
Minkus sighed loudly "Okay, and what is the problem?"
"Farkle walked out of school. He's really upset. He's on his way home."
"He just walked out? Why?"
"This is your chance to talk to Farkle. You have until I get there in fifteen minutes."
"I thought you said twenty?"
"And now I'm saying fifteen. You wanna question me? I can make it ten."
"You are your mother's daughter."
"I'm hanging up now."
Val made it to the lobby in record time "Hey, Tony. Has Farkle been through all ready?"
"'Ey, Val!" The doorman shook his head "Yeah, he was in a hurry. He didn't even notice my new epaulets."
"Yeah, they're very Wizard of Oz." Val complimented "Could you let them know I'm on my way up? And tell Minkus if he hasn't fixed it yet, I'm giving the kids on the 22nd floor his house keys and letting them go wild."
"What did he ever do to you?" Tony shrunk back under her stony glare "Yeesh, all right."
"Thanks." Val stepped into the elevator and hummed under her breath "If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain..."
The doors opened with a ding and Val stepped out. Farkle and his father were already there, waiting for her.
"Please don't give them my keys." Minkus pleaded.
"Did you two talk?"
"You followed me home?" Farkle asked.
"...I asked you first."
"You followed me home."
"I also threatened your father." Val smiled "Did you two talk?"
"We did." Minkus put his arm around his son "Whatever happens, I'm going to be here more."
"And..." Val prompted.
"And I will learn from my mistakes and also change my locks?"
Val shrugged "I'll take it. Of course I followed you home, Farkle. You're my best friend."
"Thanks, Val." Farkle had to laugh "You're a good friend. I appreciate you."
"I appreciate you, Farkle." Val pulled him into a hug "And let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
"Can you help us get everyone to Topanga's after school?" Farkle asked.
"Of course I can. I've got you, Farkle." Val gave him a look "But speaking of school, we should probably get back to it."
Minkus, Cory and Topanga were waiting outside the cafe, sipping coffee while they waited for their children.
"You raised a terrifying child, you know that, right?" Minkus checked.
"Yeah." Topanga smirked "She gets that from me."
"She certainly does."
"Minkus!"
"Dad!" Farkle waved, leading his friends down the stairs.
"Farkle." Minkus pulled his son in for a quick hug "I thought about what you said. I'm no success at all if I haven't succeeded with you."
"You have." Farkle insisted.
"But you're right, Farkle. I should do more."
"Maybe we should leave you alone." Riley offered.
Topanga shook her head "No, actually this involves all of you."
"This morning I did something I should have done long ago." Minkus announced "I started the Minkus Family Foundation. We're gonna give some money away, a lot of money, to those who need it."
"And we want you all to be a part of it." Topanga smiled.
"Well, what do we do?" Lucas asked, looking between the adults.
But it was Val who answered "They want us to decide who gets it. Dad's been teaching us about the less fortunate. Now's our chance to help them."
"We want the results of your assignment right now." Cory told them.
"I knew you'd come up with something." Farkle grinned widely.
"Well, I didn't come up with it alone." Minkus shook his head and guided them to the door "I called a buddy of mine who's pretty good at spotting the potential in an idea. He's inside. He's going to help us pick out the best one."
Upon entering the shop, Minkus's friend immediately stood out in his fancy suit.
Lucas grabbed Val's hand "That's Mark Cuban. He owns the Dallas Mavericks. Did you know Mark Cuban was gonna be here?"
"I'm more interested in the other one." Val laughed.
"Well, if it isn't my dear little dollies." Evelyn Rand stood up from a booth "I heard you're looking for some investors. As the original, I think I get a say. Show us what you've got, dollies."
"Impress me." Mark gestured to the area before him.
Riley skipped in first "Good afternoon, judges. Thank you for the opportunity to do something wonderful. I have done some research, and I found out that each year, America spends more money on Halloween than the entire world spends to end malaria."
Cuban looked interested "What do you want to do?"
"I want to change Halloween to Malaria Day!" Riley held out an old trick-or-treating bucket with the words "Malaria Day" written on it in bright colors "I want to get everyone to give all of their candy money to help the world wipe out malaria."
"This is your daughter?" Mark Cuban asked Cory.
"One of 'em. How'd she do?"
"Not good."
"I don't know her."
"What was wrong with it?" Topanga protested.
"People buy candy because they want to give it to little kids that come to their door." Mark Cuban shrugged "It's not about buying candy, it's about smiley, happy kids. I have two amazing, smiley, happy kids right here. You are not taking Halloween away from them."
Riley stared in disbelief "But malaria."
"But hunger. But poverty. But sickness. Yeah, I want to get rid of them all, but you gotta give me an idea that works."
"But malaria."
"No getting rid of Halloween!"
"Mrs. Rand?"
"Sorry, dolly, he's right." Mrs. Rand winced sympathetically "It's a sweet idea, but it just won't work."
Riley stomped her foot "Go Knicks!"
"Yeah, we'll see how that works for you."
Riley stormed out, passing Lucas on his way in "Tough room." She grumbled.
"Ooh, it's the pretty one." Mrs. Rand laughed "I remember him."
"World peace." Lucas spread his arm wide.
Mark Cuban scoffed "Great idea, Miss America."
"Thank you."
"I'm out."
Lucas scowled "What's the matter with world peace?"
"Nothing. I'm all for it." Mr. Cuban shook his head "You can't do it."
"Any why not?"
"Gandhi couldn't do it. Are you Gandhi?"
"No, I'm Miss America." Lucas argued "Mr. Cuban hurt my feelings."
Cory tried to step in "Lucas, I think Mr. Cuban was just-"
"What is this?" Mr. Cuban interrupted "Nice?"
"No, no."
"I'm out!"
"Topanga!"
"I like him." Topanga shrugged.
"Minkus!"Cory tried.
"Cuban!" Minkus turned to his friend.
"Rand!" Mrs. Rand took a sip of her lemonade as everyone looked at her "What? I just wanted to be included."
"Thanks for coming out, buddy." Minkus clapped Mark Cuban's shoulder.
"Oh you know it buddy, I'm a sweetheart. Next."
Lucas left with a pout. Farkle came in next.
"Maya Hart." He announced.
"What's that?" Cuban wondered.
"She's a person I believe in." Farkle explained "She never had very much of anything. Maybe that's why she looks at everything the right way. I'd give Maya Hart a lot of money and trust her to do whatever she wants with it, because one day she will be a force to reckon with. I think you should invest in her right now."
"Maya Hart!" Cuban shouted.
Maya rushed in "I didn't do it and-and these three were with me the whole time. These three." She pulled Riley, Lucas, and Val in after her.
"We were thinking about giving you guys a lot of money." Mr. Cuban told her.
"Maya Hart, how ya doing, Cuban?" Maya gave him fist bump.
"So you guys are gonna create world peace and cure diseases together?" Minkus asked.
"I'm gonna dream with them, yeah." Maya agreed "I always have. They're the ones who taught me how. Just, sometimes, I know better."
"What do you know, dolly?" Evelyn questioned.
Maya frowned "I know my roof leaks...and I know there is a hole in my wall."
"What are you gonna do about it?" Mark Cuban asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm gonna get an education from him," Maya pointed at her teacher "and I'm gonna earn my own money, and someday I'm gonna have a good place with good walls and a good roof."
"And what're you gonna do for everybody else?" Mr. Minkus asked.
Maya shook her head sadly "Everybody is a lot of people. But if I could afford it, I would fix somebody else's roof."
"What about world peace and disease?"
"I'mma leave that to you guys until I become one of you guys."
"I don't invest in just ideas. I invest in people behind the ideas." Mark Cuban told them "Your roof leaks for a reason. You have these friends for a reason...and they have you. Use them."
"I'm gonna give you some money," Minkus pointed at Maya "But you can't just keep it. I've learned that when all you do is keep it, maybe you don't deserve to keep it."
Maya nodded "I'll do good with it. I promise."
Riley hurried forward "Can she keep a little of it to fix her roof?"
"See. You have these friends for a reason."
"Yeah, I guess I do."
"Well, this has been very touching, but I notice there's one dolly we haven't heard from yet." Mrs. Rand looked pointedly at Val "Valencia?"
Val hesitated "I did some research too. Did you know just three of the billionaires on Earth could end world hunger 60 times over? There are enough empty houses in the world to end homelessness. But we don't do that. Why?"
Mark Cuban leaned over to Cory "This is your other one?"
"This is my other one." Cory confirmed "Just see where she's going with this."
"My whole life I thought I wanted to go into business, to be successful and then help people. But that's not what I want anymore."
"Oh?"
"I want to be successful because I help people. I want to fight for everyone to have the right to clean water, affordable medical care, and a good roof over their heads." Val looked over at Maya "But it's not that simple, we can't just decide. It's an uphill battle because people can be selfish and greedy. If your skin was soil, how long do you think before they'd start digging?" (9)
"So what's your proposal, Miss Matthews?"
"Start small. Like Farkle said, invest in more people like Maya. Fix a few roofs. Patch a few holes. One day, I hope to be sitting where you are, able to help people like you can. But I'm not going to do it by going into business." Val's face was determined "I'm going to be out there writing the legislation, fighting the fight. And I'm going to get my hands dirty, I'm going to learn to fix roofs and patch holes myself. So I can help more people."
"How'd she do?" Cory asked, puffed up with pride.
"All right, Miss Matthews." Mark Cuban nodded approvingly "I'm in."
Val sat in her window seat that night, reading The Sea of Monsters. Her copy of The Lightning Thief was still nowhere to be found, and Auggie insisted he hadn't borrowed it. There was a gentle knock at her door.
"Come in?"
Riley opened the door "Hey, Val. Can I talk to you?"
Val marked her page and sat up, hesitantly eyeing her sister as she was very obviously hiding something "Sure, Riley. What's up?"
Nervously, Riley pulled Val's copy of The Lightning Thief from behind her back "I'm sorry I didn't ask. I thought I could read it and put it back before you noticed it was gone."
"You took my book?"
"It's your favorite series."
"Riley, if you knew it was my favorite, why did you take it without asking?" Val demanded.
"I wanted to understand."
"Understand what?"
"You." Riley sat down next to her sister "You're my big sister, Val. I know I really, really messed up but I really am trying to do better."
"Me? Riley, you've never cared about the things I like before." Val shook her head "Why should I think this time is any different?"
"I've been listening to the musicals you quote the most. I noticed you do it a lot when you're nervous. I remember hearing you read this book to Auggie and I wanted to read it too. I still should have asked before I took it, that was wrong and I'm sorry. I'm going to listen when you talk, and I want to understand the things you're talking about. I want to laugh at your jokes with you, I want to quote musicals with you. I want to fix it. I want to fix us. Please, just give me a chance."
Val chewed on her lip "Why would I do something if I'm not sure of the outcome? Mr. Minkus did that, and he lost all his money."
"Because the technology works." Riley smiled "He believed in something and it came out right in the end. They got their money back."
"Riley, I don't know if I can trust you. Every time I extend the olive branch, you set it on fire. I can't handle that again."
"You don't have to. I'm done setting the fire. You don't have to forgive me." Riley shook her head "You don't even have to trust me. But I'm still going to try, because you're my sister and it's the right thing to do because I love you. All those things you said about fighting the fight, I want to do that with you. We're a great team, but I know that it's not that easy."
"Things won't be like they used to be, you know that, right?" Val asked.
"I know. That's okay."
"Thank you for returning my book, Riley."
Riley recognized this as her cue to leave "Goodnight, Val."
"Riley?"
"Yeah?"
"...What did you think of the book?"
"I can see why you love it. It's a really good book."
"Do you...do you want to borrow the next one when I'm done with it?"
"I'd like that. I'd like that a lot. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Goodnight, Riley."
Word count: 7793 words
References:
1- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Close Every Door
2-3 Newsies, King of New York
4- Mamma Mia, Money, Money, Money
5- The Little Mermaid, Part of Your World
6- Meet Me in St. Louis, The Trolley Song
7- Aladdin, Never Had a Friend Like Me
8- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Worst Pies in London
9- Once, Gold
Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading lists!
Love,
The Author