“How did you get so many?” Mrs. Jewls asked him.
Eric B. stopped dancing. “I went door-to-door, asking my neighbors,” he said.
Everyone laughed.
Leslie had sold wrapping paper door-to-door, but she couldn’t imagine asking people for their toenails!
“It’s easier than asking for money,” said Eric. “Everyone was happy to donate.”
He erased the number 71 and put 349 in its place. Then he did the math.
2717
+ 349
3066
“Almost a million!” Stephen called out.
“Not even close,” muttered Allison.
Mrs. Jewls told Eric Bacon to take a Tootsie Roll Pop from her coffee can.
He took one. Then, when she wasn’t looking, he took another.
“Anyone else?” asked Mrs. Jewls.
Eric Ovens sat glumly at his desk.
“Raise your hand,” urged Kathy.
“Why bother?” he muttered.
Kathy got up from her seat and stood next to him. She grabbed Eric’s arm and raised it for him. “Eric Ovens brought a whole lot!” she announced.
“Bring them on up,” said Mrs. Jewls.
He had no choice. “It’s just eighty-three,” he said, and then emptied his bag into the nail bucket.
“That’s the second most ever!” shouted Kathy. She started clapping.
Amazingly, everyone else clapped too.
They were still clapping as he did the math on the board.
3066
+ 83
3149
“That’s closer to a million!” exclaimed Stephen.
Everyone cheered.
Even Allison couldn’t argue with that.
6