Free The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas Page B

lovely label.” Mr. Reasoner sighed and said, “I certainly do wish we could change the world!”
    “What’s so great about an 1872 Indian Head penny?” asked Garrett.
    “Most old pennies aren’t worth much, usually one cent or maybe a few dollars. If you’re really fortunate, every once in a while, you might find an old penny worth ten dollars. If a penny is unpolished and hasn’t been touched for hundreds of years, it can actually be worth thousands of dollars, but this penny is probably worth about a hundred and fifty dollars.”
    “A hundred and fifty dollars!” said Mr. Blackwell, Garrett, and Griffin in unison.
    “That’s a great start for our fund-raiser!” said Griffin.
    “Maybe you’d like me to keep it safe for you?” said Mr. Blackwell. He reached to scoop the penny out of Griffin’s hand, but his fingers accidently flicked it instead. A burst of copper shot though the air and landed in the custodian’s dirty mop bucket nearby.
    SPLASH! sang out, and the penny sank to the bottom of the dark swirling pail. Water swooshed up at the custodian, Mr. Newoski. “Was that a rocket? I was almost blinded!” said the janitor, wiping his eyes.
    Garrett and Griffin rushed toward Mr. Newoski. “Are you okay?”
    “Yup. I didn’t know I’d have to watch for missiles while I mopped!”
    Mr. Reasoner and Mr. Blackwell gathered around the container. The mop bucket slopped filthy water everywhere. A sneer seeped out of Mr. Blackwell as he peered into the black bucket. “Well, better get your penny, kids.”
    Griffin glared at him. “Can we do our project or not?”
    “Go right ahead. Let the band play!” He went back to his table. “But don’t be disappointed with the results. Being realistic is important.”
    Mr. Reasoner turned toward the janitor. “Mr. Newoski, there is a valuable penny in this bucket. Do you think we can dump the water so that the kids can get back their coin?”
    “Not a problem,” he said, plunging his hand straight into the bucket. After fishing on the bottom for the penny for a few seconds, he grabbed it and wiped it dry on his rag. “Little dirt never hurt anybody!” He placed the penny in Griffin’s hand. It was now even more spectacular, immaculately clean from the detergent.
    “Come by the metal shop at afternoon recess, Griffin,” said Mr. Reasoner. “I can give you an empty ring box to keep your penny in.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Reasoner,” she said as she tucked the penny into her pocket.
    Garrett and Griffin walked back to the kids’ side of the cafeteria. Griffin said, “So you’ll play at science night?”
    “Yeah. We’re great. We’re rehearsing tomorrow in my garage. You wanna hear us? Bring your bass so I can hear it. I’m gonna tell the guys we should rename our band the Alchemists.”
    “What’s your band’s name now?”
    “Five Cool Guys,” he said.
    She laughed. “I thought we could work on our project tomorrow.”
    “We already worked on it Friday,” said Garrett.
    “Yeah, once . We have so much more to do,” reminded Griffin.
    “Fine,” said Garrett. “Come to my house tomorrow and see my band, and we’ll work after. I’ll talk to my friends about the rock concert.”
    “What rock concert?” she said.
    “For the planet,” he said.
    “Oh, yeah, cool,” said Griffin. She hoped his band was good.
    At the start of recess Griffin headed to Mr. Reasoner’s huge metal shop.
    “Hello. Come in, Griffin,” he said. “I have this box that will be perfect for your penny. What’s this I hear about a fund-raiser?”
    “It’s for science night. We’re collecting pennies for Pennies for the Planet to help save the Amazon rain forest,” she said.
    “Count me in. I have two huge mayonnaise jars of pennies that I’ve been waiting to donate to a good cause.”
    A boy with a goofy grin, reddish hair parted down the middle, and a sprinkling of freckles all over his face was working in the back of the metal shop. He listened to every word.