Ellie's Math Adventure

One day after school while heading home through town, Ellie the elephant passed by several of her favorite stores that her and her mom love shopping at. Everyday for the last month on her travel home from school she passed by the local toy store where they had the most beautiful bike she had ever seen in the window. It was the newest bike that they had in stock and it would fit her just right. It was pink with sparkles, and she knew from the moment she saw it that she had to have it no matter how hard she had to work for it. After several minutes staring at the bike in the window she decided that she better keep walking because her mom was waiting for her at home and would get worried if she wasn’t home soon. So as she continued on her way home she began to think of how she could possibly earn enough money to buy the bike. Just as she almost reached home she saw her friend Bernard the bear ridding his new bike that he had gotten for his birthday. As he rode up she said, “Hi there Bernard. I see you have a new bike!” he said, “Yea I asked for it for my birthday and of course I got it because I get everything I ask for. You know it is too bad you don’t have a cool bike like mine to ride home instead of walking home from school everyday.” Ellie was so upset by what Bernard had said that she began crying and ran the rest of the way home. When she got home and ran inside, the slamming of the door startled her mother and she ran to see what was wrong with her little Ellie. “What is the matter dear?” her mother asked. “Well, I saw that bike in the window again at the toy store in town and I really want it!” “Ellie, honey you can’t always get everything that you want the second you ask for it. Your birthday is in six months so maybe you will get it then.” Ellie said to her mom, “But I want it now, and it just isn’t fare because my birthday is too far away and Bernard asked for a bike and he got it.” Ellie’s mom explained to her that either she would have to wait till her birthday or she could earn the money to buy it herself. “But mom, the bike is really expensive, how do you think I can pay for it myself?” “Well, Ellie, how much is the bike in the window at the toy store?” “Well, mom, you see it is the newest and best bike out there.” “How much Elle?” her mom asked. As Ellie answered her mom she had her head down and said very softly “Fifty Dollars”