Sun rose over the sleepy little town. Everything was quiet and waiting.
Maya opened her fist. A five-dollar bill lay there. 'Whoosh!' she whispered.
She marched right to the lemonade stand. One dollar for a cup! The vendor held up three juicy lemons. Maya tucked her bill away.
Next she stopped at the candy store. Her nose pressed to the glass. A giant swirl lollipop stared back — exactly five dollars.
A loud sniffle came from the park. A boy sat on a bench. His wind-up robot was gone. His red shoes went tap, tap, tap on the ground.
Maya walked over. She held out her five dollars. Leo looked up, surprised.
They went to the toy shop. Maya pointed through the window at a brand-new wind-up robot. Five dollars — the same price.
The shopkeeper rang the bell. Ding!
Leo's eyes grew huge. He gripped the robot tight. His smile cracked open like sunshine.
Maya watched him wind the robot up. It marched across the grass — click, click, click.
Maya didn't have five dollars anymore. But she had something better.
She walked home through the sleepy little town. It didn't feel sleepy anymore.