The next day was bright and sunny.
The fourth graders went outside and collected autumn leaves for an art project.
Ms. Barrow read a funny story about a lazy goose flying south for the winter.
Joy almost forgot about the broken violin.
Then it was time for social studies.
"Yesterday we talked about goals," said Ms. Barrow.
"Who remembers what a goal is?"
"A goal is something a person wants," said Katie.
"And something a person works for," said Olivia.
"That's right," said Ms. Barrow. "Who can give me an example?"
"If you want to do well on a test, you study hard," said Laura.
"If you want to be good at baseball, you practice a lot," said Larry.
"What if the thing you want costs money?" asked Joy.
"Like new shoes!" said Olivia.
"Or a skateboard," said Luke.
"We could call that a money goal," said Ms. Barrow.
"Do you have a money goal, Joy?"
"Yes, I do," said Joy.
"I want to play my great-grandma's fiddle.
But the strings and bridge are broken and the bow needs repair.
All that costs money."
"Well, when you have a money goal, you must work to get the money you need!" said Ms. Barrow.
"Me? But I'm too young to get a job," said Joy.
"There are other ways to earn money," said Ms. Barrow.
"Just look around.
Use your imagination. Think!"
"Think," repeated Joy.
Joy thought during science class.
She thought on her way home from school.
"Any ideas yet?" asked Katie as they leaned their bikes against the garage.
"Nope," said Joy and kicked a walnut down the driveway.
Joy was still thinking when the family sat down for dinner.
Tonight they were having Grandpa's famous pork chops.
"Dad, did you forget to wash your hands?" said Katie.
Dad looked down at his hands. They were black.
"Walnut stains," he said. "They won't wash off.
We set up the walnut-buying station at the recycling center last week.
I forgot to wear my gloves today."
"How is the walnut business?" asked Grandpa.
"Busy!" said Dad.
"Today Mr. Ferguson brought a truck full of walnuts from his place.
He said he has never had so many walnuts.
We're going to have a big harvest this year."
"What happens to the walnuts?" asked Katie.
"And pass the pork chops, please."
"Well, folks pick up walnuts on their land and bring them to the station.
We put the walnuts in a big machine that rubs off the soft green hull.
Then the nuts come out the other end of the machine and fall into bags.
We weigh the bags and pay for the nuts."
"How much are you paying?" asked Grandpa.
"Fifteen cents for each pound," said Dad.
"Fifteen cents!" said Grandpa.
He shook his head.
"When I was a boy, we were paid five cents for a pound.
One year, I wanted to buy an old bicycle.
I had to collect a lot of walnuts."
"You had a money goal," said Katie.
"I wonder how many boys and girls around here have bought their first bikes with walnut money," said Mom.
"Who wants dessert?" said Grandpa. "I baked an apple—"
"Wait a minute!" said Joy.
She turned to her dad.
"Anybody can pick up walnuts and sell them at the nut-buying station?"
"Sure," said Dad.
"For fifteen cents a pound?"
"That's right," said Dad.
Joy's smile stretched from ear to ear.
"How many pounds of walnuts are in our yard?" she asked.
"Do you think there is one hundred dollars worth?"
Dad laughed. "There might be!" he said.
"But that's a lot of walnuts!"