Big Bad Beans by Beverly Lewis

ONE
    Jason Birchall pushed through his dresser drawer. He shoved his baseball cards and comic books aside.
    His hand bumped the old cardboard box in the corner. His money box! It was a top-secret place where he kept his life savings.
    â€œJason!” his mother called. “Your after-school snack is ready.”
    â€œSuper yuck,” Jason muttered.
    He was tired of his mother’s healthy diet. He was even starting to have carrot and celery nightmares. Last night, threegiant carrots chased him to school!
    Jason emptied his jeans pockets. He placed seven dollar bills in a row on his dresser. Then he counted again.
    Doing yard work for Stacy Henry’s mom was super cool. Only ten more dollars to go. Soon, Eric Hagel’s mountain bike would belong to him.
    Ya-hoo! Jason could hardly wait.
    He folded the seven dollar bills. Then he stuffed them into his money box.
    Hiding the box was a smart thing to do. He pushed it way back, into the corner of the drawer.
    Suddenly, he spied a pack of bubble gum. His mouth began to water. He could almost taste the sweet, gooey gum.
    How long had it been since he’d chewed bubble gum?
    Weeks ago his mother had read a silly health-food book. “ Time for some big changes,” she’d said.
    Maybe the diet was OK for her and Dad, but Jason wanted sweets. He wadded up four pieces of bubble gum and smashed them into his mouth.

    â€œJason, dear,” Mother called again.
    Phooey!
    The bubble gum had to go. But Jason didn’t want to swallow it. That would be real dumb. He would save the sugary wad for later.
    Quickly, he stuck the gum on the wrapper. And— wham! —he closed the drawer.
    Safe!
    â€œI’m coming.” He hurried to his bedroom door.
    Mother was standing in the hallway, holding a tray of sliced carrots and celery sticks.
    â€œDouble yuck,” Jason said. He stared at the orange and green vegetables. He wrinkled up his face at them.
    â€œAren’t you hungry?” Mother said, inching the tray closer.
    â€œNot for this stuff,” he said.
    â€œHave you been snitching sweets?” Mother asked.
    Jason shook his head no. He had stuck to the diet. Anyway, gum didn’t count.
    His mother smiled. “This snack will do you good.”
    Jason shrugged. He took a handful of the orange and green health sticks.
    When his mother left, he pulled the junk drawer open again. There he found his wad of bubble gum. He sniffed the strawberry flavor.
    Yum-m-m! His favorite!
    Jason looked at the carrots and celery sticks in his hand. “Better stay out of my dreams tonight,” he warned.
    Then he took his first bite. He gobbled the raw vegetables down—to get it over with. He couldn’t wait to get the horrible taste out of his mouth.
    He reached for the wad of bubble gum and stuffed his face. Jason tiptoed to thebedroom door and peeked out. All clear! Mother was nowhere in sight.
    Fast as a super-spider, he tiptoed down the hall to the front door. Time to visit Eric Hagel next door. Time to check out the flashy mountain bike.
    Soon it’ll be mine! thought Jason.

TWO
    Jason ran next door to Eric’s house. He nearly stumbled over Stacy Henry. She was sitting near the driveway, staring at some black ants.
    â€œHey, Stacy,” he said. “What’re you doing?”
    â€œNothing much.” She looked up. “What’re you doing?”
    â€œI have to talk to Eric,” he told her.
    â€œHe’s busy cleaning out the garage.” She pointed toward the house. “In there.”
    Jason hurried up the driveway and leaned against the side of the garage door.“Looks like you’re working too hard,” he teased.
    Eric stopped sweeping. “What’s up?”
    Jason wandered in and looked around. “How clean does your garage have to be?”
    â€œClean enough to earn my allowance,” Eric replied.
    â€œLooks good to me,” Jason said.
    Eric laughed. “Tell my mom