Case with a Million
What would you do with a million dollars? Would you use it to help someone in need or it for your own entertainment? If you were poor would you use it to make you rich? This story is about a 15 year old girl named Maria who was given a million dollars. This story is about not only what she spends the money on but how it impacts her and her families life.
Maria is from a middle class family. She goes to public school and lives in a normal sized house with her Mom, Dad, and older sister. Maria family made enough money for a healthy life style they barely ever worried about bills, though they always used the coupons from the newspaper. Maria never really cared much about having a lot of money. She never asked for nice things, she took what she got and that made her happy. On the other hand Maria’s sister, Ana loved expensive stuff. She spend all of her money on new clothes and her parents had to cancel her cellphone payments. Maria and her sister were very different.
One day at school Maria was talk to a couple of her friends. They saw a strange man wearing a black trench-coat standing in the corner next to the drinking fountain. Maria and her friends discreetly watched the man. He was carrying a silver briefcase. The man started walking towards Maria. Maria’s friend left and watched what was happening from down the hall. The man asked Maria to follow him she knew she shouldn’t but it didn’t feel dangerous it felt like she knew him, like he was an old friend. She followed him out to his car. He turned to her and said, “People who do good get good in return.” He handed her the silver briefcase. Before she could ask any question he was gone.
Maria took the briefcase into the bathroom when no one was in there. She carefully unlatched the shinny spotless latches. When she opened the case she couldn’t believe her eyes. Right there in-front of her was a million dollars. Why would someone give her a million dollars? Was this meant for her or did the strange man make a mistake? Was this a test to see what she would do with million dollars? Should she tell anyone? Maria pulled all of the money out of the case a stuffed it into her backpack so she didn’t seem suspicious carrying around a silver briefcase.
All day Maria felt like her back pack was on fire. She walked stiffly and didn’t say a word in any of her classes. When Maria got home from school she ran strait to her room. She didn’t greet her parents or hang up her coat. She locked the door to her room and propped a chair up against it so her parent couldn’t get in. She slowly opened up her back pack. There it was a million dollars stuffed into her back pack. She carefully pulled all of the money out of her back pack and laid it neatly on her bed. Maria sat in silence for a while and thought about what she would do next. Maybe she would keep a little of the money and give the rest to a charity. No, that would be weird and her parent would sure be able to find out. Should she try and track down the mysterious man and try and give it back to him? That wouldn’t work because he would have given her the money if he wanted to keep it. She finally decided to come forth and tell her parents.
Maria unlocked her door and walk out towards the kitchen. As she turn the corner she could see her mom in the kitchen and her dad sitting on the sofa watch tv.
“Hi Mama I’m home from school.” she said slowly
“Hi Maria, I didn’t hear you come in.” said her Mom
“Uh mama I need to tell you something.”
“What is it darling you look nervous, no matter what we will always love you.”
“Today a man came up to me at school and gave me something.”Maria told her mom
“Oh honey you know you are not supposed to talk to strangers!” her mom replied
“I know mom but, he gave me a case, a case with a million dollars in it.” Maria
whispered.
“HE GAVE YOU A MILLION DOLLARS!”Her mom screamed cheerfully
“ Come on honey go get it and show it to your father.”
Maria ran to her room as fast as she could. She pulled the money off of her bed and ran back out to the kitchen. Maria carefully handed her mom the pile of cash. When her mom saw the cash her eyes widened. Her mom laid the money down on the kitchen table and called her dad over. When her dad saw the money he practically passed out. Well, actually he did pass out just without all the theatrics. Maria’s mom didn’t even care about her dad at the time she was amazing by the one million dollars laying on her table.
“Honey you understand how much money this is?” her mom asked her
“Yah its a million dollars.” Maria replied
“Do you know how much this could get us?”
“Well I wasn’t really thinking about spending it”
“If you don’t spend it what do you want to do with?” her mom asked angrily
“Well, I was thinking about donating some of it and then investing some of it and then what ever is left I can spend.”
“Why would you spend it with this money we could remodel our kitchen and eat out every night.” her mom shouted at Maria
“Mama its my money I will do what ever I want with it!” Maria yelled
Maria ran to her room and packed all of her favorite things and a few pairs of clothes and the money into her back pack and climbed out her bed room window. Before she left she wrote a letter and left it on her bed.
Dear Mama and Dad,
I am not running away from home. I am taking a short break so that I can have some t
time to think, Don’t worry about me I am fine I will still go to school, I will find a place to
sleep every night i promise. Do not come looking for me. I will come back when I am
ready. I love you both.
-Maria
Maria ran down her street to the bus stop. She pulled out her bus pass and climbed on. She hadn’t yet decided where she wanted to go. After a few minutes the bus slowed to a stop. She looked at the front of the bus and the sign said 15th and Emerald street. Maria though about getting off for a few seconds and the decided to stay on. A boy about her age climbed on the bus. He walked down the isle and picked the seat right next to Maria. Maria carefully studied him so that he wouldn’t notice. He had brown hair and brown eyes, he was 5’8 maybe taller. He wore a gray hoddie and baggy jeans.
He turned to her and said, “Where are you headed?”
Maria was surprised he even noticed she was their.
“I don’t really know I just need to find a place where I can think for a while.”
“So you are running away?” he asked
“Not exactly, I am leaving my family for a little while to think.” she responded
“Oh, My name is Pablo and yours is?”
“Oh, Maria” she responded
After 20 minutes of riding on the bus together Maria realized that she had a lot in common with Pablo. They both liked the same bands, same food and horror movies. Maria even found out they went to the same school Pablo was just two years older then her. When the bus came to a stop Pablo got out of his seat and started walking towards the door he waved goodbye. Maria got out of her seat and followed Pablo off the bus. Maria jogged up to where Pablo was.
“Nice to see you again” he greeted
“I decided that this was my stop.” she said
“Well excellent choice” he replied
“I have just the place for you to stay” he said
Maria followed him into a alley way. There was a small door on the side of a tall brick wall. Pablo pulled out a key and unlocked the door. He climbed in first and then he helped Maria in. It was a small little apartment. It had a couch, a sink, a small fridge, a television, and a bed. Maria didn’t see a bathroom but she didn’t worry about it. Maria carefully laid her bag down on the couch. Maria remembered the one million dollars in her back pack.
“Pablo, there is something I need to tell you but you can’t tell anyone.” Maria whispered
“Ok, shoot.” he replied
“Today a man came up to me at school and gave me this.” she opened her bag to reveal the money. Pablo’s jaw hung open. I looked like he was going to pass out.
“Is that why you ran away from home?” He asked.
“well ya I wanted to go somewhere people won’t judge me and you seem perfect” she replied.
“How much is it?”
“A million”
“You can trust me I promise.”
“I know, thats why I came here.”
The next morning Maria put all the money in a box under Pablo’s bed. She trusted Pablo. She knew he wouldn’t take the money. They got on the bus and road to school. Maria didn’t tell any of her friend that she ran away from home none of them seemed to notice anything different about her. Maria felt like the school day dragged on forever. At lunch she sat with Pablo and his friends. After school Maria and Pablo went back to his house. They talked about when she was going to go back to her parents. Maria didn’t want to go back to her Parents she wanted to use the money to help someone, not use it for her parents remodeling needs.
Pablo leaned over and pulled the wire to stop the bus. Maria was wondering why they were getting off before their stop. They got off the bus and walked up to a building and opened the door and walked in. Inside there were several children running and playing.
“What is this place?” Maria asked Pablo
“Its an orphanage that I volunteer at every thrusday. I wanted to take you here so you could help. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of corse I don’t. I love children.”
A middle aged woman stepped through a door and greeted Pablo with a warm hug.
“This is Mama flore she takes care of these children.”
“Nice to meet you my name is Maria.”
Nice to meet you Maria.”
Pablo and Maria spent the rest of the afternoon at the orphanage. She loved playing with the children and hearing them giggle. She also loved watching Pablo play with the children. He looked so happy and peaceful. After the helped feed the children dinner Pablo and Maria took the bus back to the house.
“Pablo why do you go there every week and help the children?”
“Because when I was five years old I lived there until I could find my own home. They struggle with money so I help them by volunteering.”
“The children there really love you they were so excited when you came through the door.”
“I know I have been working there for the past three years.”
“I would love to help them.”
Maria remembered the million dollars. Then she thought about what a million dollars would mean to all the kids in the orphanage. Maria turned to Pablo and asked him.
“What do those kids in the orphanage need more then anything?”
“A home and families”
“Well besides that maybe something that a million dollars could get them.”
“They do need new sheets and blankets the old ones are getting kind of thin.”
“I can do that.”
Maria and Pablo took the bus to the store. They picked out enough sheets for the whole orphanage. The next day Maria brought the sheets to the orphanage on her way to school. Everybody there was so excited. Maria had a wonderful feeling in her heart and feel she had never had before, a feel like she had made a difference in the world. Maria’s million dollars was now down to $992,234.12. This didn’t bother her because she knew it went someplace where it was needed.
Now Maria and Pablo were visiting the orphanage every day. Bring small toy and food. Maria had been away from her family for ten days and she was beginning to miss them, then she remember why she left and if she went back the freedom to use she money what ever she want went away. None the less she missed her family and her bed. Pablo’s home was small and getting kind of uncomfortable. Though she was happy and free there.
By the end of the week Maria had $991,502.43 left of her a million dollars. She hadn’t spent a single dollar on herself. Well actually, she bought herself a blanket because she was still sleeping on the couch. Pablo offered her his bed but she didn’t want him to have to sleeping on the couch. She was a very easy going person. None of Maria’s friend knew anything about Pablo, the orphanage, or her being away from her parents. School stayed the same.
That night when Maria and Pablo went to the orphanage, Maria notices and small girl no older then 7 sitting in the corner all by her self. Pablo asked Mama Flore who she was. She said that she was new and came from a family with a lot of violence. Maria walked up to her slowly.
“Hi What’s your name?” Maria asked her
“Rosa” she replied with a small quiet voice.
“My name is Maria and my friend’s name is Pablo we are good friends of Mama Flore.”
Maria stood up and walked back over to Pablo. Rosa didn’t follow. Rosa did not come and eat dinner or play with any of the other children all she did was sit quietly in the corner. That night back at Pablo’s house Maria and Pablo talked about what was wrong with Rosa. They thought that maybe she was beaten but she had no scars. Then they thought that maybe she saw her mother being beat my her father and that scared her.
The next day when Maria and Pablo went to the store to get food for the orphanage they saw something that surprised them. They were walking down one of the isles and saw both of Maria’s parents shopping. Maria quickly pulled Pablo back to the previous isle.
“What should I do?” Maria asked Pablo
“I don’t know do you want to see them?” Pablo replied
“Of corse I miss them but if I go back with them they will try and use the money.”
“Oh”
“Though, I should catch up with them. We need to talk about when I’m coming home.” Maria debated
Maria decided to talk to her parents. She told Pablo to stay in another isle, him being there would just it all the more complicated. Maria nonchalantly walked down the isle until her parents saw her.
“Maria is that you?”her mom asked
“Hi mom!” Maria responded in an excited voice
“We miss you so much, how are you doing when are you coming home? where are you staying are you okay?” her mother asked with a worried tone
“I am fine how about we meet up for dinner tonight how about 7 ish at the deli.” Maria suggested
“How about we go home right now and talk about it” her mom urged
“No I will meet you tonight if you want to talk.”
Then she walked away to find Pablo. They quickly checked out and left the store before they could run into her parents again.
“What happened back there you looked really stressed?” Pablo asked when they got on the bus
“They tried to convince me to go back home with them and sort it out their. So I told them I would go out to dinner with them tonight.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Later that night Maria met up with her parents for dinner. Pablo stayed behide like he did at the super market. Maria felt nervous, she didn’t know how much of her parents she could take. She didn’t like being away from Pablo it felt kind of weird they had spent so much time together.
“Hi Mom, Hi Dad.” Maria said is a quiet tone
“ Hi Maria” they bother said at the same time
“I want to start by saying, I’m fine I’m staying with a friend from school.”
“We’re glad to hear that but we think that you should come home and If you do we will agree to let you do whatever you want with the money but, you have to invest half of it.”
“I know but I started volunteering at this orphanage and I really like all the kids their and I can’t leave them.”
“You can always go a visit and kids after school.”
“Well there is this new girl who came last week and she came from a violent family and I really want to spend more time with her.”
“Well maybe if we see this orphanage you can stay longer.”
“Okay lets go.”
Maria took her parents down town to see the orphanage. Maria and her family arrived at the steps of the orphanage, she let herself in without knocking. They walked inside. Maria introduced her parents to Mama Flore and Pablo, though she didn’t tell her parents she was living with him. She also introduced them to all the children. Maria pointed out Rosa sitting in the corner. Her mom causally walk up to Rosa. Her mom was over in the corner for a little while them she whispered something in Rosa’s ear and they heard her say yes in her small voice. Maria’s mom walked up to Mama Flore and said.
“My family would love to bring Rosa into her home so can we adopt her.”
“Are you sure about this?” Mama Flore asked
“Yes I am positive.” Maria’s Mom said
The next morning Maria packed her stuff said goodbye to Pablo and told she will see him every day at the Orphanage. She met up with her mom at the orphanage and by the end of the Rosa was Maria’s new sister.
