Small Town Girl (Farkle Minkus)

Chapter Thirty-Five: Girl Meets What I Have To Be Happy About

I sat in Topanga's with Riley, Lucas, and Maya. We all decided to scrounge up what money we could to help Farkle and his family.

"Ok, I was able to find $24 in all of my piggy banks and drawers." Riley said, laying the money down on the table.

"I sold a couple of baseball bats online. I got $58 to kick in." He handed it to Riley.

"Thank you, Lucas. Alright, between the two of us, we can give Farkle $82. Maya? Skipper?"

"Between the three of us, we can give Farkle $82. Good job, guys."

"I've got $185." I said, putting it in the pile.

"Where did you get $185?" Lucas asked.

"My mom's uh...my mom's life insurance came in last week. I told Dad about Farkle and he sent over what he could manage."

"Ok, so $270!"

"Hi, guys." Farkle greeted, coming into the coffee hosue.

"Hi, Farkle." Lucas and I scooted down and Farkle sat on the end of the two chairs. "We wanted to give you something. $270."

"Thanks, but I think it's Maya who can help me out best."

"How?" She asked.

"I want you to give me lessons on how to be poor."

"Done, $82 a lesson." He took the money, taking out $82 dollars and handed it to her.

"Lesson one complete." He handed the rest back to me. He looked at me.

"I know where the other one eighty-five came from. I wouldn't have taken it anyways."  He closed my fingers over it and I put it back into my bag. "You have less than we do, Maya, but you live a really good life. You don't just survive in this world, you thrive. That's what I've always loved about you. "

"Thanks Farkle. Not much to tell you except...you see these clothes I wear?"

"Yeah."

"Shawn bought them for me, and I take care of them and I appriciate them. I don't have much, but I try to appreciate what I do have."

"That's really good advice, Maya. I mean, I have so much I don't relaly appreciate any of it. Now it's gonna be gone."

"Well, let's go to your house while you still have it." Riley suggested.

"My house?"

"Yeah. Farkle, you've been to our houses, we haven't been to yours, including your own girlfriend."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Farkle, we get it. You were rich. You have a nice room." Lucas said.

"Well, I just want to hang out with you guys at your places."

"Why?"

"Because I like your places."

"We're going. Your room can't change how we feel about you." Maya told him.

~~~

As we looked at Farkle's room, the other four stood there with their mouths open.

"Why is your mouth open?" Lucas asked Farkle.

"Maya's hitting me."

"Maya."

"Look at this stuff! How can you not hit him?"

"You have to stop!"

"What are you gonna do about it little...rich boy." A train came through the room.