One Pound a Ride
(Victoria Park, East London, after school.)
Noah: Grandma gave me twenty-five pounds for my birthday!
Ella: She gave me twenty-five too. I’m saving it.
Noah: Saving? Boring. Money’s for spending.
Ella: Okay. What are you buying, then?
Noah: On Saturday, I’m going to the cinema. The ticket’s nine pounds and popcorn’s six. Then a new football for ten.
Ella: Nine, six, ten. That’s all twenty-five. In one day.
Noah: Yeah. Great day.
Ella: I’m saving for a bike. It costs a hundred and fifty pounds.
Noah: Ha! You’ve only got twenty-five.
Ella: No. I had a hundred and twenty-five at home. Now it’s a hundred and fifty. So I’m buying it on Saturday.
Noah: Can I ride it?
Ella: Sure. One pound a ride.