The Tuckshop Treasure Hunt

Flora loved playtime at her school. The sun always seemed to shine brightest on the big red slide, and the sandpit was full of hidden treasures. Today, her head was buzzing with what her teacher, Miss Newey, had taught them about shiny round coins. There were big gold dollars and little silver cents, and they all had a special job. Flora, who loved to ask questions, wiggled her toes in the warm sand, wondering how they all worked.

Suddenly, Miss Newey clapped her hands. "Listen up, everyone! It's time for a Tuckshop Treasure Hunt!" She handed Flora a small purse. Inside, Flora found a big, shiny dollar coin and three silver coins. "The treasure," said Miss Newey with a twinkle in her eye, "is a super-duper rainbow icy pole! It costs one dollar and fifty cents. Can you find the right treasure in your purse?" Flora's tummy did a little flip-flop of excitement and confusion.

Flora sat on the bench, her curious mind whirring. She tipped the coins into her hand. Jingle, jangle, puzzle. She tried giving Miss Newey just the big gold coin. "Is this enough?" she asked. Miss Newey smiled kindly. "That's the dollar part, but you still need the fifty cents." Flora felt a bit stuck. She looked at the shiny silver coins. How could these little bits be fifty cents? Jingle, jangle, puzzle.

Then, Flora remembered Miss Newey's words from class: "Add the little coins to make a bigger number!" Her explorer-fingers went to work. She pushed two silver coins together. "This is a twenty, and this is a twenty... that makes forty!" she whispered. Her eyes widened as she spotted the last little coin. "And ten more makes... fifty!" She grabbed all the coins and raced over. "One dollar and fifty cents!" she announced proudly, holding them out.

"You've done it!" cheered Miss Newey, trading the coins for a magnificent, drippy, rainbow icy pole. As Flora took a big, cold lick, the sweet raspberry flavour filled her mouth. The sun felt warm on her back, and the coin puzzle was solved. She wasn't just holding an icy pole; she was holding her very first tuckshop treasure, earned all by herself. Dollars and cents weren't confusing anymore; they were the key to a delicious adventure.