Mrs. Dingman's Class, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday
2000/2001
We combined Language Arts and Math skills in this writing project. We re-told Judith Viorst's Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday, practiced using past-tense verbs, and showed how well we can add and subtract money.
Enjoy our creativity and humor!
Christine, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday
I used to be rich last Sunday. But now it's not fair that my brother has five dollars, two quarters, three dimes, one nickel, and four pennies. It's not fair that my mom has six dollars, seven quarters, two dimes, five nickels, and one penny. It's not fair that my dad has seven dollars, six dimes, four nickels, and two pennies and all I have is chewed up pencils. My Aunt came over my house and she gave me ten dollars to buy something because she could not decide what to give me for Christmas. When I got the ten dollars my brother told me to cut my hair. I thought that was nice but I wanted to grow my hair really long. My dad said to put it in the bank to save up for going to a different country. "Ha ha ha!" I did not like that idea. My mom said to save it up for buying a nail polish set. I said, "Saving up money is hard."
Even though I liked that idea I said, "I am saving up my money."
The day after that I went to the store and I saw a jig saw puzzle. I needed that jig saw puzzle. Bye-bye seventy five cents. Now I was absolutely positively going to saving the rest of my money. But when I was walking out of the store I saw a horn for my bike. It was pink with a lime green top. It was so pretty. So I bought it. Bye-bye fifty cents. Now I was absolutely positively going to save the rest of my money. But when I was going home from the store I saw someone having a garage sale. So I thought I would stop by but I was definately not going to buy anything. But I saw some earrings that were never used before, but they did have a dent in them. So I bought them. Bye-bye fifty eight cents. Now I was absolutely positively going to save the rest of my money.
Then when I was leaving I saw a pogo stick. I needed that pogo stick. So I bought it. Bye-bye two dollars. When I got home I bet my brother I could jump more times than him on my new pogo stick. I did one hundred fifty jumps. But my brother did five hundred twenty five jumps. Bye-bye fifty six cents. I bet my mom I could go to bed faster than she could. She did not want to bet me. So she made me pay one dollar. Now I am absolutely positively going to save the rest of my money.
But I went to the bakery just to look around, not to buy anything, and I saw a cookie that was maybe the size of a mitten! I needed that cookie which was maybe the size of a mitten. Bye-bye two dollars sixty-one cents! When I got home from the bakery I saw brownies on the counter. I took a brownie my dad made because I got hungry walking home. He came in and he noticed that one of the brownies was gone. He got upset that I took one of his brownies. Bye-bye one dollar fifty cents. When I was walking out of the kitchen I saw my brother watching TV and I said I bet you that I could look up the word ostrich in the dictionary faster than you could. Guess what, he won!! Bye-bye fifty cents. Now I have no more money. So I tried to sell some of my toys. That did not work.
Now all I have is a jig saw puzzle, a horn, earrings, a pogo stick, a cookie, a brownie, and chewed up pencils!!! I really hope my Aunt comes back soon!!
Devin, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday
It isn't fair that my brother has two dollars, one quarter, and nine pennies! It isn't fair that my mom has seven dollars, three quarters, seven dimes, two nickels, and one penny! All's I have is stuffed bears. Last Sunday my mom let me babysit my little brother while she was at work. When she was done working she gave me ten dollars for babysitting. My brother said I owed him three dollars but he was just trying to get my money. My dad said to save it for college. My mom said the same thing. I told them I was going to save it but not for college. My other brother said baby things like goo goo gaa gaa.
My friend said she would give me a necklace and ring for only five cents each. Bye-Bye ten cents. The next day my friend said she would give me a bracelet that matched the necklace and the ring for five cents. Bye-Bye five cents. Now I was absolutely going to save my money. I was positively going to save my money. I was absolutely positively going to save my money.
But my mom said she didn't have money for a drink for my lunch and my brother didn't want to give up his money so she asked me to give her some money. Bye-Bye thirty-five cents. I was absolutely going to save my money. I was positively going to save my money. I was absolutely positively going to save my money.
But the next day my aunts and uncles came up and we went to the flea market. At the flea market I saw a cool tie-dye knapsack for three dollars. I needed that knapsack. I saw a cat necklace for thirty-five cents. I needed that cat necklace. Bye-Bye five dollars and thirty-five cents. I am absolutely going to save my money. I am positively going to save my money. I was absolutely positively going to save my money.
But my other friend had a garage sale and I told her I would help her sell her things. When I got there I saw an electronic cat for three dollars. I needed that cat. I saw three bears for three dollars each. I needed those bears. I told her I could help her with the garage sale. Bye-Bye six dollars. When the garage sale was over I said to myself, I'm absolutely going to save my money. I am positively going to save my money. I am absolutely positively going to save my money but my mom needed more lunch money. Bye-Bye thirty- five cents. I'm absolutely going to save my money. I'm positively going to save my money. I'm absolutely positively going to save my money but I had no more money to save.
I tried to sell my electronic cat. Nobody liked cats. I tried to sell my three bears. Nobody wanted bears. I told my mom I would babysit again soon.
All's I have now is a ring, a necklace, a drink, a cat necklace, a knapsack, an electronic cat, and stuffed bears.
Thomas, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday
It's not fair that my dad has one billion dollars. It's not fair that my mom has one thousand dollars. All I have is ten dogs. Even when I'm very rich I know that soon all I'll have is ten dogs.
Last Sunday I did my chores and after that my mom gave me TEN DOLLARS! ! ! My dad told me to go down to the store and buy a set of teeth. Mom said to buy a T. V. I think I was going to save it. Saving money is hard. I know because I used to be rich last Sunday.
But last Sunday when I was rich John was having a garage sale. I didn't like anything. But later I liked three things. I looked at a video. I needed a video. I looked at a video game. I needed a video game. I looked at two pet snakes. I needed two snakes. Bye- bye $8.00. Now I was absolutely positively going to save my money but my mom needed to $2.00 more to buy the new Kabota. I gave her the two dollars. Now I was absolutely positively going to save my money but I had no money to save.
I tried doing my chores again but there were no chores to do. So I tried to look on the floor just in case anyone dropped money. No one dropped any money.
So I gave up and now all I have is a video, a video game, two pet snakes, a Kabota for my mom, and ten dogs.
Matthew, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday
It isn't fair that my brother has seventy-one dollars and fifty-six cents. It isn't fair that my sister has ninety-eight dollars and eighty-one cents and I only have a toy alligator. One day my grandparents came. My grandpa gave me $10.00. He gave my brother a penny and my sister the same amount. "You should take that ten dollars and eat it," my brother said. "You could buy a new pet alligator. Maybe it will eat you," my sister said. "Ha ha, very funny."
The next day I went to spend some of my money. I walked in the store. I saw a book about monsters. I needed that book about monsters. Bye- bye $4.00. I was in school when this bully stole some of my money. Bye-bye $2.00. I had a rough day.
I took off my clothes and put my pajamas on and I went to bed. In the morning I noticed that I only had $3.00! Oh, no I must have left $1.00 in my pants and my mom washes the clothes today! Bye- bye $1.00 That's it! I am absolutely positively saving my money, but there was this candy fair and there was this two pack of bubble gum. I needed that two pack of bubble gum. Bye- bye fifty cents. I bet my sister that I could stay in that mean man's yard for 775 minutes. I chickened out. Bye- bye fifty cents. When I went to this yard sale I found this globe. I needed that globe. Bye- bye $2.00. I'm absolutely positively saving my money. But I had no money to save!
I tried to sell my sister. She gave me a bloody nose. I tried to sell my brother. I got thrown across the lawn.
All I have is a monster book, a two pack of bubble gum, and a toy alligator. Grandma and grandpa come back soon!
Krystine, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday
It's not fair that my brother has twenty dollars, fifty dimes, and four quarters. It's not fair that my sister has ten dollars, four dimes, and six pennies. All I have is a dog.
I use to be rich last Sunday, because my Aunt Kari gave me two dollars for my birthday. Then I got five dollars from my Grandma and Grandpa. Then I got three dollars from my Aunt Kipp. My brother told me to go buy a kitten. But, my sister told me to go get my hair and nails done. My mother said to save it if I really wanted a TV. Saving money is hard.
The next day my mom and I went to the store. I bought two packs of bubble gum. Bye- bye fifty cents. Then I bought a purple stuffed animal kitten. Bye- bye $1.00. I am absolutely positively going to save my money.
But, then at home I forgot that I had to pay my mom back and she made me pay five cents. Bye- bye five cents. I was absolutely positively was going to save my money. But then my boyfriend called and asked if I could watch his dog until 4:15. I said, "O.K." Bye- bye $2.25. I was absolutely positively going to save my money. Then my mom asked me to go downtown to the store and buy a light bulb. Bye- bye $1.00. Now, I am really going to save my money. Then, I bought a shirt for $5.20. Bye-bye $5.20.
I asked people if they wanted to rent a dog for an hour. But nobody wanted a dog. Then I tried selling some of my toys. Nobody wanted toys either. Then I prayed for my birthday to come back soon.
Now, all I have is two packs of bubble gum, a kitten, a light bulb and my boyfriend's dog.
Meaghan, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday
It isn't fair that my brother has ten nickels, five dimes, and 100 pennies. It isn't fair that my sister has two dollars, five quarters, and nine pennies. All I have is a pocketbook. I wish I were rich. But I know pretty soon all I will have is a pocketbook. I know because last Sunday I used to be rich.
It all started when it was my birthday. My friend Nicole gave me ten dollars. My sister said to go buy her a Barbie doll. Ha- ha- ha. My brother said to go buy a house.
I went to the dollar store. I saw some fake bugs. Bye- bye twelve cents. Then I went to go swimming. I dropped some coins so I could go down and get them.
I didn't know the pool had a drain. Bye- bye five cents. Then I went to Wal- Mart to get some candy. Bye- bye nineteen cents. Then some money fell into the sink. Bye- bye $ 1.00.
Then I saw a garage sale. I saw a book. I needed that book! I saw a set of milky pens. I needed those milky pens. Bye-bye $4.00. I was absolutely saving the rest of my money. But I made a bet that I could skate faster than my sister. She won. Bye- bye $3.00. Then some money fell down a crack. Bye- bye sixty-four cents. Then I bought some gum. Bye-bye $1.00.
Now all my money is gone. I tried to rent some people my toys. Everyone had toys. I tried to pull out a tooth. It hurt.
Now all I have is gum, bugs, a book, pens, and a pocketbook.
This page was last updated on: June 2, 2022
