Eighteen hundred thirty wrappers meant thirty-seven boxes, which came to sixteen dollars after local sales tax.

Sixteen dollars out of the forty-two I had left meant twenty-six dollars for food, milk, and gas until Friday.

I picked up the pen and circled the sixteen-dollar figure three times on the yellow page.

I put the pad in my purse and drove to the library with both kids in the back seat, because Irene had asked me to meet her down in the basement at two thirty.

She was already there with a cardboard box balanced on her knees.