THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT

You have a great aunt called Louise. She is a bit strange, pretty old and not very nice. You go over to her house a few times a year and she spends the whole time telling you what's wrong with your family and how your parents should be stricter. She's always grumpy but she seems to like you. She says you remind her of her son. You are a really good swimmer and compete a lot just like your uncle used to so Anty Louise is always interested to hear about your latest competitions.  You are definitely her favourite even though you don't think you deserve to be.

Anty Louise is rich and lives on her own. One time on a trip over there she tells you that if you do well in your next carnival she is going to give you something really special for your birthday. On your 12^th birthday a letter comes for $3000. When you show your family they are gob smacked. Your brothers both sit, dazed, staring at the cheque and then look at you. Your father calls Anty Louise to insist that it is so much money. He is worried that she is losing her marbles but she insists that the money is yours.

Your father says that you will have to decide what you want to do with it. Your brothers say nothing but you feel terrible. They have never been given more by her than a pair of socks for their birthday. You are wondering what you should do with the money.

Task: Decide what is the right thing to do with the money and justify your answer.

(Text from: Sally Young, Talk it up! Discussions points for upper Primary Students)