Play Money

by Christina Crooks

Christina Crooks lives in Portland, Oregon. Her stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. Her romance novel, Thrill of the Chase, is available now. Please visit Christina at her website.

Mona felt her lips twitch despite herself. "Where'd you get this?" She ran her hands over the rectangular toy, feeling Andrew Jackson's fuzzy hair, the velvet "Twenty" repeated in numerals and letters, the bare patches printed with watermarks and seals. The squeezable money looked like the real thing. Except for being a foot long and bright green.

"I'm glad you like it. We brought back boxes of these from a meeting this morning. Can't have too many motivational gifts for the employees." Pete gave her a look that had her bristling again. "The toy reminds people to develop good financial habits."

"Let's not talk about money." Bad enough that he'd chastised her like a child when she hadn't been quite ready at his arrival. Worse that he'd glanced at his PDA at every stoplight, checking his stock portfolio along with the time. If she had to endure yet another lecture -- time was money, money didn't grow on trees -- she'd jump out of his shiny new BMW and walk to the party. 

On second thought, she'd walk home to her apartment. The waiting guests were Pete's fellow bankers and friends, their girlfriends, their spouses.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd had fun with Pete. How'd she get herself into a relationship with such a stuffed shirt?

She squeezed the toy to hear it speak again.

STRETCH ME!

"Stretching a buck," Pete explained.

"But this is a twenty." She danced the toy back and forth.

"The principle is the same." He looked straight ahead. His backlit nose and jaw looked handsome as ever, but hard and cold as a coin's profile.

SAVE ME!

Mona grinned. "It's cute."

HOLD ME!

"It's educational, I hope." And then, after he'd parked: "You're not actually bringing it in with you?"

She hadn't planned to, but at his tone she clutched it to her. "Absolutely."

His lips tightened. He walked ahead of her up the sloping footpath. When they entered the enormous foyer of the party he wore a smile and offered handshakes and backslaps to his friends.

Talk revolved around acquisitions. Mona tuned out, looked around. The party already stifled. One-sided conversations punctuated boring background music. Men worked cell phones or electronic organizers, women open purses from which ringtones periodically emanated. Mona endured superficial social niceties.

GET ME SOME FRIENDS?

"What on earth is that?" asked a platinum blonde introduced as Charice. The woman's gaze flicked up and down Pete with interest. Her perfectly lipsticked mouth puckered as if to whistle. "Oooh, charming! It talks! I thought that thing was your purse!" Cruel laughter tinkled.

"It's a toy." Mona offered the explanation, puzzled. She hadn't squeezed it that time. Had she?

GET ME SOME FRIENDS?

Pete patted her shoulder, adult to child, but his smile was for Charice. "It encourages savings. It wants money friends."

"A toy after your own heart," Mona said, watching Pete's head bob agreement with Charice's cleavage.

GET ME SOME FRIENDS?

"Excuse me."

The darker hallway, free of perfume and glittering jewels, refreshed her immediately. But it already had an occupant. Mona recognized the hunched-over concentration of a man checking a gadget for updates. He used both thumbs and scrolled with urgency.

Impatient, she moved to search for a more solitary spot.

AS GOOD AS GOLD!

The man looked up, startled, then quickly back down. "Damn!" An electronic trill cycled down. "You killed me!" he accused, approaching her.

Mona shook her toy, listening for loose parts. She definitely hadn't squeezed it that time.

AS GOOD AS GOLD!

Then the man's words penetrated. "Huh? Killed you?" She looked up into laughing brown eyes. A black leather jacket clothed his broad shoulders. His playful smile didn't help her train of thought. "I killed you?"

"On my PSP." He danced his device the same way she'd danced her toy earlier. "I'd almost defeated the goblin and rescued the princess. Now he's gnawing on my bones. Thanks a lot. My name's Will."

Before she could answer, Pete rounded the corner. "Mona, there you are! I'd prefer you don't run off like that again, please. It's embarrassing." He took her arm.

SAVE ME! SAVE ME! SAVE ME!

"Please stop that." Pete's grip tightened.

"I'm not pressing it! It's talking on its own. Pete, let go of me."

"Why don't you let the lady go, pal."

AS GOOD AS GOLD!

"I'd appreciate it if you stopped that right now." Pete let go of her to swipe at the toy. He seemed almost comically shocked when Will stepped in front of it, and Mona. "Get your own, buddy."

"She is mine."

"I was referring to the toy." Will winked at her.

HOLD ME!

"I'm not anybody's," Mona declared. She looked from her disgruntled date to her new friend. "Will, let's take our toys and go play elsewhere. Or do you have to stay here for someone?"

"I'm thinking not. Charice seems happier flirting with every fast-track bank executive in the house. She probably won't even notice I'm gone."

"I find that hard to believe." Mona gazed at the brown-eyed cutie, liking everything about him. She'd had more fun in the last few minutes than she'd had in weeks.

HOLD ME! AS GOOD AS GOLD!

"Mona, don't make a stupid, costly mistake. You don't even know this man."

Pete's tone strengthened her resolve.

Will offered her his arm. The feel of muscle and leather under her fingers exhilarated her. As they passed Pete she felt only gratitude. "Thanks for the toy, Pete. It's the best gift ever."

"Yeah, thanks Petey."

"Go to hell, both of you."

They clutched the toy between them, smiling at each other.

HOLD ME! AS GOOD AS GOLD!

LET'S MULTIPLY!

© 2007 Christina Crooks