The Swap

I had it ready to make the swap. I had to be careful. If anyone saw it the whole prank would be over before it started. Twenty-five people. Fifty eyes. If I was going to be successful, I had to do it quickly. As everyone was stuffing their mouths with our Thanksgiving dinner, which was so good, turkeys were begging for my uncle to cook them. Clang, clang, was heard all around the table as knives and spoons scraped against each other. The discussion revolved around who would pick the winning muffin. They weren’t any ordinary muffins, they were lottery tickets. Those who’d already picked theirs already figured out they only had the one dollar muffins. They weren’t just corn muffins with money inside. They were also the tastiest corn muffin in Connecticut even when they’re a little over cooked. Although there weren’t as many muffins in the basket as before, no one yet picked the one with the tightly wrapped piece of tin foil which held the five dollar bill. I discretely made a small tear in my muffin, pulled out my piece of tin foil, which with the odds probably held a dollar, and added my own piece of tin foil to the muffin. As the swap was completed I moved my muffin clearly into to everyone’s view.
“Alright guys. I know I got it. The five dollar muffin is mine,” I said so everyone could hear me. Most heard me but paid no attention. They simply went back to their turkey and artichokes. I ripped apart my muffin clearly revealing the tin foil. I slowly pealed the tin foil open and unraveled the folded piece of money. It wasn’t the five dollar bill, but it wasn’t a single either. I clearly had a one next to two zeroes. One hundred dollars never looked so good. I turned in my seat to face Uncle Scott sitting next to me. “Hey Uncle Scott,” I said. “I think I got the winning muffin.” I moved the bill into his view and the look on his face could never be duplicated.
“I think you should show that to Aunt Lorie,” he replied still not quite understanding what happened. Aunt Laurie makes the magical money muffins every year.
“Hey Aunt Laurie,” I said across the table. “I think I won.” She slowly peered up not expecting anything spectacular. Her expression was even more surprised than Uncle Scott’s.
“Oh my goodness,” she said. “I can’t believe I did that.” Everyone looked my way and one by one realized what I was holding. “Alright, alright,” she added. “I’m going to need that back.
I looked at her confused like I had no idea what she meant. “Keep it Ted! Keep it!” everyone was yelling at me. “Finders keepers, losers weepers!”
“Come on Ted. It was just a little mistake. I really need that back,” she told me looking more and more nervous as if she just lost her life savings.
“OK,” I said. “Before this gets out of hand, this is just a prank I decided to pull. It’s my mom’s money. I’ve been planning this for awhile.” The relief rushed to her face like a dam bursting.
“Really?” she asked still with some nervousness. “This is such a relief because Ryan just paid me back and I put it on the counter right near the muffins. I really thought it was mine.”
“Wow,” I said. “That was good timing.” I opened the original piece of tin foil and found non other the wonderful five dollar bill. “I actually got the five guys,” I said. “Can you believe it?”
“Why should we?” Sam said with a sarcastic smile on his face.
After it was all over, we ate our dinner without any further interruptions. However right before Aunt Laurie kissed me good-bye she said, “You this means I have to get you back right?” The smile slowly crawled off my face.