Two roads for Nia's coinsIn the pretend town of Lantern Bay, Nia mended fishing nets and was paid twenty spare coins. Last winter she had borrowed twenty coins from Bea to buy a loom, and the debt was still waiting. Bea charged two extra coins every month. Dov, who ran the orchard co-op, said, "Plant your coins with us. Coins planted here grow about one coin a month, on average." Some months give more and some give less, because nobody can promise the weather. Grandpa Gus drew a table. For the debt, two extra coins a month for three months is six coins, and it is certain, because Bea charges it every month. For the orchard, one coin a month for three months is three coins, but that is only an average, and nobody can promise it, not even Dov. Last year a storm shook coins off the trees, though the trees grew coins again the next spring. Gus said a sure cost and a maybe gain are different kinds of numbers. He added that a safety jar for surprises, whether the debt nags, and when coins are needed all matter, and families weigh them differently. Nia tucked the table in her pocket to talk it over with her mom before picking a road.