The Backpack Tax

The Backpack Tax

Molly stared and stared at the amazing pink backpack. It had a delightful design of an elephant on the back. It had big gray ears that stuck out on the sides and a long trunk that hung from its face. Elephants were Molly's favorite animals in the whole wide world.

Every Saturday afternoon, Molly and her parents went together to the shopping mall to watch a movie at the theater. After the movie, Molly would ask her parents for permission to drop by the toy store. Once inside, she would rush to the elephant backpack to stroke its plush, fuzzy ears and pull its long trunk. Each Saturday morning, Molly's mother paid her an allowance for completing her chores: five dollars. Afterward, Molly would total up the money she had saved in her elephant-shaped piggy bank. Did she have enough to buy the backpack yet?

The elephant backpack cost thirty dollars. One week Molly counted fifteen dollars in her bank. The next week she counted twenty dollars, and the next, twenty-five dollars. And then one beautiful Saturday, she counted again. She had thirty dollars!

Molly sang with delight and danced around her room, “ I'm going to buy the backpack! " That afternoon, her family went to watch another movie at the shopping mall. The movie was hilarious, but Molly barely even noticed. Once the movie had ended, Molly marched straight to the toy store. Molly carefully took the elephant backpack from the rack. Her mom asked, " How much does it cost, Molly?" Molly said, “ The tag says thirty dollars, and that's exactly how much money I have! " " But Molly, you'll also have to pay sales tax on top of that price, " said Mom. “ The sales tax adds six cents for every dollar something costs. That means you'll need thirty-one dollars and eighty cents to purchase the backpack. " “ What? That's not fair! " cried Molly. " What's a sales tax?"

" Every time we buy something, we pay a little bit extra for the sales tax, " Dad explained. " But why do I have to pay a tax?" asked Molly. “ I'm just a kid! " " Taxes pay for things that help the people who live in a community, " said Mom. " Let's put the backpack back on the shelf, and I'll explain on the way home. " They walked outside to the crowded parking lot and got into the car. Mom asked, " Do you remember how we got to the mall today?" “ We drove here in this car, " said Molly. " That's right, " said Mom. “ And what is the car driving on?" “ A road?" Molly asked.