At school, Minkus and Topanga were showing their stock market charts up on the board. I didn't bother to do this project with the boys since they would make me do all the work.

"Topanga and I invested our imaginary $1,000 in the stock market," Minkus told Mr. Feeny.

"And how did you do?" our teacher asked.

"We kicked Wall Street butt."

"Yet, none of the companies we invested in discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or bad karma," Topanga added. She drew a smile on the board.

'You got to love her," Minkus grinned.

"You got to lock her up," Cory said in Minkus's mocking tone. 

"Well thought out, Mr. Minkus," Mr. Feeny complimented. "Very politically correct, Miss Lawrence. Which company's next?"

"Mr. Feeny, this project wasn't due for another week," Cory spoke nervously.

"This is just a progress report, Mr. Matthews," Mr. Feeny replied. "Those companies who've made progress should have no problem."

Shawn cleared his throat as he stood up. "We have a problem."

Cory and Shawn walked to the front of the board. "Our investment plan is..." Shawn drew a straight line on the chart. "Proceeding," Cory said. 

"We are pleased to report we have absolutely no losses," Shawn added.

"And we haven't fired anybody, and nobody quit."

"They haven't even started yet," Minkus chuckled.

"No?" Mr. Feeny questioned as the bell rang. 

I packed up my bag and looked to the boys who were both grinning wide at our teacher.

"Should I wait for them, Mr. Feeny?" I ask.

"I wouldn't, Ms. Cooper," he replied.

"Betty, wait-" Shawn called dramatically.

I shrug. "Eh, I'll just wait by the door." So that's what I did.

"I'm glad our company is making money because as the future mother of my children you are going to live in the lap of luxury because I am a provider, babe," I saw Minkus tell Topanga.

"Minkus, anyone can draw lines on a chart and say they're making money," Cory sassed as him and Shawn stood beside me. 

"You know, you guys are big talk because you're bigger than me but when it comes to using your brains how confident are you?"

"More confidenter than you," Shawn said.

Me and Cory look to him. Cory placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let me handle the negotiations, Mongo."

"Just sit back and stay silent, sweetie," I add.

"What have you got in mind?" Cory asked.

"I say we forget Feeny's imaginary money and we invest real money and see who comes out on top," Minkus said. 

"Oh boy," I mutter.

"I don't have a real $1,000. You get an allowance, don't you?" Minkus wondered. 

"That five bucks is sacred. That's my snack money."

"Afraid?" 

"No," Shawn answered.

"Yes," Cory answered.

"I ain't doing it," I answer.

"Make it ten," Shawn says. 

"Are you nuts?" Cory asked.

"Fifteen."

"Apparently, I'm invisible."

"Twenty."

"Twenty-five," Shawn challenged.

"Betty, do something," Cory looked to me.

"Fine. Shawn, hush it," I tell him. Cory looked to me disappointed. "What? I did something."

"Topanga, make them stop talking," Cory said.

"As an equal partner in our corporation I'd like to have a voice in this," Topanga looked to Minkus. 

"Fine.Let me set it up for you. It's me against them in a battle of wits," Minkus said.

"$300,000."

Cory shook Minkus's hand. "Ten bucks it is."

"There's a sucker born every minute," Minkus told Topanga.

"Two that minute," I say, earning a nudge from both Shawn and Cory once Topanga and Minkus walk away.

Cory pulled out his allowance. "I'm just going to give this to Minkus now so I don't get attached to it. It's been real, Abe."

"Okay, I've got an idea," Shawn spoke up.

"Oh no, someone call 911," I tease.

Shawn narrowed his eyes at me. "Let's call my Uncle Frank. He knows horses."

"You want to bet our allowances on a horse?" Cory doubted.

"Come on. Uncle Frank puts our 10 bucks on a 5-to-1 shot. Bingo, bango fifty bucks. We win the bet, we sell our story, we're movie stars."

As we walk towards the exit, Cory said, "Shawn, I just have one question. If your uncle knows how to make money this easy how come he lives in a trailer?"

*** 

"We bet our whole week's allowance on a horse. I can't breathe. My lungs can't take it. I got..." Cory paused, "Gastritis."

"Relax, Cor," I say. "Shawn told me, I'm betting my allowance too."

"I can't."

Shawn picked up a small valentine's heart off the table.  "Hey, who sent you a valentine? 'Dear Boom-Boom'," Shawn read off.

"That's what my dad calls my mom when he thinks no one's listening," Cory said.

"Boom-Boom?" me and Shawn question.

"Yeah, it makes me sick, too."

I looked over Shawn's shoulder as he read, "Roses are red, violets are blue Valentine's Monday, let's rendezvous." 

"They're always leaving goofy notes for each other secret meetings, romantic weekends. When you're a parent, that's all you have left," Cory replied.

"Yeah, my folks are romantic like that. Last year for Valentine's Day, my dad rotated my mom's tires."

"Lucky you, boys," I sigh. "Every valentine's day, my mom goes on a blind date." I made a face. "Most of the time, they're criminals or slobs." 

"And now the results of the ninth race from Aqueduct," the radio started up. 

I tapped my fingers nervously against the table as Shawn rubbed his hands together excitedly while Cory covered his ears. "It's post time."

"The winner is Tuna Melt by a neck followed by Hot Wax and Jacob's Ladder. Tuna Melt paid 19.80 to win and 5.40 to show."

Me and Shawn screamed happily. 

"What? What?" Cory asked nervously.

Shawn got up from his seat, shaking Cory. "We won!"

"How much?"

"This times this," Shawn showed the paper.

I grab my calculator, typing in the numbers. My eyes widened the answer. "Whoa, baby. That's ninety-nine bucks!"

All of us started screaming happily.

"What is the matter?" Mrs. Matthews questioned, walking in.

Cory jumped in his mother's arms.  "We won!"

"He means the Flyers," Shawn covered up. ""Sudden death overtime goal."

"Very exciting," I add.

"You guys act like you had money on the game," Mrs. Matthews said.

Cory did an exaggerated laugh. "Oh, mom."

Mrs. Matthews noticed the Valentines on the table. "What is this?"

"Breathe in," Shawn said, leaning on my shoulder. 

"You okay, Mrs. Matthews?" I ask.

"Huh?" She questioned. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine. I was just thinking I got to get a sitter for Monday night."

"Breathe out," Shawn spoke again.

"I started babysitting when I was around twelve and you're almost twelve." Mrs. Matthews looked to Cory. "Maybe you could stay with Morgan. The job pays $2.00 an hour."

"Whew. Two bucks that's a lot of money," Cory commented. "Mom, you know what? Keep the two bucks and buy yourself a nice dress."

"Gee, thanks, Cor. Okay, Monday night.I'll take a chance on you."

"Whew," Shawn sighed, once she Mrs. Matthews walked away. "You almost spilled the beans to Boom-Boom." I giggled at that.

"Hey, we just won a hundred bucks," Cory reminded. 

I roll my eyes as the boys started doing the what they call the 'famous' handshake, but I say dorky.

Now, Eric came in. "Come here, guys." He made the boys take a seat at the table. "Now would this bother you? All right. Your name is Brianna Henshaw. You're the best-looking girl in school. So one day you see me accidentally stumble into your best friend Debbie and inadvertently French-kiss her. Now you won't go out with me. Why won't you go out with me?"

I was about to speak up, but Shawn did, "I'm a little bit country. You're a little bit rock 'n' roll."

I raise my hand. "Um, Eric, if I may?" I lower my hand. "From a girl's perspective if you kissed one of my best friends 'accidentally', I'd never go out with you even if you are good looking. She probably doesn't see it as an 'accident'."

"Betts, this suppose to be from a girl's perspective." I nod as Eric trailed off. "From a girl who hangs out with girls and not geeky guys."

I scoff. "Fine, don't take my word, Eric."

Cory looked to Eric. "Hey, Eric, you like this girl well, then, you got to take a big risk. I know about this."

"Oh, you do?" Eric mocked. "Well, I'm always eager to get romantic advice from a fetus."

"The point is, you're never going to win her over unless you do something bold, unless you take a risk. That's how I live my life. I'm Risk Boy."

I leaned towards Shawn. "Do you buy that at all?"

Shawn laughed. "No, because wasn't I the one who got him to bet his money?" he whispered back.

***

The next day, at school-

"After careful market analysis product testing, and strategic planning we bet on Tuna Melt to win," Cory asked.

"You gambled with your $10?" Minkus asked.

"It's $1,000," Mr. Feeny corrected. 

"Oh, right, right."

"You invested your money on a racehorse?"

"And we won," Shawn answered.

"Call the police, Mr. Feeny," Minkus spoke. "It's illegal for minors to bet." I threw a paper ball at the back of his head. "Ow."

"Well, now, he has a point, Mr. Matthews," Mr. Feeny told them.

"Yes, he does. Good point, little nerdling," Cory replied, "Except in this assignment we're supposed to be businessmen and businesswomen. And as we all know it's perfectly legal for men and women to play the ponies."

"And usually, I get dragged into their schemes, but when it was explained like that, it wasn't that bad of an idea," I add.

Mr. Feeny hummed. "Although I don't condone gambling in any form Mr. Matthews and Hunter have demonstrated a basic tenet of American free enterprise the bigger the risk," I smiled. "The bigger the reward."

"Risk, risk, risk," Cory chanted.

"Reward, reward, reward," Shawn chanted.

"Oh, please," Minkus groaned.

"I think they were very bold," Topanga speaks up.

"Gold digger."

***

Later, me and the boys were resting on the couch.

"A hundred bucks and an A," Cory spoke. "It just doesn't get any better than this."

Eric came through the door. "I am a dating god. Worship me."

"Ignore him. Maybe his big head will float him upstairs."

"I was bold, I took a risk and now I got a date with Brianna Henshaw."

"And you should be saying thank you to whom?"

The Helco Locker Company of Madison, Wisconsin," Eric replied, sitting on the arm of the couch.

"Why?" I ask. 

"I stuffed myself in her locker."

Cory leaned forward. "Eric, when I said take a risk, I didn't want you to become a stalker."

Eric stood up, "I only had to wait in there for, like, three periods. I mean, she came back from math, and there I was her compact bundle of love."

"The greater the risk, the greater the return."

Eric found another heart on the fireplace. "What's this? 'Dear Pooh-bear' From mom to dad."

"Ooh. Boom-Boom's reply," Shawn said, getting me to laugh again at his tone.

"'Blue is the violet, red is the rose, wear that sexy cologne, and meet me at 8:00 at the place where you proposed'."

I raise my eyebrows. "The heck?"

Shawn looked to me. "Poetry is not Boom-Boom's strong suit."

"Poetry," Eric said in realization. "Girls love poetry. Uh, there once was a guy in a locker."

"Who just got a date what a shocker," Cory added loudly.

Shawn looked to Shawn, "You are a real chip off the old Boom-Boom."

"Hey, Shawn, can you reach your Uncle Frank right now?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because I have wasted the last twelve years of my life."

"Huh?" Shawn asked.

"What?" I ask.

"'Don't swim after you eat. Don't read in the dark. Don't stick your head in the ball return'," Cory said. 

"What are you talking about?" I question.

"I've been playing it safe all my life and where's it gotten me?  Here in a room with you guys."

I hold a hand to my chest. "Ouch, Cor."

"Thanks a lot," Shawn said.

"I'm talking about risk," Cory continued, "Big risk big reward. Bigger risk bigger reward."

I hold my hands up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa."

"Feeny finally taught us something that we can use. Call your uncle."

"You want to risk our hundred bucks?" Shawn asked.

"Are you nuts?" I quiz.

"I want to live," Cory spoke. 

***

Now, we were in Cory's room, listening to the radio.

"The Flyers swept by Montreal. 6-3."

"Forget the stinking Flyers!" Cory screamed. "Give me the fifth race at Pimlico." I hid by Shawn, now afraid of Risk Boy Cory.

"And now the results of the fifth race at Pimlico."

"Come on, Neck Flap, baby!"

"And the winner is N-" Cory lifted the radio, unplugging it.  

"Nuh? What kind of name is Nuh?"

"You idiot!" me and Shawn exclaimed.

"You ripped the plug out of the wall," Shawn said.

"Well, he said Nuh. It's got to be Neck Flap," Cory said.

"What other horse starts with Nuh?"

"Okay, we got Neck Flap, Nux Vomica Nunzio's Dream, and, remarkably a horse called Nuh."

"Come on, get on the horn and call your uncle."

We ran to the phone as Shawn dialed, "Gus, Shawn. Give me Frankie Two Toes."

"Frankie Two why is he called Frankie Two Toes?" Cory asked. 

"Well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

"Uncle Frank, how'd our horse do?...Yeah....Uh-huh...."

"What? What's the matter? I knew we shouldn't have bet on Neck Flap .All the smart money was on Nuh," Cory panicked until I nudged him to shut up. "I know, I know. We lost it all."

Shawn lowered the phone. "Uncle Frank says-" 

"We just lost all our money, because we took a risk.Because We didn't play it safe. I'll never take another risk as long as I live-"

"Shut it, Cor!" I snap then grab Shawn by the shoulders. "What did he say, Shawny?"

"That we just won six hundred and eighty bucks."

"Let it ride!" Cory exclaimed as we all danced around the room.

I  hugged Cory then, Shawn, but when I pulled back to continue dancing, Shawn hugged me tighter. "Shawny, you can let go now!"

"Okay." I pulled back again, but his grip was the same. That's when I pinched his shoulder. "Ow." He finally let go of me and we all jumped around the room.

***

Cory had our money on his bed, counting it for what felt like the hundredth time. 

"Let's count it again," Cory said.

"Cor, it's been 680 bucks still," I say.

"And it's been 680 bucks the last 12 times," Shawn sighed.

"Don't you love twenties?" Cory grinned. 

Shawn stood up. "I'm going to go get us a pizza."

"I'll go with you, I need to stretch my legs," I say, also standing up.

"Fine. Go," Cory handed me some money. "But get a receipt. This is a business dinner."

"Yeah, yeah," I reply before the both of us leave the room.

***

At the pizza place we saw Lenny Dykstra. Yes, Lenny Dykstra who was center fielder for the Mets and now Phillies. We got him to sign our cards, after me and Shawn begged to wait for Cory.

"I hold in my hand one dozen freshly signed mint-condition Lenny Dykstra rookie cards," Shawn grinned, walking into the Matthew's home.

"Getting more valuable every second. They're more valuable now now, now," Cory said.

"Ka-ching!" we all laughed. 

"Wait a minute. I didn't leave the front door open," Cory said. I look at the back door to see it broken and a doll next to it. "Uh-oh." He ran over. "Morgan!"

"Morgan!" I call, searching the living-room. 

Cory came back downstairs. "Shawn, Betty, Morgan's gone."

"Cory," I call, picking up Morgan's doll. 

Cory grabbed the doll. "Oh, this is bad-" he repeated.

"Shawny, you look outside for her, I'll check upstairs," I tell him.

"You got it," he told me.

I searched upstairs in her room, Eric and Cory's room, the bathroom. Nothing. I was beginning to panic until Cory came back with Morgan who was in the tree house.

***

The next day, in class...

"Well, based on performance figures to date it seems as though the Matthews-Hunter Consortium is our most profitable corporation," Mr. Feeny spoke. "So, gentlemen, do you have any business tips for our other young entrepreneurs?" 

Shawn raised his hand. "Yeah. Some people bet on a jockey. I say, 'Give me a horse that can run in the mud.'" 

Mr. Feeny sarcastically clapped. "Oh, bravo. Anything to add, Mr.Matthews?"

Cory nodded. "Yes. The greater the risk the greater the potential profit. Just like you taught us, Mr. Feeny."

"Yes, but sometimes the glitter of the profit makes one lose sight of the risk."

"And you should never gamble anything that you can't afford to lose."

"I didn't teach you that."

"No, you didn't. I kind of managed to trip over that one myself."

I packed up my stuff and waited for Shawn by the door who walked up to Minkus. "You know, Stu, I was so busy counting money yesterday I completely forgot to give you your valentine." I grinned as I watched Shawn place an envelope on his desk. "So here. No hard feelings, eh, big brain?"

I walked around the corner with Shawn and Cory, both of us grabbing the toy guns Zack brought. "Happy Valentine's Day," I heard Minkus read. "Turn around." 

I giggled as all of us jumped in the doorway, shooting balls at Minkus and Mr. Feeny. Mr. Feeny hid behind his desk, pulling out a gun similar to ours from the stuff he collects from other students and shooting us back. When I ran out, I hid behind the boys.

***

At my locker, I was grabbing my sketch book for art when a small envelope fell out. I read the front, familiar scrawl.

"'To Ponytail'," I read. "Gee, I wonder who this is from," I say, aloud in case the person who gave this to me was listening. I open the envelope, pulling out a card with a heart on it.

Silently I read the letter-

Dear Ponytail,
Happy Valentine's day. Don't turn around it's not a prank. I saw how upset you've been about your mom working a lot lately so this is my way of cheering you up. You're totally awesome and don't forget it. 

From Prince Charming.

P.S. I used the last of my money to buy this. Don't tell Cory.

P.P.S. This is Shawn if you didn't know.

I smiled as I placed the letter down. He must've figured out the nicknames inspired by Mr. and Mrs. Matthews's letters.

I grinned bigger as I pulled a single rose out of my locker. I stare at it in awe. I heard shuffling nearby. My eyes move to the corner of the hall where Shawn was hiding behind a corner nearby.

"Shawny?" I call. He quickly ran off, the other direction. "Thank you, Prince Charming!"

***

Hi!

I'm sorry about the late update. This was suppose to be published early Feburary.