The narrator, Derek, is a poor student who attends a private school. His family struggles financially, but his parents want to provide him with a better education. Derek's life changes when he finds $50 under his bed, followed by increasing amounts of money each day. He uses the money to buy presents for his sister and improve his own life. He becomes popular at school, gets a girlfriend, and enjoys his new life. However, the money suddenly stops coming, and Derek is devastated. He confides in his father, who reveals that he and Derek's mother are actually wealthy and had been testing Derek's character by providing him with the money. Derek failed the test by using the money to impress others and become popular instead of saving or helping others. As a result, his father cuts him off from the money until he leaves college.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Derek, wakes up to his little sister Tina jumping on his stomach to tell him how many days are left until her birthday.
2. Tina is going to be six years old.
3. Derek's family is not wealthy, with his mom working at a bakery and his dad recently laid off.
4. Derek's parents can't afford to buy Tina many presents, so Derek wants to get her something special.
5. Derek finds a $50 bill under his bed, which he doesn't know where it came from.
6. The next day, Derek finds $100 under his bed, and the amount of money increases by $50 each day.
7. Derek uses the money to buy presents for Tina and later spends it on himself, his friend Myles, and his date Stephanie.
8. Derek and Myles go to a club using fake IDs, where Derek kisses Stephanie and becomes popular at school.
9. The money under Derek's bed stops appearing after a few weeks.
10. Derek's father reveals that he and his wife inherited a great fortune before Derek was born, and they chose to raise him and Tina in a modest lifestyle to teach them values like honesty and generosity.
11. Derek's father put the money under his bed to test his behavior when he had everything, but Derek failed the test by spending the money on impressing people and becoming popular.
12. Derek's father tells him that he won't get any more money until he leaves college.