Prizes and Prizes!

How did they get 30 stickers in here?

After reading, working on his second phonics book, and finishing his last box of sight words, Erick got his prizes this week: a Cat-in-the-Hat bookmark and superstar sticker for finishing his first phonics workbook, and then a very special Super Mario surprise box for finishing the last box of sight words.

Even though it doesn't look like much, Erick immediately recognized it as a Glow Block that Mario can pick up in the game to light his way. "Thank you, Miss Madalyn!" he exclaimed, "I like it!"
"It's not just a box," I replied. "There's something inside!"
At this revelation, Erick became so excited that he had to ask for my help to open this little box. Inside, to his amazement, there were 30 stickers of different characters from the game.

I was a little worried that Erick would be let down by the stickers. I had gotten it from a toy dispenser, not knowing which capsule would fall out. I was a little disappointed myself when I opened the box beforehand and discovered that all the characters inside were villains--Bowser, grumpy mushrooms, snapping flowers, flying turtles, and not a single Mario or Yoshi--but I didn't have time to go back to try my luck at getting a different set. It turns out that I didn't have to worry, because as soon as Erick saw the stickers, he shouted "YES!" while pumping his fist in the air. And if that were not assurance enough, he said, "Wow! I really like this! I'm going to show my mom! Thank you! Thank you!"
"You're welcome." I replied. "It's because you have been working so hard and you did such a good job with your sight words! And...maybe you can use your little Super Mario to fight all those bad guys."
"Maybe." Erick said. Then, "I'm going to put these in my bed."
I think that must be where he hides his small treasures. I was about to ask him about it when he said, "You and me--we can be friends forever. Okay?"
"Okay!" I agreed, as I did my own mental fist pumps.