n 3–5 sentences, describe a character that is stingy with money and dishonest. Include allusions to Scrooge and Pinocchio or two other suitable, well-known allusions in your response.

Gerald Grinchfield hoarded his wealth like Ebenezer Scrooge, counting every penny and bristling at any suggestion of generosity. His eyes would narrow, much like that of a puppet master with a marionette, whenever he sensed a potential expense approaching, revealing a dishonesty that rivaled Pinocchio's wayward nose; he often concocted elaborate lies to justify refusing loans or helping others in need. Even his closest friends learned to dread conversations about finances, knowing that his frugality came with a sting of deception and a frosty heart, forever locked away in a vault of selfishness.