If I was stuck in Holling's problem, I would solve it realistically and just say no. I would explain how I worked for the cream puff and tell them that maybe if they worked hard, they might get one too. They wouldn't expect you to buy the entire class cream puffs, thats so unrealistic. And, in the 0.01% chance that  that doesn't work, I would just tell my mom my predicament and have her lend me some money so I could buy some.

Another solution is just working hard. If you did extra chores, and did stuff that lets you earn money, you could probably rack up enough money to afford a box of those delicious cream puffs. And even if you couldn't earn that much money in time, (you probably could, but if you didn't), You could probably get someone like a parent to lend you some money.