The cheek, the nerve, the gall, the audacity, the gumption!

My little local public library runs a writing competition for kids. It's actually really popular - we get 100s of entries and they can be very competitive (mostly it's just us staff trying to weed out the AI entries, competitively). We have a budget of around $200 plus snacks for the presentation. The short list of winners has been announced, and this morning I just got this email from one of the entrants:

____

This is **name**, and I've been shortlisted for **award**. (thank you!! this is such an honour)
I'd love to attend the awards night in *DATE*, but I'm currently based interstate and I wanted to ask if you could cover travel fees (just flying.).
I understand if this isn't possible, but I would really want to come to the awards presentation!
_____

We are cracking up! FLY THEM IN? FLY THEM IN? On what budget? Can we take it from the $65 we've set aside for sandwiches?

Seriously? I know it's probably a young person who doesn't understand how life works yet, but I have to say this is one of the funniest/most outrageous requests I've ever seen.

We don't provide bus fare, never mind interstate flights.

Fly them in... cackling!