Just as I was about to fluff my pillow one last time last night, the phone rang. As I picked it up, I noticed it was 11:30 pm. It had to be our child, Need, who resides in another time zone, both physically and socially. The conversation opened with the customary "I have a quick question" and proceeded to an hour of college life anecdotes. After the funnies, came the business section, culminating in the financial page. At 12:37, Need announces two weeks into summer term she owes $1100 in tuition! Having recently returned from a study abroad, Need depleted her bank account and diminished her job prospects. I hung up the phone, returned to my bed and dreamed of financial ruin.
As I sat in the doctor's office this morning waiting for an x-ray on my broken wrist, thoughts danced in my weary head. "How much will this cost? The doctor said something about surgery? How much will that cost? The doctor graduated from Yale. . .how much did that cost? $1100. No, it must have cost more. $1100!" At this point I looked at my chauffeur, 17 year old Want, and said "Your sister needs $1100!" I started laughing. He glared at me and growled, "that's not funny!" "Why?" I asked. "That's my money!" he moaned. Want is the third child and often feels wanting behind his siblings!
$1100! Wonder what my husband will say when he finds out?
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