By Peter K. Lam
“You screwed up big time, Jade!” scolded Rose, Jade’s mother.
“I’m sorry Mom, but I had no other choice,” plead Jade trying hard to appeal her case to her mom.
It was the annual Sunday shopping spree at “Fashion, Fashion” and everyone that participated would get a free pleather purse. The goal of the shopping spree is to try to spend the most amount of money at “Fashion, Fashion.” Whoever spends the most will be rewarded with $50, 000 and a trip to Hong Kong, her parents’ childhood home. Jade waits every year for this very special day because she hopes to win the money in order to buy a dress that all her friends were wearing. Jade usually did everything that she can to win. She never does though. In desperation, this time Jade went too far.
“You can’t possibly justify maxing out the credit card that your father and I lent to you for emergencies!” shouted Rose with her face turning scarlet, “$50, 000, Jade! Do you know how much that really is?”
“But I was trying to win the shopping spree, Mom!” replied Jade squeamishly, “You don’t understand! The prize is so worth it!”
“And what’s the prize you win, dear?” asked Rose as she raised her right eyebrow suspiciously.
“Whoever spends the most money at ‘Fashion, Fashion’ wins $50, 000 and a trip to Hong Kong,” said Jade smiling as though the prize was really worth her efforts, “Look at the cool little purse I got free from the contest, Mom. It’s for you. I wanted to win the contest not just for the money but for the trip too. I know how much you and Dad have wanted to go back to Hong Kong to visit Grandma and Grandpa.”
“That’s beside the point, Jade,” retorted Rose as Jade handed the purse to Rose.
“What do you mean?” replied Jade oblivious to what Rose was talking about.
“The prize you’re supposed to win is $50, 000, a trip to Hong Kong, and this… this purse! The purse isn’t even real leather. Honestly honey, your father and I love you very much but sometimes we just don’t understand you. What were you thinking?!”
“I needed the money and plus, I thought I could surprise you guys with a special trip too, that way, we would all be happy. If you had bought me the dress we saw at ‘Fashion, Fashion’ the other day, I wouldn’t have to enter this shopping spree to win money like some beggar,” mutter Jade disappointed.
“The dress cost $1,000. The store might as well ask us to sell our souls for the dress.”
“Don’t be so melodramatic, Mom. Its just money.”
“Just money?!” exclaimed Rose as she felt her blood begin to boil, “Who makes the money to support you, Jade? Your father and I do. We work hard to earn that money so that we can take care of you.”
“Well you guys aren’t doing a very good job,” mutter Jade under her breath.
“What was that?” asked Rose trying to clarify what Jade had said.
“Nothing. I said nothing at all.”
