Spoiled Brat? I'm Just Broke and Hungry

Just before we entered the village, my father, Harry Witt, pulled over to the side of the road.He didn't open his door right away. Instead, he turned around to look at me. "Jennifer Witt, when we're in front of those cameras, keep your mouth shut."I clutched the straps of my backpack and nodded.He frowned. "Don't just nod. Did you hear me?""Yes," I replied."And whatever you do, don't mention money."He locked eyes with me, keeping his voice low. "Your mom hates it when you ask for money. If you say something stupid on this show, she might stop sending what little she gives us now."My fingertips went cold.30 bucks a month. My food, bus fare, pads, and phone bill all came out of that.Harry said my mother, Mandy Grant, was a busy businesswoman with a sharp edge and that she couldn't stand it when I acted spoiled.He told me she had given him full custody back when I was a kid because she didn't want me.Later, once her business took off, she felt a little guilty, so she

The girl with the white suitcase was named Lola Hurst. She walked over and handed me a tissue. "You look so pale."I took it from her. "Thanks."She eyed me up and down. "Did you skip breakfast?""No, I ate," I lied.My fingers were trembling as the words left my mouth.Lola opened her mouth to ask more, but Benjamin called her over for a retake, so she had to walk away.I leaned against the well to catch my breath. Dark spots danced across my vision.I had always been good at enduring things.Back in fifth grade, the school organized a field trip that cost 12 dollars.I took the permission slip home.Harry glanced at it once and shoved it straight into a drawer. "There's no point in these events. Your mom hates it when you ask for money for useless junk."The next morning, the whole class took off on the bus.I was the only one left behind in the classroom, filling out worksheets.The teacher asked me why I didn't go."I get carsick," I had said.In middle school, when

The live stream was paused.I was brought into a break room.The doctor made me lean back against the chair and stopped me from eating anything else.A few stomach pills and a glass of warm water sat on the table.As I stared at those tablets, my palms started sweating profusely.I was done for.Harry must have seen it.He told me never to mention money. Not only did I mention it, but I did it live on camera.Would I still get my 30 bucks next month?If he refused to give it to me, I wouldn't even be able to reload my meal card.The door suddenly burst open.Mandy walked in wearing a tailored black suit, her hair slightly tousled. It looked like she had run all the way here.I instinctively stood up. "Mom."The moment the word left my mouth, my throat seized up.Mandy stopped at the doorway, staring at me.Her eyes weren't as cold as I had imagined. They were filled with shock, pain, a rage that was ready to explode, and something else I didn't dare recognize—regret."S

On the screen, Harry was still trying desperately to smooth things over. "Mandy, I admit I gave Jennifer less than I should have. But raising a kid with less isn't necessarily a bad thing. She had it way too easy growing up. I was just afraid she'd develop bad spending habits."Mandy's voice was barely above a whisper. "How much were those shoes on Oscar's feet?"Oscar instinctively tucked his feet back under the couch.The camera caught it anyway.Arthur instructed the crew to look up the model.Within moments, the image and retail price were projected onto the screen.2,180 dollars.The live chat completely exploded."Haha! Raising his daughter with less while treating his stepson like royalty.""Wearing two-grand shoes bought off a 30-dollar meal allowance.""The actual daughter's out in a village choking on cornbread while the stepson's flexing limited editions at home."Mandy pulled up another record. "Last September, I transferred you 2,000 dollars, clearly marked fo

Jenson continued, "The ticket purchasing account for the concert tickets belongs to Oscar as well. Mr. Witt, you charged your current wife's and stepson's expenses to your own daughter."Harry's face turned ash-gray, bit by bit.Mandy stared straight at him. "You made me believe she was beyond saving. And you made her believe I had abandoned her. Harry, you stood right between us, feeding off my money while driving us to resent each other."Oscar suddenly slammed his phone onto the table. "Enough already! Is tabulating every little cent all you rich people ever do? So what if I spent a little money? Dad gave it to me willingly!"I looked at him and suddenly let out a soft laugh. "You wore 2,000-dollar shoes and said I was embarrassing for eating too many plain buns."You live in my house and claim I don't deserve a home because I'll get married later. Oscar, you really are much better at spending money than I am."His face flushed red. He couldn't squeeze out a single word.Jens