The Girl Who Counted Every Dollar

The day I was sent to The Transformation Camp, three cars belonging to the Faris family were parked outside the filming studio.

My biological mother wore a white suit. Her eyes were red from crying.

She crouched down and reached out to stroke my head.

I took a step back. Her hand froze in midair, and her expression grew even more sorrowful. "Tara, Mommy isn't punishing you. I just hope you'll stop bringing up money every chance you get."

I nodded. "Then who's paying for the ride here?"

Her sorrowful expression cracked.

Andrew stood beside her and let out a cold laugh. "Just look at yourself. What kind of behavior is that? Has this family ever let you go hungry or left you without clothes? You're always holding out your hand for money. Aren't you embarrassed?"

I glanced at him. "Last time, you asked me to go up to the third floor and get your headphones. You still haven't paid me for that errand."

Andrew laughed in disbelief. "You still remember that?"

"Debts need to be remembered." I flipped open my little notebook to a page and held it up for him to see.

[Andrew. Third floor to living room, one round trip, forty cents. Three days overdue. No interest charged yet.]

Andrew's face turned livid.

At that very moment, the camera zoomed in on us, and the livestream comments came pouring in.

[Help, she actually keeps a personal ledger.]

[How can a 9-year-old be so materialistic? That's terrifying.]

[The Faris family is so unlucky. They've brought home a little debt collector.]

…

Lisa stepped out of the car. She was a year older than me, with her hair tied up in a pretty bow and a spotless dress.

She walked over and gently took Janine's hand. "Mommy, don't be sad. My sister just hasn't gotten used to being part of the family yet."

Then she turned to me, her voice soft and sweet. "Tara, if you really need money, you can always tell me. But you can't turn everything into a discussion about money. It'll make Mommy and Daddy sad."

As soon as she finished speaking, Janine pulled her into her arms. "My Lisa is the sensible one."

I watched them without saying a word.

Was being sensible worth money? If it was, I could learn to be sensible too.

The host, Gina Mitchell, led us into the main building.

The entire show was being livestreamed. A giant screen displayed a list of the transformation goals for this episode.

Beside my name were the words: severe financial dependence and emotional detachment.

I stared at those words for a long time.

What did emotional detachment mean? Was it when Mom held a child in her arms and begged and cried at the hospital payment counter until she fell to her knees because she couldn't afford the medicine?

Or was it when the ambulance drove away, leaving an empty bed behind, and everyone was too afraid to mention the name of the person who had been lying in it?

Gina bent down and asked me, "Tara, can you see what's wrong with you?"

I nodded. "I can."

She smiled with satisfaction. "Then do you want to change?"

I asked, "Will I get a reward if I do?"

Gina's smile froze.

The livestream comments exploded.

-

In the family observation room, Andrew covered his face with one hand. "I seriously can't take this anymore."

Paul sat beside him, his expression icy. "Sending her here was the right decision. If we don't correct this behavior now, she'll only get worse as she grows up."

Janine's eyes turned red again. "What on earth did Tara go through as a child to end up like this..."

Lisa gently handed her a tissue. "Mommy, don't blame Tara. Maybe she went without love for so long that she started to believe money was the most important thing."

-

I couldn't hear what they were saying in the observation room. All I could see was the staff handing out numbered badges to each child.

I raised my hand and asked, "Do we have to pay a deposit for the badges?"

Gina took a deep breath. "No."

I finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Good."