The Card with Zero Balance
The year I started middle school, my parents solemnly handed my sister and me each a bank card.
"This is your college fund. There's 100,000 dollars in each one. The password is your birthday. Don't touch it unless it's truly an emergency."
I listened. I treated that card like a treasure.
I never bought a single new piece of clothing. Even my worn-out canvas shoes got patched with glue and worn again.
I thought that if I was just responsible enough, I'd live up to my parents' idea of "fairness."
Then, after the SATs ended, I wanted to use the money on the card for a graduation trip with my classmates.
Instead, the ATM screen flashed a number that burned my eyes: [Balance: $0.00].
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