My Dad's Savings, Her Dad's Windfall
After my wife, Shannon Stewart, suggests that we each support our own parents, I set up a million-dollar retirement fund for my dad.
However, when I review this month's household expenses, I notice that every single payment is made for the father of Sean Gardner, her childhood friend.
"Sean's family is struggling. Why wouldn't I help them out? It's not like it's a lot of money." Shannon brushes it off.
There are 13 separate expenses of around 100 dollars each in a single month.
Yet when my dad needs 300 for medical bills, she prints out the receipt and tells me to reimburse the household account.
Tired of arguing, I toss the statement aside and head inside.
Then my dad's condition suddenly worsens, and he's hospitalized again. I rush to the bank to withdraw money from the retirement fund.
"Your father isn't the beneficiary of this fund," the bank employee states coldly. "Are you sure you have the right account?"
My mind goes blank.
How is that possible? Every cent in that account is my hard-earned cash.
The employee impatiently turns the computer monitor toward me.
The account name on the screen clearly reads, "James Gardner's Retirement Fund."
James is Sean's dad.