Pricing Every Hug in a Loveless Home

Summary

My world is simple. Everything has a price.

A goodnight hug from Mom costs one dollar.

Three minutes of Dad spinning me around in his arms costs five dollars.

I keep track of it all in my head, then count out the coins from my bear purse to pay them.

Dad calls it "splitting bills". He says it teaches me to be independent and never leech off others.

I don't have any friends because I have no idea how to pay for friendship.

I'm not scared of monsters in the dark.

I'm scared of Dad looking over the bill and saying, "Kevin, you overspent on love today."