The Final Household Balance

Summary

To teach me independence, my parents enforced a fifty-fifty rule from the time I was little.

Half the rent for my room. Half the cost of a breakfast sandwich.

Even when a high fever sent me to the ER, they added half the bill to my debt and reminded me,

"Get a summer job. Don't make a habit of owing people money."

I always believed they just wanted me to become independent.

Then my younger sister, Chloe, was born.

Whenever she broke something and owed Mom money, all she had to do was give her a kiss.

"All right, sweetheart. Debt paid."