Bracelet for Her, Bill for Me

Synopsis

I thought I was finally free after the SATs. Then my mom handed me an envelope. Inside was a collection notice from the bank. My name. 6,767 dollars. 183 days past due. "Mom used your ID to open a credit card," she said. "Ran up over six thousand. Didn't pay it. Now your credit's trashed — can't even get a loan shark to bite. I'm doing this to protect you." My sister stood there, a brand-new Cartier on her wrist. She tilted her head and gave me this look. "Sis," she whispered, "Mom's just looking out for you." I held that piece of paper and suddenly wanted to laugh. A 6,767-dollar bracelet. That was her coming-of-age gift. 6,700 in debt. That was mine. Except her "welcome to adulthood" was all sunshine. Mine was a bill.