The Paper on my Desk

I have three pieces of paper on my desk. Well, I have many more than that, but these three are particularly valuable. Actually, their combined value is $739. On my desk, they remind me of my destitution. Bank of America wants a lot of money from me. I haven't heard from them in a long time. A letter from some credit agency would not surprise me. They closed my account because I tried to cash a check from my mom. Some security mechanism at her bank denied the transaction. A credit monitoring agency identified me as someone dealing with fraudulent checks. The check was not fraudulent. It was from my mother. After closing my account, Bank of America tacked on every processing charge they could find. My fifty two dollar negative balance blossomed into three hundred dollars-ish of debt. I don't have the exact number, because I am tired of dealing with them. Every time I get in touch with them, the number grows.

Money is insignificant to me. Partly because I'm above such material matters, but also partly because most of my money is not mine. Parents fund my housing. The government funds my education. I fund my indiscretions. I do not have a savings account or stake in the stock market. The concept of making money is confusing to me. I have a job and get paid something around minimum wage. However, real money, the money that buys a house or starts a company, capital, is a fairy tale to me. Adults seem to swim in this world where money is more than a cheeseburger at McDonald's. To adults, money comes in blocks that translate to quality of living. My parents discuss mortgages, and I hear other adults on TV talking about IRAs and CDs. CNN does not give me financial advice on double cheese burgers. I do not think my three pieces of paper are real money. I could buy 739 cheeseburgers at McDonald's, before taxes. That is as far as my economic consideration goes.  Adults don't know jack about money. My dad's house could buy almost half a million cheeseburgers, and I struggle for less than 1,000. Where is the justice?