Part 2My Five-Dollar Guardian Angel

My brain was running calculations at light speed.

Sure, I went to Crestwood, but I was the "poor" rich girl. I got $800 a month. Which was a lot, until the school bullies smashed my glasses the first week ($200 gone). Add in my subscriptions for online AP courses and the scooter rental I was about to be charged for...

I had $398.66 to my name.

For eight people... that's $49.83 each. If I begged, maybe they'd leave me enough for the subway and an Uber home?

I had to get home. The Astors—my so-called family—had made it clear: show up for their stupid dinner party tonight, or my allowance was cut. I just hoped I wouldn't have to walk.

They took me to a street cart. They bought eight lemonades and eight corn dogs.

And they used a coupon.

Total: $28.72.

The shakedown of the century.