The cost of having the best, The price of being grown

(CREATIVE NON-FICTION PIECE)

I like having really nice things. Not just things that are nice, but things that are the best. If I buy shoes, I buy the best shoes. If I buy clothes, they have to be the best clothes, so that’s why I like to shop at Neiman Marcus. When I get a new cell phone, it’s usually the best cell phone. But when you live your life by having the best, it usually comes with a price. Yes, it can be a moral price, but more than that, a physical price that comes right out of your pocket. I had to learn that the hard way.

I always thought that paying bills was such an adult thing to do. Over the years, I have spent my parent’s money, leaving them with the consequences. I never thought twice about the clothes I bought, or the shoes I bought. I spent money like it grew on trees. I left my parents with the responsibility of making sure everything got paid off. I was probably the only 7^th grader that had access to his fathers’ Discovery, or to his mothers’ American Express and to both of their Visa’s.

I went through a stage where I always had to have the newest cell phone. For a while, it seemed like every other month I was getting a new cell phone. I remember when the first blackberry came out; I knew I had to have it. It was the best phone to have at the time, so I begged my mom to get it for me for a Christmas present and which she did. Like always, she got stuck with paying the bill, including all of the downloads I purchased on the phone.

When I came to college, I knew I would have to grow up but not this soon. I bought the new blackberry. It was the blackberry curve, burgundy and black. I bought the most expensive plan that included wifi internet, 1500 message bundle, free nights and weekends, with email capability. It was a dream phone. The first month passed and then came the bill to the phone. I wasn’t worried, I sent the bill home to my father with all the information that he needed to pay the bill. I went home the next weekend, and when I got there, my father wanted to talk to me about something. I did not know what. We were in the kitchen and on the table laid my phone bill. He smiled, grinned and laughed as he gave me the phone bill and said with a passion in his voice “All Yours!” I was shocked and really upset because not only was my bill not paid, but the fact that I would have to find some money to pay this two year contract off.

And just when I was about to leave the kitchen upset and bewildered, he reached in his pocket. I thought he was about to give me some money because he pulled out his wallet. But instead of reaching in his wallet to give me some money, his hand reached over to me and he had said “My card.” He wanted his credit card back. At that point I could not do anything but smile as I gave him his credit card. That’s when I realized “Oh Shit”, I am grown.