Word: parsimony

 

parsimony

[pahr-suh-moh-nee]

noun

1. extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess; miserliness.

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                   Ben hated talking to his parents. He hated having to ask them for anything. But it was the only way he was going to get what he needed to. He clenched and relaxed his hands repeatedly as he approached the oversized house. Why they needed such a big place, he would never know. Even when he was still living there, most of the space had gone unused. He imagined that most of it was dusty, considering how cheap his parents were when it came to anything they did not directly care about. Like the cleaning staff.

                   He took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. It let out an obnoxious chiming sound. Ben hated that sound. He had heard it far too much growing up, and it rarely lead to anything good happening. Still, he tolerated it. A few minutes later and a young woman opened the door. She was dressed like a maid combined with a Playboy bunny. And she was the kind of plastic infused eye candy that not even that magazine would accept. Obviously, Ben’s father had hired her. He dreaded seeing his mother’s hires.

                   “Yes, sir? May I help you?” The bleach blonde ‘maid’ asked in a voice that matched her looks.

                   “I doubt it. I’m here to see my parents.”

                   “Your...parents? I don’t know who you’re talking about, sir.”

                   “Of course you don’t. Why would you. I bet they never told you they have kids at all, did they? I’m talking about Mr. And Mrs. Levaile. I’m their son and I need to talk to them.”

                   “You’re their son?” The thought looked like it was causing the poor girl physical pain. “Well, I suppose I could show you to the study.”

                   “Please do.”

                   He followed the maid into the house. He already knew where the main study was, of course. But he imagined telling her that would break something inside her.

                   “How much are my parents paying you?” He asked suddenly.

                   “Um...well, they give me room and board.”

                   “Yes, but how much do they PAY you?”

                   Once again, her brow furrowed in thought. “Um...I think they said it’s enough to qualify as a paycheck?”

                   Which meant minimum wage. They could afford to pay her more in a month than most people got in a year. But of course they were doing the exact legal minimum. That’s what they had always done. Even while he was a kid, everything he got was used or second hand. It was like they tried to get him to believe they were poor while living in a three-story mansion.

                   They reached the study and Ben entered. On the surface, it looked great. Fine furniture that looked antique. Rich books covered bookshelves. Even the decorations screamed of wealth. It was all a facade. This was the study his parents used for guests, so naturally everything was fake. The furniture was all cheap knockoffs. Most of the books were blank. The decorations had likely been bought at a thrift store. No, all the good stuff, the stuff that actually was as nice as it looked, was in a much more limited area that only his parents used.

                   “Benjamin! What a surprise.” His father said as he entered the room a few minutes later. He wore clothes that reeked of wealth. And unlike the cheap stuff Ben had worn growing up, the older man’s clothes actually did cost more than some cars.

                   “Yeah, I’m sure it is.” Ben said.

                   “Well, to what do we owe this surprise visit.”

                   Ben clenched his knuckles so hard that they turned white. He did not want to do this. But he also knew he had no choice.

                   “Lauren is sick. Really sick.”

                   “Lauren?” The older man asked. His forehead would have creased in thought had it had the capacity to do so.

                   “Lauren. You know, your granddaughter.” He was not surprised his father did not remember her.

                   “My...oh! Right, right, right. Well, that’s a shame.”

                   “She needs treatment or else she won’t survive. Very expensive treatment. Treatment my insurance doesn’t think is necessary.” Ben said. His breath hitched in his throat as he spoke.

                   “Oh, that’s terrible.” His tone did not convey any sense of worry, or even the slightest concern. “I don’t see what that has to do with this visit though.”

                   “She’s your granddaughter and she needs money to survive. Why do you think I’m here?”

                   “I’m not following you.”

                   “I’m...” He took a deep breath and spoke through clenched teeth. “I’m asking you to pay for her treatment.”

                   “Oh, I’m afraid I can’t do that. Your mother and I simply wouldn’t be able to afford it.”

                   “Bull!” Ben shouted. “You know you can. You don’t even need to know how expensive the treatment is. It doesn’t matter, because you and I both know you can afford whatever it is ten times over. You wouldn’t even notice the amount missing!”

                   “You don’t know that. We’re in a very rough time financially, your mother and I.”

                   “Oh no. You’re only making ten thousand dollars a minute instead of twenty thousand. My heart bleeds for you. Seriously, just pay for her treatment and I won’t bother you again.”

                   “Now, now. Don’t be like that. The economy is hard on everyone. We all have to pinch pennies you know.”

                   “Oh please, you’ve always been stingy, money hoarding misers. Ebenezer Scrooge wasn’t even as bad as you and mom. You’re just making excuses because you don’t want to spend money on something that doesn’t directly affect you. Including your own granddaughter.”

                   “How rude. If you’re going to have an attitude like that, you can just leave.”

                   “Fine. I knew I shouldn’t have bothered. Getting money out of you is harder than getting blood from a stone. Just know that if Laura dies because you don’t want to help her, I will not let it go easily.”

                   With that, he got up and stormed off. Ben’s mind raced. His parents might not care about his daughter, but he did. Now he just had to figure out another way of saving her life.