Clara’s lips curved in the faintest smile. “Because she already does. She manages our household like a business. She tracks expenses, forecasts bills, finds ways to save. And when our landlord raised the rent, she negotiated. She told me that numbers aren’t scary if you respect them. She would be the best analyst because she’s been solving real problems all her life.”
Her words landed with a weight far beyond her years.
Margaret’s voice softened. “Clara, where is your mother now?”
“She’s at the diner. She couldn’t leave her shift. If she did, she’d lose her job. But she told me last night that she wished she could prove herself. So… I came.”
Silence lingered until Richard finally spoke. “Clara, would you be willing to show us what you know? Something your mother taught you?”
Clara nodded eagerly. She opened the notebook again and began sketching a simple chart with colored pencils. She explained, in halting but clear words, how her mother taught her to categorize expenses into needs, wants, and savings goals. She gave an example of how they managed to save enough to buy a secondhand laptop, even while paying rent and bills.