Manimal Crackers

Screwing Up With Money

Because I get really overexcited about celebrities, whenever there's a bid to speak with them online, I always go for it, no ifs ands or buts about it. Unfortunately, I can't get away with shit around here, because if you're a teenager, your parents take care of your money.

Carly Pope, the actress from Manimal, was going to be at New Jersey Comic-Con that Saturday. (I'm honestly not sure why, New Jersey isn't exactly a hotbed of popular culture- technically we do have celebrities, but they tend to be from stupid reality shows like Jersey Shore & the Real Housewives of New Jersey- not the kind I'd typically want to watch, let alone associate with. I knew because I made the decision to check Facebook that day. Some stupid decision that was.

I didn't even bother thinking of my dear mother's reaction to this, let alone actually asking her if it was okay. After all, even if it was super-expensive, I had the money, which I got from making dinner from my parents every week. Not to mention, it was not far from home, so getting there would be a non-issue, right? Right? As I filled out my credit card information, I couldn't help but smile. If I got to talk with Carly, I could tell her about my amazing idea, and that would open up doors for getting the film off the ground!

Suddenly, I heard the pitter-patter of feet across the floor. These weren't typical pitter-patter from normal people. These were clearly the feet of the one Simon MacCorkindale himself. "Hello, there, Jessica," he said. "What are you doing here on the internet?"

"Hey Simon, I know you've ratted me out from time to time, like when I threatened suicide the day we first met," I said. "Can you not do it this time?"

"Pardon?"

"I bought a ticket to see Carly Pope at Comic-Con," I told him. "But they're super-expensive. Can you do me a favor and not tell my parents?"

"Um..." He was totally apprehensive and uncool about the whole thing.

"Just do it for me!" I snapped.

"Well... I won't tell unless they ask."

"Okay, good. Glad we're on the same page."

"Carry on!" he said.

And carry on I did. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing what I typically do every afternoon, like checking social media, listening to music, and playing games. Until I suddenly hear a voice call out from my headphones.

"Now Jessica!" (Only Dad talks like that.) "Did you spend $90.00 on a ticket to NJ Comic-Con?"

"Yeah, I did," I said. "Why do you ask?"

"Jessica!" he snapped. "You're flushing your money down the toilet! For what?"

"Okay, I admit it," I said. "I want to see Manimal's daughter at Comic-Con."

"My daughter?" said Simon. "I'm afraid she won't be going to too many Comical cons anytime soon."

"Look, we need to explain to you the basics of money management," Dad said. "If someone is charging you $90.00 to speak with them, it sounds like a waste of money, if not a scam. And if it's a celebrity, well, that just shows how shallow and self-centered they really are, doesn't it?"

"Dad, Simon's here," I pointed out.

"Okay, we can talk about it over dinner," he said.

Feeling too guilty about what I'd done, I didn't have much of an appetite for the very dinner that I made myself.

"Look, Jess, I understand that you want to get this film thing off the ground," said Mom in that I'm-not-angry-just-disappointed tone of voice she typically uses when she's lecturing me. "To be honest, this isn't the best way to do this. You have to respect some boundaries."