That Time of the Month

It's that time of the month again. The time right before pay day. It's usually the week before pay day. But this month, I'm a week early. So this time I have two weeks of the purest form of poverty.

My dad sent me an email yesterday to remind me how much money I'd need to conjure up to make rent. It wasn't a small amount. But after I deposited the money from my roommates for last month's utilities and all the money I could scrounge up from my purse... well... I still came up $30 short. Oops.

I sent my dad a reply this afternoon to tell him not to worry. That I had a game plan. So please don't yell at me, offer to give me money and then think of new and inventive ways to hold it over my head. I'd rather pay the overdraft charge, thank you very much.

But then, as American Idol rolled its credits it came to me. Like a light shining down from heaven. I still haven't unpacked my suitcase from Christmas break. And inside that suitcase may or may not be some Christmas/birthday money from Grandma! And you know what? There was! $20 for my birthday + $20 for Christmas = rent!

I love you, Grandma.

I called my dad to tell him the good news. He hadn't gotten my e-mail earlier. "So... wait... you found $40?"
"Ya! My birthday and Christmas money. I'll deposit it tomorrow during my lunch break and my rent check will be covered."
"Oh, good. Wait, so that $40 is just extra?"
"Extra? No. What do you mean by extra?"
"After rent is paid, how much will you have to live off of until pay day?"
"Nothing."

My dad laughed. Really, really hard. I actually hadn't heard him laugh that hard since he made the joke about the doctor removing my eyes. This guy was really enjoying my misery.

"Nothing? Hahaha! You'll have nothing?!" He couldn't get enough! "I'm sorry. It's just the way you said 'nothing' and the idea of you having absolutely nothing. Oh, the way you kids live!"
"Ya, it's a hoot dad. Poverty is funny."

He couldn't stop laughing so I finally told him I had to go and that he was free to call me back when he caught his breath and dried his eyes. When I hung up, I laughed too. He's right. It is kind of funny that I have nothing. I really know how to live a joke.