From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea )

Seeing her daughter like this, Karan sighed deeply, her voice laden with a mix of frustration and care, "Tanya, you're not a kid anymore. You should realize how hard your dad and I work for our money. Since you've admitted your mistake, let's just put this behind us. After we finish dinner, your sister-in-law and I will try to return the stuff, and you should head to the driving school."

Driving school.

Had this been suggested before, Tanya would have been overjoyed.

She had made plans with Anthea before their finals to go learn driving together.

But not anymore.

Now, all Tanya could feel was bitterness. "Mom, I wasn't joking yesterday. I really don't want to learn driving. Please get the tuition refunded."

"Why?" Karan was baffled. "We agreed, didn't we? That you'd learn to drive after your exams."

Tanya just shook her head. "I just lost interest all of a sudden."

Karan's barely settled anger flared up again. "What's going on, Tanya? It was you who wanted to learn driving, and now you're the one who doesn't want to! I just paid the tuition yesterday, and now you're asking me to get a refund? Do you think this is some kind of joke?"

Every day, Karan worked herself to the bone, looking forward to a bit of rest after work. Yet, she found time to go to the driving school to pay Tanya's tuition.

And now, Tanya was just giving up.

Tanya bit her lip. "Mom, I genuinely don't want to learn. I hope you can understand me. I don't want to argue, and I don't want you to be angry. I know I've been a handful over the years. I'll be good from now on, I promise. Just please don't make me go to driving school, okay?"

Hearing this, Karan's heart softened a bit, and she took Tanya's hand. "Tanya, honey, tell me what's really going on. Is someone bullying you? Or is there something else that's bothering you? Just talk to me, and we'll figure it out together."

In many ways, Tanya had always been an easy child for her parents, less trouble than most.

Though not the strongest academically, her efforts had paid off with decent exam results.

Lately, Karan had been glowing with pride at work.

Capital City University!

Not many in her workplace had kids who'd done better than Tanya.

It was baffling to Karan.

Why had her child suddenly changed like this?

Tanya shook her head. "No, Mom, I'm fine. Really. Don't worry about me."

"Then why don't you want to learn to drive?"

"No reason. I just don't want to," Tanya continued. "And about those items, don't bother trying to return them. When I bought them, they already told me returns weren't accepted. It'd just be a waste of your time."

Hearing that the items couldn't be returned, Karan's temper spiked. "You bought something

el.ne

non-refundable? That was twenty-eight hundred dollars Has

studying scrambled your brains?"

Tanya managed a bitter smile. "Just think of it as my education messing with my mind, okay?"

At that, Karan was livid. "Then you're going to work this summer! You can start earning back that twenty-eight hundred dollars, and I'll consider forgiving you then."

She wanted Tanya to understand that money didn't come easy.

Otherwise, Tanya would never learn.

Tanya looked up. "If working makes you less angry, then I'll do it."Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Karan said, "The diner downstairs needs a dishwasher. I'm on good terms with the owner. I'll talk to her, and you can start there."

"Okay," Tanya nodded.

During the meal, Karan shared the plan with the family.

Jane was thrilled.

This way, Hank wouldn't be upset over the twenty-eight hundred dollars.

Not only would he not be upset, but she'd also get a high-end skincare set for free!

What a deal.

"Sweetie, it's normal for a girl to take on a summer job. It builds character. 'Hard work under the sun, sweat dripping down the soil,' you'll never truly appreciate the value of money until you've earned it yourself Otherwise, you might think it just falls from the sky!"

"Right," Tanya nodded understandingly. "You're right, sis."

After breakfast, Tanya went off to work at the diner.

It was her first time doing physical labor.