“So Malee, you are staying with Mary here?,” asked George.

“No. I have to go back to give money to my father.,” replied Malee. The question made her picture her father and the mat which she slept in her mind. No matter how good the life is, she was still her father’s daughter. If she didn’t go back, her father would probably die. The thought of it made her sad, but also made her happy, for some reasons.

“I see. What does your father do?,” asked George while taking another sip from the cup. He rarely had any interactions with people from outside the immediate circle of family and servants, so he was curious as a mouse about Malee. Mary thought of stopping for she knew it was an embarrassing topic for Malee but she also knew young master’s temperament if someone were to interrupt him.

“My father …,” Malee tried hard to find the words that would best describe her father to George. Being poor and having no jobs wouldn’t mean a thing to people like George who has no qualm with getting rid of a car because he didn’t ‘like’ it. He probably wouldn’t understand what went into ‘buying’ a car either. All he knew was that someone replaced the car with another, newer and better. Mary realized she had to change the subject somehow.

“So Malee, when would you be going back to your father?,”

“After I am done with work? It is not too far from here. 30 min if I hurry.” replied Malee. She wouldn’t have any issues running all the way back by herself, now that she didn’t have the cart to push. The roads were well lit and crowded till early morning with drunkards, so she knew she was safe.

“Oh yes, that reminds me of the cart. I said I will give the rest today. I got my loan back from my friends. Here is for your cart.,” said George as he went to his bag to take out a plastic bag from it and handed to Malee. Malee wasn’t sure what was inside the bag, but George signalled her to open it up.

“You won’t believe how much interest I charged for the loan. Suckers.,” boasted George. He was proud of how much he was financially savvy, but also didn’t realise that Malee wouldn’t understand what he was boasting of. Nobody in their right mind would lend any money to her or her father living in a hut in front of the dumpsite, no matter the interest.

Mary slowly unwrap the plastic bag and to her surprised it was all a bundle of cash, colors she had never seen before. She suddenly felt dizzy from blood rushing to her head from looking at them. Thankfully, Mary quickly placed her hand on Malee’s back to support, in case she were to faint from the shock. Mary smiled at the young master and offered a solution to please him.

“Why not we give her by daily allowance instead? It would be dangerous for her to keep all this money in her home. What do you think Malee?,” asked Malee, who looked stunned holding the large bundle of cash in her hands.

“Then put it in the bank.,” interrupted George as matter-of-factly tone. He wouldn’t understand how most people won’t be able to open one such account, especially since his family owned several banks. Money was not a want or need for him, he asked, and he would get it as simple as that. He was born with not just a silver spoon in his mouth. It was more like a trustee of an organisation that owned several manufacturing companies making silver spoons. Mary had to interrupt one more time.

“Why not, Malee keeps the money with you and we will give her daily allowance? Then she also can get the interest.,” said Mary.

“Oh, yes. I didn’t think of that. You wouldn’t know which account to open to get best interest anyway.,” said the young master thoughtfully. Mary knew the young master could not understand the predicament Malee was in, but would see from his own point of view instead.

“So, that settled it then.,” said Mary with a relieved voice. The difference in class, understanding and status between the two children in front of her couldn’t been more vivid. One had never been inside a bank, and the other the owner of several banks. Mary sighed.