Scam Mom, Push Me at Cars

My mother was a professional con artist. Her specialty was staging accidents.
Every day, shed drag me to a busy intersection, and wed hunt for our mark. As soon as a car slowed down, shed shove me into its path.
Id get hit, and shed rush over, wailing and screaming, clutching me as if I were dying. Shed tell the driver theyd hit a child, and if they didnt hand over a hundred thousand dollars, this would not end well.
Ive had three broken bones. Each time she got the money, shed buy me an ice cream cone as a reward.
But the sweetness of the ice cream could never mask the agony of a fractured bone.

1
Nina, are you ready? my mother whispered, crouching at the mouth of an alley.
I clutched my backpack and nodded, my eyes glued to a black sedan making a slow right turn at the intersection.
My leg was still in a cast, the "trophy" from last months job.
Mom, my leg still hurts
Suck it up! she snapped. Look at that car. You can tell theyre rich. This ones the big score. If we land this, we can take the rest of the month off!
Then, timing it perfectly, she gave me a vicious shove from behind.
I flew forward, landing hard in front of the car.
The drivers door flew open, and a man in a sharp suit scrambled out.
Little girl, are you okay?
My mother was on him in a flash, launching into her performance.
My baby! My poor, cursed child! You bastard! Are you blind?!
I lay on the pavement, expertly shutting my eyes and letting out a low moan. Over the years, wed perfected this routine, scamming dozens of people. The fear Id felt in the beginning had hardened into a numb resignation. It only took two years.
One million, my mother screeched, naming a price that was pure fantasy. Not a penny less, or Ill die right here with you!
The mans brow furrowed for a moment, as if he were considering it.
Fine, he said, stunning us both. But not here.
He opened his car door. Get in. Well go to the hospital. Ill pay for the examination, the medical bills, the emotional distress. I wont short you a dime.
My mother was speechless. Shed never expected it to be this easy. Overjoyed, she scooped me up and bundled me into the car.
But the car didnt head toward the city. It drove further and further into the outskirts, until it finally stopped in front of an abandoned factory.
Mister, this isnt the way to the hospital I whispered.
He turned, his face stripped of its earlier kindness.
I know, he said with a chilling smile. This is a place for teaching lessons.

2
The mans name was Landon Pierce. He dragged my mother out of the car.
She shrieked, What do you want? Im warning you, dont try anything crazy! Ive already called the police!
Landon ignored her. He retrieved a crowbar from the trunk and tossed it at her feet.
He pointed at me. Then at my mother. Her, or you?
What? she stammered, not understanding.
I said, Landons voice was flat, emotionless, do you do it, or do I?
Your daughter has one leg in a cast. The other one is perfectly fine.
You choose. Either you break your own arm, or Ill help you out and break your daughters other leg.
The color drained from my mothers face. She looked from the crowbar on the ground to me.
Sir, please, I was wrong! I swear, I was wrong! I have a family to support, I was just desperate
Choose, Landon cut her off. A single, unyielding word.
I stared at my mother, the woman who always claimed I was her entire world. I waited for her to pick up the crowbar, even if it was just for show. I waited for her to shield me with her body, to scream Dont you touch my daughter.
She didnt.
She dropped to her knees with a thud and clutched Landons leg.
Please, Im begging you, let me go! I cant break my arm! How will I work? How will I support her?
Shes young, her bones heal fast! Shell be fine! Please, hurt her! Just dont touch me!
In that moment, even the wind howling around the factory seemed to fall silent.
Landon kicked her away, his face a mask of undisguised contempt. He came to the car, opened the door, and pulled me out.
Mom! Help me! I cried, reaching for her.
My mother scrambled to her feet, but not to run to me. She stumbled away, toward the factory gates.
Nina, you just be brave! Mommys going to get help!
She ran without a backward glance, leaving me alone with this monster.
Landon didnt follow her. He just looked at me, his expression a mixture of something I couldnt namepity, maybe, or disgust.
He knelt and gently touched my good leg.
Does it hurt?
I was too terrified to speak, shaking my head frantically.
Dont be afraid. Uncle will be very gentle.
He stood up and raised the crowbar.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the familiar, sickening pain.
There was a sharp crack.
My scream died in my throat.
Landon had broken my other leg.
He tucked a bank card into my pocket.
The PIN is six zeros. A lesson for you both. Theres enough money in there to live on for a long time, and enough to fix your legs.
Tell your mother this is what she earned. I hope she enjoys the money she bought with her daughters two broken legs.
He got back in his car, started the engine, and the black sedan vanished down the road.
My mother must have been hiding nearby. She came running back, saw me crumpled on the ground, and after a brief pause, threw herself on me, frantically searching my pockets.
When she found the card, her face lit up with a grotesque, ecstatic joy.
She hugged me, not with concern, but with manic excitement.
Nina! My darling girl! Youre Mommys lucky charm! Were rich! Were rich!
She spun in a circle, holding me tight, oblivious to the searing pain in my legs.
Tears streamed down my face. I couldnt tell if they were from the pain, or from the chill that had settled deep in my heart.
Mom, I thought, your lucky charm now has two broken legs.

3
I spent the next six months in bed.
With both legs broken, my mother could no longer use me for her scams. She hired the cheapest, unlicensed doctor in town to set the bones crudely and applied the lowest-quality ointment every day. My recovery was slow and agonizing. The breaks left me with permanent damage; on rainy days, a deep, gnawing pain would shoot through my legs.
With the money, my mother bought new clothes and jewelry. She also developed a gambling addiction.
The money vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Her anxiety returned.
This is all your fault, shed rage at me. If you hadnt been so useless, so scared of that man, we wouldnt have lost our source of income!
I sat in my wheelchair, staring silently out the window. I once thought having both legs broken was rock bottom. I never imagined she could always find a new way to drag me deeper into hell.
She discovered a new "business opportunity."
There was a spoiled rich kid in our neighborhood named Kyle. He was sixteen or seventeen and terrorized the community on a modified electric scooter, speeding recklessly down the sidewalks. Everyone despised him, but his family was wealthy and powerful, so nobody dared to say a word.
My mother set her sights on him.
Nina, when that little punk comes around the corner, youre going to roll yourself out there. Got it?
Mom, Im scared I gripped the arms of my wheelchair.
Scared of what? He hits you, we get a huge payout! Itll pay for your college tuition!
She was painting her fantasies again, as if my well-being meant nothing to her.
Kyles scooter tore around the corner in a blur.
My mother shoved me from behind. The wheelchair shot out into the middle of the path.
There was a screech of brakes.
The wheelchair was knocked over. I was thrown out, my head cracking against a stone curb. Blood streamed down my forehead, blurring my vision.
My mothers performance began right on cue. Oh, God! Someone help! He hit my poor daughter!
A crowd gathered, pointing fingers at Kyle, who stood there, pale and stunned.
I I didnt mean to
Didnt mean to? Look at my daughter! Her legs were already broken, and now youve cracked her head open! Youre not leaving here until you make this right!
A kind-looking woman pushed through the crowd, trying to help me up. My mother shoved her away. Dont you touch her! We dont need your fake sympathy! You rich people are all the same!
The woman froze, looking from my mother to me, her eyes filled with a sad pity. Her name was Maria, and she was Kyles familys housekeeper.
Kyles parents arrived quickly, their apologies profuse. Maam, we are so sorry. We havent raised our son right. Look, lets settle this privately. Name your price.
My mother had what she wanted. The haggling began.
I lay on the ground, listening to the murmurs of the crowd.
That poor kid, having a mother like that.
I know, right? Using her own child as a meal ticket.
Still, that Kyle kid had it coming.
No one asked if I was in pain. They were just spectators at a circus.
In the end, my mother got two hundred thousand dollars. She pushed me home, humming a cheerful tune.
See, Nina? Mommys smart, isnt she? I earned you a fortune!
I closed my eyes, unwilling to speak.
Mom, if I ever really do die, will you use my corpse to bargain for even more money?

4
The Kyles paid, but on one condition: my mother had to bring me to their house to sign a formal agreement, officially closing the matter.
My mother saw this as a reasonable request, given the money shed received. She dressed me in my only new outfit and pushed my wheelchair to their home.
It was a mansion, dripping with gold and marble. Kyles mother was effusively welcoming.
Please, come in! You must be Nina. Such a beautiful child. It breaks my heart to see you suffer so. She stroked my head and handed me an expensive-looking teddy bear.
Kyle trudged down the stairs, looking mortified. Mom, do we really have to do this? Its so embarrassing.
Quiet, you! his mother snapped. Kyle, apologize to your sister. Now.
He shuffled over and mumbled a barely audible, Sorry.
See? Weve just spoiled him rotten, Mrs. Kyle said with a laugh.
Oh, its nothing, boys will be boys! my mother chirped, her smile wide.
The atmosphere seemed peaceful, but I couldnt shake the feeling that there was a strange coldness in Mrs. Kyles eyes when she looked at me.
After the apology, my mother was ready to leave, but Mrs. Kyle insisted we stay.
Dont rush off! I had Maria prepare some snacks. Please, have something before you go.
Maria, the housekeeper who had tried to help me, brought out a tray of pastries and gave me a small, kind smile.
We were shown to a small sitting room off the main hall. Kyle followed us in and sat opposite me, glaring. My mother was busy chatting with Mrs. Kyle, boasting about how hard her life was, raising me all by herself.
Suddenly, Kyle stood up and walked over to me.
Hey, I heard your moms a professional scammer, he whispered.
I ignored him.
What, you deaf now? If it wasnt for you, my dad wouldnt have beaten me! This isnt over!
He suddenly shoved my wheelchair, hard. There were two low steps leading out of the room. The chair tipped, and I was thrown out, my head slamming against the sharp edge of a marble tile.
The world went silent.
I couldnt hear my mothers screams or Mrs. Kyles gasp. I only saw Marias horrified face as she ran toward me.
Just before I lost consciousness, I felt her press something small and hard into my hand.
My mothers reaction this time was even faster. She wasn't just demanding money; she was throwing a full-blown tantrum.
Youre trying to murder us! If anything happens to my daughter, Ill make sure your whole family pays!
Mrs. Kyles face had changed. She hadnt expected her son to be stupid enough to pull a stunt like this.
Maam, calm down! It it was an accident!
An accident? You did this on purpose! Money! Five hundred thousand! Not a penny less! my mother screamed a new number.
This time, she got exactly what she wanted. To make the problem go away, the Kyles paid her off again.
I was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a severe concussion and temporary hearing loss. The doctor said if it had been any worse, I might never have woken up. My mother stayed by my bedside, not out of concern, but out of fear that if I died, her golden goose would be gone for good.
She only relaxed once I regained consciousness and could hear again. I looked at her, unable to speak a single word.
My fist was clenched tight. Inside was a piece of fruit candy. And wrapped in the candys paper, I could feel something else.

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