Tears

StudyLink and parents not understanding what is required of them and I move in three days = SOME TEARS It frustrates me my mum is computer and practically communication illiterate and that my father can not write a letter. He wrote one to Studylink. It was a page long and all one sentence with random capitalisation and spelling errors and random grammar every few words. It wouldn't pass Year 9 formal writing. It makes me sad. It makes me sad because when I try HELP him by OFFERING to edit his letters for job applications and stuff he YELLS AT ME and tells me I am being CRITICAL. No Dad, but written English and communication skills are ESSENTIAL for work. I want to HELP YOU GET WORK. When I tell him ALL DOCUMENTS sent to the government have to be VERIFIED by WORK and INCOME he yells at me again, and says it is fine. No Dad it's not. I won't be eating in Auckland. I will get ANOTHER letter saying MORE documents are required. I will be in my room in Auckland with tears in my eyes wondering how to make rent for the following week and getting really angry. So here I am. Writing a riveting letter to the governmental agency of StudyLink on my fathers behalf, detailing my parents taxable income and explaining that my mothers tiny income isn't really income because it is a "reimbursement for wear and tear." Most kids don't even know what their parents earn. I know every freaking cent, and its not much. I once wrote a formal, angry, assertive email to the photographer for the school ball, explaining what he had given us was not adequate. I felt a bit mean, but was surprised at his response. He turned up to the school office, in front of the principal, THANKED ME for for my straight up formal assertiveness, and asked me (half jokingly) if I could write all his formal correspondence in future, because he doesn't have the guts to write like that when something is wrong. He also bought me chocolates for organising the collaboration between students and photographer. Some things make me sad. Man I am watching every cent. Speaking of which, I have work in an hour, packing fruit in boxes to ensure I NEVER end up living on a benefit or doing menial work for minimum wage for the rest of my life. Thank God for education. Literally. Seriously. I am so happy my brother got Level One Literacy. I took a few frustrating hours to teach him how to write an essay, and making him remember quotes. BUT HE PASSED 2/5 papers. Just. But he got literacy. 14 credits even. I was a bit tearful then too. Because it was a few days before my English exam and I was stressing about my own. But Michael passing his Level One Exam was more important than me getting Excellence on my Level Three Exam. I'm happy I figured that priority out. Communication is so important. Oral, written, whatever. I can't imagine much worse than being illiterate. Education and English have given me a way out. My tears have kind of gone. Dad is listening a bit more, he went to Work and Income. PLEASE JESUS. PLEASE. I can live for a maximum of three weeks on my savings, but I NEED THIS ALLOWANCE. Mum and Dad haven't paid for pretty much anything since I finished high school, and that's fine. They can't afford to. I don't expect it. Sometimes its hard. But that's okay. "I cast all of my cares upon You. I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet. And anytime I don't know what to do, I cast all of my cares upon You."