Chapter 7.
Before I could process what was happening, two muscular guys grabbed my arms and dragged me toward an unmarked van.
Instinct kicked in–1 struggled frantically, kicking wildly. In the chaos, I knocked over a trash can.
Bystanders watched, too afraid to intervene.
Only after I was forced into their production vehicle did the producer explain:
‘Sorry about that, Riley: We’re YouTubers who make documentary–style content. You know ‘Beyond Scared Straight‘? We do something similar, but with farms instead of prisons. Your mother signed you up. That scene was just for dramatic effect–you understand, right?”
He played a video clip for me.
In it, Mom wore a fake wig, sobbing quietly as she complained about me:
“This child… I just can’t control her anymore. I kindly tried to spend a few days with her at college. and she shaved my head out of spite! I lost my job because of it. Her father is so upset he barely comes home now. I’m hoping your show can help me get back my sweet, obedient, kind daughter…”
When the video ended, I sighed deeply and told the producer, “I think my mom misled you. That’s not what happened at all.”
explained the true story from beginning to end.
Is that so? With your academic record and background, you definitely don’t belong on our show. But we’ve already allocated the budget for this episode. If you don’t participate, who’s going to cover our losses?” he asked, frowning.
‘Don’t worry, you won’t lose anything. I was watching your channel the other day–aren’t you aunching a new series that nobody’s signed up for yet? What if we do this instead…” I motioned for aim to lean closer while I whispered my freshly hatched plan.
Two days later, Mom and I were both loaded onto a bus headed for the farm.
The entire ride, she whispered nonstop in my ear:
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My Mother Shaved Me Bald on Catless Move in haw
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Chapter 7
“If you get on your knees right now, hand over all your scholarship money, and promise to serve me for the rest of your life at home, I might consider making your time here a little easier.”
“But if you keep being stubborn, I’ll marry you off to some old man in these mountains. Everyone
already thinks you’re a slut anyway!”
I sat silently with my arms crossed, ignoring every word.
The bus eventually wound through the valley, stopping on a muddy dirt road.
Mom excitedly directed the crew: “Hurry! Get this brat off the bus! Teach her a good lesson!”
The crew members adjusted their equipment, then grabbed Mom by the arms and pulled her from
her seat.
“No, no, no! You’ve got it wrong!” she protested, shaking her head. “I’m not the one participating–it’s my daughter! Why are you grabbing ME?”
Just then, a production assistant walked over and slapped a script in her face.
The title read:
‘REFORM: BAD MOTHERS”
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