Maryjane came to my office today to have her tax prepared. She is a single mother. Her child a boy 14 years old. Maryjane works as a cleaner. Her total income for last year was Can S 24,000. Most of it was earned by cleaning stores and offices and houses. She was tired today and looked it. She was cleanly but poorly dressed. When I prepared her tax return she showed me a slip for bank interest earned. About $ 2,200.00 in the name of her son. Now that he turned 14 the bank issued the slip in his name. He can earn more than that without being taxable. The
account was now fully in his name. Calculating by the low rate of interest that
banks here pay the account represented at least $ 88,000 in savings. She only makes the minimum wage, namely 8.25 per hour. The cleaning chemicals had burned her arms, and she had to give up one of the jobs. I asked her about the savings in
the name of the boy. She replied earnestly:" that is for his education!". Yes it will give him a chance.
I tried to reduce her taxes by trying to find some offsetting expenses because she works on contracts and not as an employee. I asked her about her car and the
gasoline receipts. She sadly replied I only have a bycicle. She can not drive. She is fearful of cars. Yet she takes a bycicle every day and drives at 3:00 in the morning to work. Not excactly safe time at all. But she must support her son
and herself and so she works. It came to me, that many of my other clients do not really understand the meaning of working hard. She gets very tired, but she loves her son and hopes for a better future for him. That is mother's love. Where
did this very hard working woman come from? From the Phillipines of course. First a job as a nanny, and then after two years they may stay and find their own work. Life can be very hard. But these dear people are tough. I have at least five
Phillipinas who all work two jobs (at least 14 hours a day). Yes they earn good
money and support families at home. But of all these ladies, and that is what they truly are, Maryjane has the hardest lot. I do not know about the father. And
I did not ask, but I made sure her bill for my work was very low.
When she left she put a warm jacket on, put a helmet on her head as is required
by law and pushed her old bycicle out to the street while I gladly held the door
for her. A valient soul. I am sure this true story is not unfamiliar to my friends in China.
Best Wishes, Uncle Ben
