The Inheritance
Dear Frankie,
I have attended Cathedral Canine Academy on a scholarship for three years.
After my parents inherited a substantial fortune from a distant relative, my dad notified the academy to bill him for my tuition and offered to sponsor a wing of the library in our family’s name.
My mom then insisted I dress like a donor. She sent me a new set of formal clothes, explaining that my thrift shop attire wasn’t suitable for our new status and that she expected this would result in more invitations.
Is this a typical reaction to newfound wealth?
Ship
Dear Ship,
Money isn’t always a blessing for those who unexpectedly come into a large fortune.
A study was conducted on lottery winners, and the findings weren’t encouraging. Most of them squandered their money, ended relationships with relatives and friends who thought they deserved a piece of the pie, or were scammed by fraudulent financial advisors.
A doctor in Massachusetts who won the lottery anonymously donated his winnings to a charity. He said he had all the money he needed and didn’t have any desire to change his lifestyle or his relationships.
But there weren’t many winners like him.
Your father did notify the school that your scholarship was no longer needed. He also funded the wing of the library. He’s not the first donor to require the family name to be on the building.
Your mom’s use of clothes as a passage to upward mobility is somewhat questionable. However, no one is a saint. Over time, she may feel more comfortable having money and less of a need to show it off.
In the meantime, go about your life as you usually would, even if you have to do it in a fine wool blazer.
Best, Frankie
© 2025 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www.neighbnews.com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
•••
Click here to download the 9/11/25 issue: 09-11-25 WhoGonna
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
