After Buddhist Mom Invented the Merit System, She Went Mad

My mother called herself a cool and detached holy woman, and she set down a strict merit system for our family.

She was always kneeling before the shrine, telling me in the most devout voice:

"Beryl Fox, merits can be traded for happiness. As long as you keep doing good deeds, any wish can come true."

So I kept doing good deeds.

I did all the housework, took the scoldings and the punishments meant for my sister, even jumped into freezing water to save someone, all to build up a thick store of merits.