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Margo is the epitome of a young woman faced with a problem. She is not yet 20-years old but is pregnant, without financial resources, shunned by her mother and her stepfather, and forced to drop out of community college because of lack of childcare. Hence, the title, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.”
Margo chooses to keep her baby even though the father, one of her college teachers, urges her to have an abortion. He is already married with children and quickly stops answering her calls or texts. Her mother can’t understand why she would “ruin her life” by having a child. Her friends think she is making a big mistake and abandon her when she has the baby.
When her baby boy, Bodhi, is born, Margot leaves the hospital alone and returns to an apartment she shares with three roommates, two of whom move out quickly because they can’t stand the baby's crying.
Margot loses her job as a waitress when she can’t afford childcare. Her conscience led her to keep her baby, but now she has no job, no healthcare, no help, and is forced to make up the rent because of the two roommates’ leave-taking. Only Suzie is left in the apartment, and she works and goes to class. She isn’t interested in being a backup babysitter.
Margo’s father Jinx is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame. He never married Margo’s mother and has been an elusive character in Margo’s life. She rarely saw him and he has other children. Now retired and on unemployment, he shows up on Margo’s doorstop. Her father is getting a divorce, is alienated from his other children, and wants to live with her. He can pay his share of the rent. Since he is good with Bodhi, she agrees and loves the idea of getting to know her father.
Margo is desperate for money. When her father tells her of a woman wrestler who is also on OnlyFans, an adult content subscription service, Margo is intrigued, does her research, and begins producing sexual content. She makes more money in a month than she would have in a year waitressing tables. Rather than judge her, her dad supports her in her efforts and helps out with Bodhi.
While Margo begins to solve her money problems, more issues come up in her personal life that threaten her custody of Bodhi. Readers' sympathy for Margo will grow. In spite of her occupation, Margo is motivated by doing good. Her stepfather, a minister who believes that “God will provide” but castigates her for her choices and won’t help her in any way, seems like a villain. Her mother refuses to see or help her. Only her very flawed father rises to the level of decency in the story.
“Margo’s Got Money Problems” is a wonderfully humorous book in spite of the plot line. It was hard to watch Margo struggling when she has done the right thing for herself, but Margo’s determination and outlook contribute to a heart-warming story filled with tenderness and heart.
Rufi Thorpe is the author of four novels including “The Knockout Queen.” She has been nominated for many awards for her writing.
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