Anders did some quick mental math to figure out how long he'd need to work at the Magic Box to get $58,000, and came up with a figure that required he spend all his waking hours at work for several months.

So he could see the crisis.

"I didn't know it was a money thing," he said. "Not so different from home, I suppose. The rich always get the best opportunities and the rest of us scrabble around. If I had the money so you didn't need to worry I'd give it to you."