In real life, sadly, the abusers will NEVER say sorry. I can see it now, families fighting to find a way to alleviate the debt, some possibly even ending up in jail themselves for supporting their childrens' abuse of Barbara, the parents' employers refusing to allow anyone to mistreat the parents of the poor girl, as they know full well she was an innocent in all of this. I can see it being a massive uproar in the entire station where the families are living, many families possibly moving away, refusing to accept they did anything wrong and fuming under the fact they have to pay damages, etc.