def _merge_fix(d):
    """Fixes keys that start with "&" and "-"
        d = {
          "&steve": 10,
          "-gary": 4
        }
        result = {
          "steve": 10,
          "gary": 4
        }
    """
    if type(d) is dict:
        for key in d.keys():
            if key[0] in ('&', '-'):
                d[key[1:]] = _merge_fix(d.pop(key))
    return d