eyes red. She kept muttering,

s, but a part of me found t

d whispered some

ned. "Mom? Ar

ed. "W

the stage, Mr. Henderson hurried

, "this card... it's been

e an octave. "What? Impossible! You hi

ained, held out the port

oice chirped: "Card d

ca stumbled back a step,

in the audie

you find that car

money, why pretend? A

ed. She snatched the machine and

lined. Ca

lined. Ca

and chatter

om, what's going o

ith a pleasant smile. "Since Mrs. Hayes can't seem to produce the five h

She winked at me and st

a problem, but that doesn't mean I don't have the

on her phone. Soon, the unmistakable voice of m

Don't worry, son. No one is taking this prize fr

a small, c

t on a public display of affection over t

d, unassuming model

ler, what the hell is wrong with that card I gave you? Contact the bank immed

ly calm. "Why do you nee

obviously! Stop asking st

tly, hiding the icy sto

cade. Those who truly knew me understood that this tone, thi

er to my family's backing, daring to keep a

ly made him forget wh

Mark fired off a few more irritat

her phone, displaying a bank transfer not

ouched her lips, but her ey

old you, a family like ours wouldn't blink at hal

e who live paycheck to paycheck, scrimping

girl, better hope for a richer family in your next li