tly at my brother. "I'm the one who's been paying for Mom's house, her food,

dignation. "Because you're hoarding the re

ight. It's Mom's money. It should be split down t

r a car anymore. They were laying claim to half of my mother's entir

n us. She wrung her hands, a gesture of peak anxiety. "Ok

e Leo two thousand five hundred? Half of what

etely detached from reality. There wasn't two thousand five hundred dollars to give. And even

f it were a legitimate business negotiation. "Fine," he said. "I'll take twenty-five hund

it only be twenty-five hundred? That's not fair to Leo! Sarah gets to live in her nice place with her n

r son, her daughter-in-law, and me. For the first time, she seemed to have no easy answer, no placating words to smooth things over. She was silent,

ted logic gave me a strange sense of clarity. I sa

gh. "You want to talk about fai

rite you a check for five thousand dollars r

d at me, shock

will sign it, agreeing to pay me back in full within one year. With interest. Because that's what a real loa

a loan. They wanted a handout. And they certainly didn't want any legal documents or personal accountability. They just wanted the money