Chapter 5

They wrote back with a simple "okay," and nothing more.

I dug my suitcase out from the back of the closet. It was a small one, its wheels a little stiff, rattling every time I pulled it along.

I started packing clothes: short sleeves for summer, a light jacket for fall, a few textbooks.

The computer with the cracked screen was still sitting in the corner where I'd tossed it after bringing it home. I thought about it for a moment, then picked it up and tucked it into the bottom of the suitcase.

Once I'd finished packing, I opened my phone to buy a plane ticket from home to Dakota.

I picked out a flight and tapped to pay.

Payment failed. Insufficient balance.

Failed? That couldn't be right. I still had two thousand dollars in there.

My hands shook as I pulled up the transaction history.

The most recent charge was a two-thousand-dollar transfer.

It had gone out the night before last, to my mother's account.

I walked barefoot into the living room. Molly was curled up on the couch, tearing open a white box.

A brand-new phone case still had its plastic film on, catching a soft sheen under the warm lamplight.

"It's the latest model," she said to Mom without even glancing up. "You're the best, Mom. My old phone was so laggy. It was way overdue for an upgrade."

Mom set a plate of sliced watermelon down on the coffee table, her eyes curving into a smile. "As long as you like it. Only the best for you."

I walked over and held the phone screen up in front of her. "Where's my money?"

Mom froze for a second, then her expression darkened.

"What's with that attitude? It's only two thousand dollars. You just graduated, you don't need much money anyway. So what if I bought Molly a new phone? That old one of yours still works fine, doesn't it?"

I looked down at the knockoff phone in my hand. The screen was a mess of cracks, the battery had swollen twice already, and I was scared every time I plugged it in to charge. Mom had handed it down to me after using it for three years, telling me it was fine for school as long as it could make calls.

"That was money I saved up from four years of part-time jobs in college," I said, my voice shaking.

"Haven't you eaten and lived off my money your whole life? And now you're keeping score with me over this?"

Mom pushed the watermelon plate toward the middle of the table and handed a slice to Molly. "Put down the phone for now. Have some watermelon."

Molly took the slice and bit into it, juice running down her chin. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Come on, don't be so petty about it. It's only two thousand dollars. I'll earn it back in a couple months once I'm working."

I looked at her. "Working with what? You can't even build a layer."

"Mom! Look at her!" Molly slammed the watermelon rind down on the table, pulp splattering across the surface. "She's looking down on me again!"

Mom set down what she was holding and came to stand right in front of me, her finger almost jabbing my nose.

"You are just too selfish. You've been like this since you were little, always wanting to keep everything for yourself. You've never once said a warm word to me. Your sister is ten times more thoughtful than you. We'll just put it on credit for now and pay it off once she gets her first paycheck. That's only two months, isn't it?"

She caught her breath, her tone leveling out a little. "And another thing. Once you start working, you'll hand over half your salary to me every month for household expenses."

Molly threw herself off the couch and latched onto Mom's arm, nuzzling her face into her shoulder. "Mom, you're the best! I don't have to pay in, right?"

Mom gave her nose an affectionate pinch. "Like I would ever want your little bit of money. Keep it for yourself. As if I'd take from you."

Watching the two of them, so warm and cozy together, cut me to the bone.