Cutting Ties After the Last Dollar

“Mom, I’ll pay you back real soon…”

I awkwardly picked at the hem of my shirt.

“That’s what you say all the time. Name one month you actually paid off your debt.

“It’s a good thing your father and I are generous enough not to hold it against you.”

My mother, Cassie, brushed me off with the wave of her hand before turning to my sister, who was sitting nearby, absorbed in a picture book.

“Millie, what do we call those who owe money and never pay back?”

Millie looked up, her eyes lighting up with a smile.

“A bum!”

“That’s right. You’re so smart, sweetheart. Don’t be a bum like your sister.”

Cassie pulled Millie into a hug, and the pair sank into the couch together, giggling away.

I stood to the side in embarrassment, the cozy scene stinging my cheeks hot.

Then came a knock on the door.

I rushed to open the front door, and there stood my father, Ethan Small, holding a large cake and fresh ribs with a grin on the other side.

As my eyes welled up, I reached out to take the cake from him.

Ethan dumped the ribs on me while holding the cake high.

“Millie, guess what I bought you?”

With Millie coming running in delight, Ethan scooped her into his arms.

Ethan nuzzled her cheek lovingly, and she snuggled up with a chuckle.

“Meanie! Your beard is poking me!”

“I’m a meanie? Who gets this big cake then?”

Feigning anger, Ethan pulled a long face to tease Millie.

“You’re the best Daddy ever! The best in the whole wide world!”

Millie smacked a kiss right on Ethan’s face.

Cassie approached and gave Millie a little squeeze on the cheek.

“Our Millie is amazing for taking first place in the piano competition. Daddy got you a cake. How about I whip up your favorite barbecue ribs for dinner?”

Since I was still standing there, Cassie pointed toward the kitchen.

“Meadow, wash the ribs and cut them up for me. I’ll season them in a minute.”

I carried the ribs to the sink and rinsed them under cold water, scrubbing away the last streaks of blood.

Even with the faucet running full blast, I could still hear their laughter echoing from the living room.

I blinked hard, fighting back the sting in my eyes.

The cake was meant for Millie. Here I thought Ethan recalled that it was my birthday today.

It didn’t take Cassie long to get dinner on the table.

The dinner table was covered with Millie’s favorite food, with a strawberry cake displayed front and center.

Ethan and Cassie sat on either side of Millie. Ethan raised his camera and snapped a photo.

I sat at the far end of the table, quietly digging in.

Ethan glanced at me before uttering softly, “Meadow, come here and have a slice of cake.”

I stayed where I was, taking another bite of green beans and mashed potatoes.

Cassie slammed her utensil down with a clatter and said in contempt, “Just leave her be. Ever since you got home, she’s had that long face as if we’ve abused her or something.

“A minute ago, she was asking for cake. Now that it’s time to eat it, she won’t even come over.”

Cassie turned to Millie, her expression tender.

“Come here, sweetheart. I’ll feed you a bite.”

After dinner, Cassie pulled out the family ledger, just like she always did.

“The cake was $150, so your share is $37. The ingredients and food prep costs come to another $30. You owe me $67.”

Pursing my lips, I kept to myself for a bit before uttering, “Thirty is all I’m paying.”

Cassie was taken aback, not expecting me to push back at all.

“Seriously? Trying to bargain with your mother?”

“I didn’t eat the cake, so I’m not covering the cost for it.”

Cassie raised her voice.

“Whose fault is that? You said you wanted cake, so your father went out and bought it just for you. Now you’re acting like you never wanted it.”

I lifted my head, tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Was the cake for me, though? Didn’t Dad buy it for Millie?”

“So what? Did anyone stop you from eating the cake?”

“I can’t eat it.”

My voice broke with sobs, and my tears blurred Cassie’s face.

I said, “I’m allergic to strawberries, Mom. Did you forget?”

Cassie opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Moments later, she turned her head away.

“Alright, alright. You win. I’ll take thirty. Just hand the money over now.”

I returned to my room.

From the drawer, I pulled out a rusty tin box. It held everything I owned.

I pulled out the crumpled bills and a handful of loose change, counting them over and over.

A dollar, two… I had thirty-two dollars.

That was every penny I’d managed to save from working after school during my senior year of high school.

I had to figure out a way to make money and fast.