In Dad's Eyes, Strangers Deserve More

I couldn't stand being there for another second. I felt like I was suffocating.

Before I left, I turned around and said, "Do whatever you want with everything else. Leave my cafe out of it. I opened it with all my savings and a loan after I got laid off. I have to make a 5,000-dollar loan payment every month."

I looked at my dad, Leonard Cohen, straight in the eye. "I need that money to get by and stay alive, Dad. If you want to play the saint, don't do it by giving my life away freely."

The entire hall fell silent.

Dad's lips trembled as he pointed at me and scolded, "All you care about now is money! You've forgotten how to be a decent human being!"

I nodded and said, "You're right. All I care about is money. Because without money, I'll die. My cafe won't survive either. But do you care about that? All you care about is what these people down there think of you."

I turned to leave.

My gaze fell upon the gold-plated trophy for my dad's "selfless dedication" on the stage, gleaming harshly under the lights.

I walked back and picked it up.

"Hugh!" Mom screamed.

I looked at Dad. His eyes were filled with shock, anger, and the humiliation of having the hypocrisy of his act of kindness laid bare in front of everyone.

But among the mixture of emotions in his eyes, there wasn't a trace of guilt.

I said, "It's your trophy. You keep it."

Then, I let go. The trophy crashed to the floor, and its base split into three pieces. The shards scattered across the floor and hit Jared Leroy's dress shoes. He jumped back.

I walked off the stage and through the crowd, which parted to let me through.

When I reached the door, I looked back.

Dad was still standing there, staring at the shattered trophy on the floor. There was even a hint of hatred in his eyes.

I had been deeply upset. Upon seeing that look, all I felt now was utter disappointment.

I clenched my fists and said, "From now on, I'm no longer your son. My life is mine, and I need to ensure my own survival."

The door closed behind me, cutting off every sound from the hall.

…

My phone vibrated at 2:00 am. I stared at the ceiling for three seconds before reaching for it.

Mom's caller ID was displayed on the screen. I answered but said nothing.

Her voice was choked with tears. "Hugh, your dad's heart condition is acting up…"

I stayed silent.

"He refuses to go to the hospital. He says he won't go unless you agree to help the Leroy family. Please, Hugh. Just swallow your pride and agree for now, okay? Let's get him to the hospital first. I'm scared…"

I pulled the phone away and took a deep breath.

Then, I put it back to my ear and said calmly, "Mom, how many times has this happened?"

There was silence on the other end.

"In the year I was about to sit for my SAT, I ranked in the top ten in my grade on the first mock exam. My teacher said I was almost guaranteed a spot at a top college, but I needed to pay 1,800 dollars for an intensive prep course. Do you remember what happened in the end?"

Mom said in a small voice, "Hugh, that was a long time ago…"

I went on, "Dad lent the money to the Leroys to pay their medical fees. Gavin's wife was pregnant with her second child, and if they couldn't pay for that procedure, she would have a miscarriage. Gavin knelt outside our home and cried."

I paused and continued, "So, I didn't get into a top college. You told me it was okay, and that I would do well in life as long as I was capable and talented enough. During the summer after my sophomore year of college, I interned at an advertising company for a month and a half.

"I earned 4,200 dollars. That was the first paycheck of my life. I wanted to buy you a necklace. The day I received the money in my bank account, Dad called me and said the Leroys wanted to start a small business but were short 5,000 dollars in startup capital.

"I told him I only had 4,200 dollars. Dad said it was perfect and asked me to give him all of it, and that he would chip in another 800 dollars to make up the balance."