Chapter 5 - Grandpa’s Question
Walter pushed his chair back slightly.
“Ethan, tell me what happens to your paycheck.”
The room waited.
Ethan let out a short, humorless laugh.
“I pay my student loans. I transfer eight hundred here. I cover part of the utilities. Last month, I paid for the water heater. Before that, I covered the insurance deductible after the basement flooded.”
Margaret looked toward Diane.
“You charged him for flood damage in the room he rents?”
Diane whispered, “We were struggling.”
Ethan continued.
“I’ve also paid Claire’s phone bill twice.”
Claire turned toward her mother.
“You said you covered that.”
Diane began crying.
“I was trying to keep everyone stable.”
Walter’s voice remained calm.
“No. You were using the child least likely to object.”
Richard pointed at Ethan.
“He agreed.”
Walter finally looked angry.
“People agree to unfair things when love is held over their heads.”
The room went completely silent.
Walter turned back to Ethan.
“How much is in your house account?”
Ethan hesitated.
“Four thousand three hundred.”
After four years of work, the number sounded pitiful aloud.
Margaret covered her mouth.
Walter looked toward Richard.
“And how much has he paid you during those four years?”
Richard said nothing.
Ethan did the calculation in his head.
“More than thirty-eight thousand. Not including repairs.”
Claire’s face went pale.
Walter nodded slowly.
May you like
Then he said the sentence that left the entire table speechless.
“You did not help your son become independent. You sold him permission to remain your son.”
