Chapter 2: The Price of a Lesson
My dad disappeared upstairs for almost ten minutes.
Nobody spoke.
Devon sat on the couch, tapping his foot like he was still convinced this would somehow blow over.
Karen kept looking at me with disappointment.
Not at Devon.
At me.
Finally, she whispered, “You need to calm down.””
I looked at her.
“I’m calm.””
“No, you’re angry.””
“Yes.””
She shook her head.
“You need to understand that Devon is younger.””
“He’s seventeen.””
“He made a bad choice.””
I looked around the room.
The same room where Devon had opened expensive gifts every birthday.
The same room where I had been told to share my things because “he didn’t have the same opportunities.””
And suddenly I realized something.
Everyone had been protecting him from consequences for years.
My dad came downstairs holding his phone.
Devon immediately sat up.
“What?””
Dad ignored him.
He walked over to me.
“Tasha, did you have any receipts or proof of the parts you bought?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
“Good.””
Devon frowned.
“Why?””
My dad looked at him.
“Because I called the pawn shop.””
The color drained from Devon’s face.
“You what?””
Dad sat down calmly.
“They still have the computer.””
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
“They do?””
Dad nodded.
“But there’s a problem.””
My heart dropped.
“What problem?””
“He sold it for far less than it was worth.””
Devon looked away.
Dad continued.
“The shop told me they can release it back to us, but someone has to pay the difference.””
Devon suddenly stood.
“Wait.””
Dad looked at him.
“What?””
“You’re not making me pay for that.””
My dad’s eyebrows lifted.
“Why not?””
“Because it’s already done.””
“No.””
Dad’s voice stayed calm.
“It’s not done.””
Devon laughed nervously.
“Dad, come on. It’s just a computer.””
My dad stared at him.
“That computer represented two years of your sister’s work.””
Devon rolled his eyes.
“She can build another one.””
I saw my dad’s expression change.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
And somehow that was worse.
“You really believe that?””
Devon didn’t answer.
Dad walked toward the front door.
“Get your shoes.””
Devon frowned.
“Why?””
“We’re going to the pawn shop.””
“I’m not going.””
My dad stopped.
The silence that followed felt heavy.
Then he said:
“Devon.””
Something about his voice made Devon freeze.
“I’m not asking.””
Twenty minutes later, we were standing outside the pawn shop.
The man behind the counter recognized my dad immediately.
“You’re here for the computer?””
Dad nodded.
“Yes.””
The owner looked at Devon.
“You sold this?””
Devon crossed his arms.
“Yeah.””
The owner shook his head.
“Your sister’s lucky. Whoever bought it hadn’t picked it up yet.””
I felt relief rush through me.
My PC was still there.
My dad paid the remaining amount without saying a word.
On the drive home, nobody talked.
Devon stared out the window.
For the first time, he didn’t look confident.
He looked embarrassed.
But I wasn’t sure if he was sorry.
Or just upset that he got caught.
When we arrived home, my dad placed the computer box on my desk.
I almost cried.
Not because of the computer.
Because for once, someone had chosen me.
Someone had understood that what happened mattered.
But downstairs, I heard Devon arguing.
“You’re treating me like a criminal!””
I walked toward the stairs.
My dad answered.
“No. I’m treating you like someone who needs to learn responsibility.””
“You’re seriously taking this that far?””
“Yes.””
“You’re embarrassing me.””
My dad’s voice became quieter.
“Devon, embarrassment is when you lose your reputation.””
He paused.
“This is when you learn before you lose something bigger.””
I stepped back.
Then I heard Devon say something that made me stop.
“You always take her side.””
A long silence followed.
Then my dad replied:
“Because she’s usually the one who needs someone to.””
I returned to my room and closed the door.
I thought everything was finally over.
I was wrong.
The next morning, when I walked downstairs, I saw Devon standing beside my dad with a strange expression.
And in my dad’s hand was a set of keys.
May you like
Not mine.
Devon’s.
