Chapter 16 - SAMUEL DROPS A GLASS
Samuel began having nightmares about the party.
Not dramatic every night.
Two.
Then another.
In one he dropped a wine glass.
Grandpa told him I would have to pay.
At school, his teacher noticed he refused to carry cafeteria trays.
I arranged counseling.
Rebecca became angrier instead.
She wanted to expose everything.
“Can I post the videos?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Jacob is in them.”
“So?”
“Ask him.”
Jacob said no.
That ended it.
Rebecca hated that answer.
Good lesson.
Someone else’s humiliation is not yours to publish because your purpose is righteous.
One evening Samuel dropped a water glass at home.
It shattered.
He froze.
Hands at his sides.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s a glass.”
“I’m sorry.”
I crouched.
“Samuel.”
His eyes filled.
“Grandpa said if we broke anything it came out of our inheritance.”
My throat tightened.
“What inheritance?”
“He said rich kids only understand money.”
There was no inheritance from Robert promised to them.
Maybe one day.
Maybe not.
He used imaginary money to control children.
I cleaned the glass.
Samuel watched.
“Do I have to pay?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because accidents are not moral failures.”
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I wish someone had told Robert that about poverty, pride, and business losses.
Maybe none of this would have happened.
