“Yes.”
“I know.”
That was one thing I appreciated about Frank.
He didn’t make excuses.
He had thought he could guide Evan without betraying his confidence.
At first, the amounts were small.
Ten dollars.
Twenty.
A couple of meals.
Frank assumed Monica’s situation was temporary.
Then one afternoon he caught Evan slipping his entire cash envelope into Noah’s backpack.
Frank took him into the kitchen.
“You worked for that money.”
“So?”
“So it’s yours.”
“I don’t need it.”
“You told me you were buying a bike.”
“I have a bike.”
“A bike with one working brake.”
“It still stops.”
Frank had laughed despite himself.
Then he realized Evan wasn’t joking.
After that, Frank began forcing him to take part of his pay home.
Evan responded by finding other ways to earn money.
He swept a neighbor’s garage.
Raked leaves.
Cleaned trash from Frank’s parking lot.
Returned bottles and cans.
Sold games.
Skipped snacks.
Saved birthday money.
Once, Frank found him trying to hand Monica forty dollars she repeatedly refused to take.
“That kid can wear down concrete,” Frank said.
I almost smiled.
“That sounds like him.”
Frank nodded toward the kitchen.
“Today was the last straw.”
Monica had learned that an inexpensive apartment she applied for had been approved.
But she needed the deposit quickly or the property manager would move to another applicant.
Evan somehow learned the amount.
Four hundred and eighty dollars.
He had $437.
Frank discovered him counting it after his shift.
“He asked me for an advance.”
I stared.
“You gave it to him?”
“No.”
“Thank God.”
“So he offered to work free for the next month.”
