Chapter 9 - THE BIKE SHOP OWNER KNEW TOO
Mr. Patel owned the sporting-goods store.
He recognized Evan immediately when we walked in.
“There’s my slowest customer.”
Evan looked embarrassed.
I looked at the bicycle.
Matte black.
Orange lettering.
Still there.
Apparently the model had been discontinued, but Mr. Patel kept one display bike aside because Evan had put down the deposit.
“Why?” I asked.
Mr. Patel smiled.
“Because every month he comes in and says, ‘One more month.’”
My throat tightened.
Then:
“One day I asked where the money went.”
Evan groaned.
“Everybody knows everything.”
Welcome to adulthood.
Mr. Patel learned about Lily months earlier.
He offered Evan a discount.
Evan refused.
Why?
“He said if he bought the bike cheaper, that meant less money for his sister.”
I looked at my son.
He examined a helmet very intensely.
Then Mr. Patel said:
“I tried telling him a child is allowed to want something.”
“Thank you.”
“He did not listen.”
“He’s good at that.”
Then the store owner handed Evan his ten-dollar deposit back.
“I’m not holding the bike anymore.”
Evan’s face fell.
“What?”
“Because your mother says you’re taking a break from work.”
He looked betrayed.
I had spoken to Mr. Patel before we came.
Then Mr. Patel pointed toward the bike.
“It’ll sell or it won’t.”
Evan’s eyes filled.
“That’s not fair.”
I crouched beside him.
“Actually, it is.”
He had spent six months postponing himself because he believed Lily’s needs automatically outranked his wants.
The world could not reward that forever.
“If you still want the bike later, you can save again.”
He looked furious.
“You could just buy it.”
“I could.”
“Will you?”
“No.”
More fury.
Good.
Then I added:
“I will buy the helmet.”
He blinked.
“Why?”
“Because I’m your mother and head injuries are expensive.”
Mr. Patel laughed.
Evan almost did.
Then Sal made a new arrangement.
After his two-week break, Evan could return to the diner two Saturdays a month.
Limited hours.
School first.
His paycheck would be deposited into a youth account with me able to see it but not spend it.
Important both directions.
I could not secretly raid his money either.
He would choose what portion to save, spend, or donate.
With one rule:
No giving more than ten percent away without talking to me first.
He hated the percentage.
“Why ten?”
“Because you need practice keeping some of what you earn.”
Then Grace surprised us.
She asked Evan not to give Lily money anymore.
“Ever?”
“Not unless it’s a birthday gift.”
“But what if you need something?”
“I’m the parent.”
There it was.
Adults reclaiming adult responsibility.
Then Lily looked at Evan.
“You can still hang out with me.”
He smiled.
“Yeah.”
She added:
“And if you get the bike, you have to let me ride it.”
May you like
He immediately said no.
Sibling relationship officially established.
