Page 115 of Robbin’ the Rich

I unlocked my front door without speaking.

“Please, Micah. Can we talk?”

“Come in,” I said as I held the door open.

I set my guitar case down in the corner and took my coat off before I finally turned to him.

“What do you want? I already told mom and dad I’m done.”

He shook his head but kept pacing. “This isn’t about them.”

A line formed between my eyebrows as he paced. Whatever was about to happen was good.

“I need to borrow some money.”

“What?”

He turned to face me and in the light of the living room I really took him in. He looked bad. His skin had a grayish tint accompanied by a sheen of some kind, and his eyes were red rimmed and sunken.

“Caleb. Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I just need some money.”

I sighed. I loved my brother, but how was I the family disappointment? I know addiction is a sickness, and I know if he had another choice, he wouldn’t be like this, but he had been bailed out time after time.

“I don’t have much. I just finished Christmas shopping and I’m a middle school teacher. I’m not exactly rolling in it.”

“I know, just like 200 bucks.”

“Caleb. I don’t have two hundred dollars right now. Ask mom and dad.”

“They won’t give me any money… especially now.”

“Why especially now?”

He sat down on the couch holding his head between his hands.

“I just fucked up. And they found out… and now I just need a little bit of money. I owe someone money. Please!”

“What you need is rehab.”

“You’re right. I’ll go after Christmas. I promise.”

I went and sat down next to him. I’ve never seen him this bad before.

“What’s going on?”

“Ummm… well… There has been an investigation at the church. They noticed some money was missing. I’ve been skimming off the youth funds. I didn’t think anyone would notice, but they did. Mom and Dad are so mad. They cut me off. I just need some money.”

I pulled out my phone and pulled up MoneyApp and transferred him some money.

“There. $200. But that is.”

He bolted up from the couch and threw his arms around me. “Thank you! Thank you so much, man.”

“You were stealing from the church?”

“You and I both know they were never going to miss it. You know how much money they make.”