Chapter 4: The Five Hundred Dollar Secret
Terrence didn't move.
The bank statement lay open on his desk, its printed numbers staring back at him.
Five hundred dollars.
Every month.
For almost a year.
He read the entries again, hoping there was some explanation he had overlooked.
There wasn't.
"Keisha," he said quietly.
"Explain this.""
Keisha stood beside the filing cabinet, gripping her purse.
"It's not what you think.""
Terrence looked at the statement.
"Then tell me what it is.""
"It's money for Jalen.""
"I can see that. Why?""
"Because he needs it.""
Terrence let out a short breath.
"Everybody needs money, Keisha. That's why we work.""
Jalen shifted his weight.
"Mom was just helping me out.""
Terrence turned toward him.
"Helping you out with business money?""
Jalen shrugged.
"What's the difference? We're family.""
Terrence stared at his oldest son.
"That money belongs to the business. It pays the water bill, the insurance, the employees, and the equipment loans.""
"Okay, Dad. I get it.""
"No. I don't think you do.""
Terrence tapped the statement.
"This isn't a one-time payment. It's twelve separate payments.""
Keisha stepped forward.
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
"When the time was right.""
Terrence gave a humorless laugh.
"Apparently, the right time was never.""
Noah sat silently in the corner.
He looked at the statement again.
Twelve months.
Six thousand dollars.
He thought about the Saturdays he had spent washing cars in the summer heat. The evenings when he came home smelling of chemicals and wet rubber. The afternoons when his friends went to the movies while he worked because his mother said the family needed him.
He remembered asking Keisha for twenty dollars to replace his broken school shoes.
She had told him to wait until the next payday.
Meanwhile, his brother had been receiving five hundred dollars every month.
Noah looked at Jalen.
"Did you know?""
Jalen frowned.
"Know what?""
"That Mom was giving you money from the business every month.""
Jalen looked toward the window.
"She told me she was helping with my expenses.""
"Did you know it was coming from the business?""
Jalen rubbed his face.
"Yes, Noah. I knew.""
Noah nodded slowly.
"Okay.""
Jalen frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?""
"It means I understand now.""
"Understand what?""
"Why you never wanted to work.""
Jalen took a step toward him.
"Watch yourself.""
Terrence raised his hand.
"Sit down, Jalen.""
Jalen ignored him.
"You're acting like I robbed somebody.""
Terrence's voice became firm.
"Sit. Down.""
Jalen finally pulled out the chair.
Keisha crossed her arms.
"Terrence, you need to understand something. Jalen is twenty-three. He's trying to get his life together. He's been talking about starting his own mobile detailing business.""
Terrence blinked.
"With what money?""
Keisha didn't answer.
He looked down at the statement again.
"Five hundred dollars a month.""
"Yes.""
"For a business he hasn't started.""
"He's planning.""
Terrence leaned forward.
"Has he bought equipment?""
Keisha hesitated.
Jalen answered.
"I've been looking.""
"Have you registered a business?""
"No.""
"Have you found customers?""
"Not yet.""
Terrence nodded.
"So for twelve months, you've been paying him to think about working.""
Jalen slammed his palm against the desk.
"That's not fair!""
Noah flinched.
Terrence didn't.
"Then explain what's fair about paying you while your younger brother does your shifts.""
Jalen opened his mouth.
His mother interrupted.
"Because I wanted to give him a head start!""
Terrence looked at her.
"And Noah?""
Keisha frowned.
"What about him?""
"Doesn't he deserve a head start?""
"He doesn't need one.""
"Why?""
"Because Noah is responsible. He gets good grades. He doesn't ask for much. He can take care of himself.""
Noah stared at his mother.
For years, he had thought those were compliments.
Now they sounded like a sentence.
Being responsible meant he could be given more work.
Being quiet meant his complaints could be ignored.
Being dependable meant he didn't deserve the same help as his brother.
Terrence slowly closed the folder.
"You're telling me that because Noah doesn't complain, you decided he doesn't need anything?""
Keisha sighed.
"You're making me sound terrible.""
"I'm asking a simple question.""
"Jalen needs me more.""
Noah stood.
"Mom, I needed you too.""
Keisha turned.
"Don't start crying over money.""
"I'm not crying.""
"Then stop making that face.""
Noah looked down at his hands.
His knuckles were rough, and the skin around his fingernails was stained with black tire dressing.
"I needed money for school supplies last month. You told me we couldn't afford it.""
Keisha looked away.
"I said we'd handle it later.""
"Jalen got five hundred dollars that same week.""
"That's different.""
"How?""
She didn't answer.
Terrence rose from his chair.
"That's enough.""
He took the statement and placed it in a separate folder.
"Tomorrow morning, I'm calling the accountant. We're reviewing every payment, every time sheet, and every withdrawal.""
Keisha's face tightened.
"You're not taking this outside the family.""
Terrence looked at her.
"The accountant is part of the business.""
"You know what I mean.""
"I do.""
Jalen suddenly stood.
"So what happens to me?""
Terrence looked at him.
"Starting tomorrow, you don't receive another payment until we establish what you've actually earned.""
Jalen's eyes widened.
"You're cutting me off?""
"I'm stopping payments that haven't been properly documented.""
"Mom!""
Keisha stepped toward Terrence.
"You cannot do that.""
"I can. We both own this business.""
She stared at him.
Then she lowered her voice.
"You're going to destroy your relationship with your son over five hundred dollars?""
Terrence shook his head.
"No. I'm trying to teach him that money has to come from somewhere.""
Jalen grabbed his keys.
"Forget this. I'm leaving.""
"You're scheduled tomorrow," Terrence said.
Jalen stopped.
"What?""
"You heard me.""
"I'm not coming in.""
Terrence nodded.
"Then don't expect a paycheck.""
Jalen stormed out, slamming the office door.
The sound echoed through the building.
Keisha picked up her purse.
She looked at Noah.
"You happy now?""
Noah didn't respond.
"Your brother is upset because you couldn't keep your mouth shut.""
Terrence stepped between them.
"Keisha, stop.""
She walked out.
A few seconds later, Noah heard the front door of her car slam.
Terrence remained standing beside the desk.
For the first time that day, he looked uncertain.
He turned toward Noah.
"Son, I need you to know something.""
Noah waited.
"I should have been paying attention.""
Noah swallowed.
"Yeah.""
Terrence nodded.
"I can't change what happened. But I can make sure it doesn't happen again.""
Noah picked up his school backpack.
"Okay, Dad.""
As he reached the office door, Terrence called after him.
"Noah?""
He turned.
"Those records go back further than twelve months.""
Noah frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Terrence opened another drawer.
He pulled out a smaller folder, yellowed around the edges.
"I found this while looking for the original payroll agreements.""
He placed it on the desk.
There was a handwritten label on the front.
*NOAH BLACK — EMPLOYEE RECORD.*
Noah stared.
He had never seen that folder before.
Terrence opened it.
Inside was a document dated three years earlier.
May you like
And beside Noah's name was a signature that looked exactly like his.
Except Noah had never signed it.
