By the time I finished everything, it was almost nine at night and my back hurt so badly I could barely stand.
These old bones were more tired here than when I was teaching in school. I worked myself to exhaustion to help him, but in his eyes, it was nothing but pity money.
Wanda suddenly laughed coldly, glancing at me with disdain.
“Dad, I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you're so petty, you know that? I was just being honest here. Do you really have to quit over something so small?”
“If people hear about this, what will they think of us?”
Martha quickly stepped in to support her. “Exactly! You were the one who took the twenty cents, so you’re at fault. What’s wrong with them pointing it out? Wanda is just doing what’s best for the family and the business.”
I stood there, feeling the blood rush to my head. My hands were shaking slightly and I could hardly control them.
I asked slowly, word by word, “Let me ask you something. If you see twenty cents lying on the street, would you bend down to pick it up?”
The mother and daughter froze. They glanced at each other, their faces suddenly awkward.