Several adults glanced up. Then away. A few exchanged looks that said everything without a single word.
The manager leaned back in her chair, eyes scanning the boy from head to toe—scuffed shoes, faded jacket, nervous fingers gripping the paper.
“This is a bank, not a charity,” she said flatly. “Where did you get that check?”
The boy swallowed. “My dad told me to bring it here.”
A short laugh escaped from someone near the waiting chairs.
“Your dad?” the manager repeated, arching a brow. “And where exactly is he?”
The boy hesitated. “He’s… here.”
Whispers rippled through the hall.
The manager held out her hand sharply. “Give it to me.”
The boy placed the check on the desk like it might break. The manager barely glanced at the name before her lips pressed into a thin line.
“This amount?” she scoffed. “Do you have any idea how many fake checks we see every day?”
“I—I didn’t make it,” the boy said quickly. “Please. We really need—”
“That’s enough,” she cut him off, already tearing the paper in half. “We don’t tolerate fraud.”
The sound of ripping paper landed like a slap.
The boy froze.
“I didn’t lie,” he whispered, staring at the torn pieces drifting to the floor. “I swear I didn’t.”
No one spoke.