Chapter 2
Dad sat down slowly on the couch.
He still held one of the new sneakers in his hand.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he looked at me.
"Malik, who's Ava?"
I swallowed.
"She's in my class."
Mom sat beside him.
"Why have you been giving her money?"
I looked toward Grandma.
She nodded gently.
"It's okay, baby."
But I wasn't sure.
I'd promised Ava that I wouldn't embarrass her.
I'd promised I wouldn't tell anyone about the things happening at her house.
And promises mattered to me.
Dad had taught me that.
"Can I explain something first?" I asked.
Dad nodded.
"Of course."
I sat on the edge of the coffee table.
Three months earlier, I'd noticed Ava sitting alone during lunch.
She was usually cheerful.
She had beautiful braided hair with purple beads.
And she always shared her colored pencils with anyone who needed them.
But that afternoon, she wasn't eating.
Her lunch tray was empty.
I asked whether she'd forgotten her lunch.
She shook her head.
Then said she wasn't hungry.
I knew that wasn't true.
Because when another student threw away half a sandwich, Ava stared at it until the trash can was carried away.
I gave her my apple.
She thanked me.
The next day, I brought an extra sandwich.
The day after that, I brought two.
Eventually, she told me why.
Her mother had lost her job.
Her father had left the family months earlier.
And they were struggling to pay rent.
I looked at Dad.
"Ava said her mama sometimes pretended she already ate."
Mom covered her mouth.
I continued.
"She said her little brother gets scared when the lights go off."
Dad's expression changed.
"Why would the lights go off?"
"Because sometimes they can't pay the electricity bill."
Grandma wiped her cheeks.
I looked down.
"I didn't know what to do."
Dad leaned forward.
"Malik, you could've told us."
I nodded.
"I know."
"Then why didn't you?"
I hesitated.
"Because I heard you and Mama talking about bills."
The room became quiet.
Dad looked at Mom.
I continued.
"You said the truck needed repairs."
Mom lowered her eyes.
"And Mama said we had to be careful with money until next month."
Dad looked devastated.
I swallowed.
"I didn't want to make things harder."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mom reached for my hand.
"Baby, helping someone doesn't mean you have to carry their problems alone."
I nodded.
"But I wanted to do something."
That's when I told them about Mr. Raymond.
He owned a small car wash near our school.
One afternoon, I'd stopped to buy a bottle of water.
He was struggling to organize supplies outside the office.
I helped him carry several lightweight boxes.
He thanked me.
Then asked why I looked upset.
I told him about wanting to earn money for a gift.
I didn't mention Ava.
He offered to let me help with simple chores after school.
Nothing dangerous.
I swept the waiting area.
Organized clean towels.
Wiped tables.
And sometimes helped wash the lower parts of cars while an adult supervised.
He paid me for the work.
Grandma knew where I was.
She picked me up most afternoons.
But Mom and Dad didn't.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Raymond should've talked to us."
Grandma nodded.
"You're right."
I looked at her in surprise.
She sighed.
"I should've told you too, Marcus."
Dad stared at her.
Grandma continued.
"I thought I was helping Malik do something special. But I shouldn't have kept his work arrangements from his parents."
Mom nodded slowly.
"We'll talk about that."
I felt guilty.
"Please don't be mad at Grandma."
Dad looked at me.
"Son, we're not angry because you wanted to help."
He took a breath.
"We're concerned because we didn't know where you were every afternoon."
I nodded.
"I understand."
Mom squeezed my hand.
"Your safety comes first."
I looked down.
"I'm sorry."
Dad reached toward me.
"Come here."
I stepped closer.
He hugged me again.
Then whispered, "We'll figure this out together."
For the first time that afternoon, I felt my shoulders relax.
But I hadn't told them everything.
Dad seemed to notice.
"Malik, how much money did you give Ava?"
I stared at the table.
"Not directly."
He frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I bought groceries sometimes."
Mom looked stunned.
"Groceries?"
I nodded.
"And school supplies."
Grandma spoke softly.
"Malik asked me to take him to the discount grocery store."
Dad turned toward her.
"You knew about Ava too?"
Grandma nodded.
"Some of it."
Dad looked exhausted.
He set the sneaker on the table.
"Ma, we need to have a conversation later."
Grandma sighed.
"I know."
I stared at my hands.
"Please don't punish her."
Dad looked at me.
"Malik, this isn't about punishment."
I swallowed.
"It's about making sure adults are handling adult responsibilities."
I nodded.
Then Mom asked something I hadn't expected.
"Does Ava's mother know you've been helping?"
I hesitated.
"Sometimes."
"What do you mean?"
"She knows I brought food."
Mom leaned forward.
"But?"
I looked at Grandma.
Then whispered, "Ava told her the groceries came from a school donation program."
Dad closed his eyes.
Mom looked shocked.
"Malik."
I quickly explained.
"Ava said her mama would feel embarrassed if she knew another kid bought them."
Mom sighed.
"Sweetheart, needing help isn't something to be ashamed of."
I nodded.
"I know."
Dad stood.
He walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he turned around.
"What's Ava's last name?"
"Brooks."
He froze.
I frowned.
"Dad?"
He stepped closer.
"What's her mother's name?"
I swallowed.
"Miss Tasha."
Dad's expression changed completely.
"Tasha Brooks?"
I nodded.
Mom stared at him.
"Marcus?"
Dad looked stunned.
He sat down slowly.
Then whispered, "I know her."
My stomach tightened.
"You do?"
He nodded.
"Tasha used to work at the warehouse with me."
I stared at him.
"What?"
Dad looked at Mom.
"She was laid off last winter."
Mom covered her mouth.
Dad continued.
"She was one of the best workers we had."
I swallowed.
"Then why did she lose her job?"
Dad looked away.
"The company cut nearly thirty positions."
I stared at the sneakers.
The warehouse.
Dad's long shifts.
The bills.
Ava's empty lunch tray.
Suddenly, everything felt connected.
Then Dad whispered something that made my stomach drop.
"Tasha came to see me two weeks ago."
I looked up.
"Why?"
He swallowed.
"She asked whether I knew of any job openings."
Mom stared at him.
"What did you tell her?"
Dad looked ashamed.
"I told her I'd ask around."
I waited.
Then whispered, "Did you?"
He closed his eyes.
"No."
The room went silent.
Dad stared at the floor.
"I got busy."
I felt tears rising.
Not because I wanted to blame him.
But because I remembered Ava telling me her mother cried after another job interview.
Dad looked at me.
"Malik, I'm going to make that right."
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated in my pocket.
A message from Ava.
I opened it.
My heart stopped.
The message said:
Malik, we're leaving our apartment tonight. Mom says we can't stay anymore.
I stared at the screen.
Then looked at Dad.
"Dad."
He turned.
"What is it?"
My voice began shaking.
May you like
"Ava says they're losing their home."
And suddenly, the sneakers on the table didn't matter anymore.
