The Devils Choice

Dollars upon dollars upon dollars

My mind wouldn’t focus at that moment. I was paralyzed. My mom knew and has all along. Not only had my dad been lying to me, but my mom as well. I sat down on the ground while staring at the bike in front of me. This huge, black, ugly and life-threatening bike. My dad’s life on the line. Had he ever considered the possibility that he could die in a heartbeat. Leaving me behind. Leaving his family behind, my siblings and his friends. How could he buy this thing? I'm only seventeen. I’m not ready to put him in the f*****g ground.

I finally started speaking. “Millie and Mike…… do they know about this?” Millie and Mike are my siblings. Millie is 13 and Mike is 15. He was quick to answer. “No. Most definitely not. I have kept this part of my life hidden from all of you.” I couldn’t help thinking. What did this have to do with me receiving a letter from the police. “Dad…. why are you showing me this?” He once again starred at the ground. “I know who ordered the taser in your name. I know because he found your name and address on my phone.” What. He knew someone ordered a taser, an illegal weapon, in my name. I needed some answers, and I needed them now, but at the same time, I started feeling dizzy and collapsed on the ground.

I woke up at the sound of my name. My dad sat next to me. Somehow, I had gotten in the living room and on the couch. I quickly said “I’m okay, I just have to lay down.” My dad got up. “I’m just going to run out and lock the shed.” I replied with a tiny “OK.”   

Not long after my dad appeared next to my once again. I needed some answers. “Dad? How did you get the bike?” He truly looked sorry. “I started saving money a long time ago. I think you were about nine years old. In the beginning I saved money to give you a confirmation party.” A confirmation is a Christian tradition when you turn 14. I chose not to have one because I don’t believe in religion. “Dad, you are being silly. I didn’t have a confirmation or a party.” “I know” was the only words my dad said. “I waited for you to reach out and contact me, but you didn’t. I got so mad and upset. I went out and bought myself a bike…… for the money I had saved for you.” WHAT HAD HE DONE. MY MONEY!! HE HAD USED MY MONEY ON A DAMN BIKE. “Y…You bought yourself a bike……. for my…m…money? How much?” After a while he answered me. “10.000 dollars.”

10.000 f*****g DOLLARS. 10.000. DOLLARS. The only words I was able to say was “I need some water.” He hurried to the kitchen and I could hear the refrigerator open and close. I drank it down with a loud slurp. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He quickly responded. “As I have said. I was keeping this part of my life secret. It isn’t a life for children.” I turned my head looking straight in to his eyes. “I may be underage, but I am not a child and you more than anyone knows that.” He looked sorry and for his own sake I hope he was. I started coming to my senses. “If we think about it… it was never really my money. You were just saving them for me. They weren’t ever mine.” He nodded in response. I kept talking. “It still hurts that you didn’t tell me…… It must mean you have had the bike for around three years.” He once again nodded. “Now, who is this person that is making me go to court?” My dad suddenly looked scared.