Not Your Bet to Make Chapter 07

Not Your Bet to Make Chapter 07

I got to LA. Found an apartment. Cheap. Decent.

Still had time before classes started. Decided to explore the

city.

Look for part-time work too. Extra income once school

began.

My parents realized I was gone. Blew up my phone.

I declined a few times. Got annoyed. Blocked them both.

They switched to texts.
“We fed you. Clothed you. This is how you repay us? Don’t think getting into college means you’re free. You can’t get rid

of us!”

“We gave up everything for you. This is the thanks we get? You walk away and treat us like nothing?!”

Exclamation marks. Waves of accusations. Crashing down. Could barely breathe.

As far back as I remember, my grandmother raised me. My

parents had their own lives. Their own careers. After my brother died, they drowned themselves in mourning their

son. Threw me-the backup-to my grandmother. Barely

checked in.

I used to hear my grandmother call them. Begging them to

send money. She wanted to buy me nutritious food. Build me

The voices on the phone were always impatient.

“Money money money. Every call it’s about money. You have

no idea how hard we work out here. You just sit at home

living easy.”

“We can barely support ourselves. No money for you. Figure it out yourself.”

A few sentences. Hang up.

She’d call back. Phone turned off.