“What bike, sweetheart?”
“The pink one.”
Lily frowned.
“You said if we told Mrs. Carter you always helped us, I’d get it.”
Someone in the front row gasped.
Richard straightened.
“Lily misunderstood.”
Before anyone could react, ten-year-old Sam spoke.
“You promised me the game too.”
Richard turned sharply.
“Sam.”
My son stepped backward.
Grace looked down.
Claire closed her eyes.
And suddenly, I knew this was bigger than one bike.
I stood.
“Kids.”
They looked toward me.
“Come with me.”
Richard started down the steps.
“Megan, don’t overreact.”
I looked straight at him.
“Stay there.”
For once, he did.
I took all six children into an empty classroom down the hall and shut the door.
Nobody spoke.
I knelt in front of Lily.
“You’re not in trouble.”
She looked terrified.
“None of you are.”
I glanced at the others.
“I just need you to tell me exactly what Dad said.”
Lily looked at Sam.
Sam looked at Claire.
Finally, Claire spoke.
“A few weeks ago, Dad said he might be nominated.”
My chest tightened.
“He said teachers sometimes ask us questions about our parents.”
Sam interrupted.
“He never told us exactly what to say.”
Grace nodded.
“He just kept reminding us about stuff he bought.”
“Trips,” Sam said.
“Concert tickets,” Grace added.
Claire’s face hardened.
“He told us not to forget everything he does for us.”
Lily whispered:
“And he promised me the bike.”
Sam said:
“He said I could get the new game.”
Grace admitted she had been promised concert tickets.
Claire’s eyes filled.
“I told him I wasn’t doing it.”
“What happened?”
“He called me ungrateful.”
My heart broke.
“He said after everything he pays for, I could do one thing for him.”
She looked down.
“I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d be embarrassed.”
