Henry took Dave to a fancy rooftop restaurant that evening. The glowing city lights sparkled in the distance, and the soft hum of conversations filled the air. For Dave, it felt like stepping into another world. He had never been to such a glamorous place.
The group sat at a table on the terrace, and Henry confidently ordered pizzas, burgers, cold drinks, and more. Dave's eyes widened with every dish that arrived.
"Wow! This is amazing!" Dave thought, stuffing a slice of pizza into his mouth. But amid his excitement, a question lingered in his mind: "Where did Big Brother get all this money?"
He wanted to ask, but he was too busy enjoying the food to dwell on it.
After the meal, Henry paid the bill without hesitation, and the group dispersed, leaving Henry and Dave to walk home together.
Dave finally asked, "Brother, how did you get the money? Can you tell me? I want to eat like this again! Mom never lets me have these things."
Henry smirked, placing a hand on Dave's shoulder. "Ah, that's a secret. But listen, don't tell anyone, okay? If you do, I won't bring you along next time. Got it?"
Dave nodded eagerly. "I swear, I won't tell anyone! You can trust me, brother."
Henry chuckled. "Alright, since you're so curious, I'll tell you. It's simple—I took it from my home. The locker was open, so I grabbed some. Easy, right?"
Dave froze in his tracks. "What?! Brother, isn't that stealing?" he blurted, his voice rising in alarm.
Henry quickly clamped his hand over Dave's mouth. "Shhh, idiot! Don't yell!" He looked around nervously before continuing in a hushed tone. "It's not stealing if it's your own house. Stealing is when you take from strangers. This is my family's money, so technically, it's mine too. Get it?"
Dave hesitated but then nodded slowly. "Oh... Oh! You're a genius, Brother."
Henry laughed and ruffled Dave's hair. "That's more like it. Now go home. I'll call you next time. Remember—don't tell anyone!"
This became a routine. Henry took Dave out almost every evening, treating him to fancy food and introducing him to his gang. Dave felt important, even untouchable, as he mingled with the older boys. Over time, he grew close to one boy in particular—Simon, the younger brother of one of Henry's gang members. Being the same age, Dave and Simon bonded quickly.
Meanwhile, Dave began distancing himself from his childhood friends, Karl and Ethan. He no longer had time for their silly jokes or casual hangouts. To Dave, this new life felt far more exciting.
One day, just before school was about to start, Henry broke the news.
"Oi, Dave! I don't have any cash today, so no outing tonight," Henry said casually, leaning against the gate.
Dave's face fell. "Ahhh, okay, Brother," he replied, disappointment evident in his voice.
Henry smirked, pretending to think. "You know... tomorrow might be the same. But here's an idea—how about you bring something instead? Doesn't have to be much. The boys will cover the rest of the expense."
Dave's heart sank. He knew he couldn't ask his mom for money. She would immediately demand to know why he needed it. But Henry had taken him to so many nice places—it would feel wrong to refuse.
"Brother, how am I supposed to get money? Mom won't let me!" Dave asked, frustration creeping into his voice.
Henry leaned closer, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Of course, you can't ask your mom. Remember, it's our secret. Don't mention anything to her."
He gave Dave a sly smile. "Just take a little from your house. It's not a big deal. It's your family's money and that means it's your too, right? They won't even notice. Trust me."
Dave hesitated, his conscience battling with his desire to please Henry. Finally, he nodded timidly. "Okay, Brother. I'll bring something tomorrow."
Henry clapped him on the back, grinning. "Good boy. Now run along."
As Dave ran off, Simon smirked, watching him disappear into the distance. "Naive kid," he muttered to himself, sharing a knowing glance with the other boys.
Home That Night
That evening, Roger came home drunk again. His arrival was quieter than usual—no yelling, no slamming doors. He simply parked his bike, stumbled into the house, and locked himself in a separate room without eating dinner.
Lila sighed but said nothing. She busied herself with cleaning, choosing to avoid confrontation.
Dave watched his father disappear into the other room, a knot forming in his stomach. Though things had been better lately—less shouting, fewer fights—it still felt fragile. Like harmony that could break at any moment.
But tonight, Dave's mind wasn't on his father. It was on tomorrow. On how he'd take the money without anyone noticing.
For the first time in his life, Dave would cross a line he never thought he'd approach.