Lila was at the shop. This was his only chance. If he didn't act now, she'd be back, and the opportunity would slip away.
Dave sat on his bed, clutching his knees, his mind a storm of conflicting thoughts. He knew what he was about to do was wrong—he could feel it in the pit of his stomach. But he also knew the state of their home. They were barely making ends meet, and his share of responsibility weighed heavily on him.
Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself. "Brother Henry is doing it, so it should be fine," he whispered, as if trying to convince himself. "I'll only take a little... just this once. This will be the first and last time."
Heart pounding, he crept into his mother's room. The locker was closed, but the keys were right on top. His hands trembled as he unlocked it and opened the small metal door. Inside lay a modest stack of bills—money Lila had carefully saved.
"This much should be enough," he muttered to himself as he pulled out $20. "Anymore and Mom will notice... Haaa… what have I gotten myself into?"
Closing the locker quietly, he returned the keys to their original spot and hurried back to his room. His face was flushed, not from embarrassment but from overwhelming guilt. But a promise was a promise, and he'd already enjoyed his share of the fun. Now it was time to pay up.
As the weight of what he'd done settled on him, he knew things would never be the same again. This year was already bringing changes—and the repercussions would follow soon.
It truly was a new beginning for Dave, new school, new life..
The park was quiet, tucked away from prying eyes. Few people ventured into this part of it, which made it the perfect gathering spot for Henry and his gang.
Dave trudged toward the group, his steps heavy, his resolve wavering with each one. He spotted Henry from a distance, casually leaning against a tree, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"You're finally here, Dave!" Henry called out, his voice ringing across the empty park. "I thought you wouldn't show up. Hahaha… good. I knew I could trust you!" He flashed a broad smile, making it hard to believe he was up to anything sinister.
Dave approached hesitantly, gripping the $20 tightly in his pocket. "How much did you bring, Dave?" Henry asked, his tone almost fatherly, as though this was some kind of rite of passage.
"I... I brought $20, Brother Henry. It's enough, right?" Dave's voice was barely above a whisper.
Henry patted him on the back reassuringly. "More than enough, kid. You've made your brother proud today. You're a man now. Only kids need permission to use what's already theirs." His words were smooth and disarming, and Dave couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride.
"Now, hand it over," Henry said with an encouraging smile. "Don't worry, I'll keep it safe for you."
As Dave handed over the money, Henry turned to the rest of the gang. "Listen up, everyone! Today's leader is Dave. You're all following him, alright?"
"Sure, Henry."
"Alright, Boss!"
"Boss Dave!"
The group cheered, and for the first time, Dave felt something he hadn't expected: power. The guilt that had clung to him earlier melted away as he basked in the attention. It was intoxicating.
The rest of the day flew by in a blur. They went to restaurants, visited game centers, and even bought a new cricket bat. Dave had never felt this kind of freedom before. "This is what power feels like," he thought to himself, grinning. "I love it… Hehehe."
By the time he returned home, the sun was already setting. Roger wasn't back yet, but dinner was ready.
"Where were you, young man?" Lila asked, her tone stern but curious. "Daniel said he couldn't find you all afternoon."
Dave froze. Seeing his mother's face brought all the guilt rushing back. His confidence, which had been soaring moments ago, evaporated. He fidgeted, his face growing redder by the second.
"Well? Why don't you speak, Dave?" Lila pressed, her suspicion growing.
"I… I was playing with Karl today," Dave stammered, scrambling for an excuse. "Then Brother Henry came by. He said they were short a player for a football game, so he asked me to join… Sorry, Mom. The game went longer than expected."
He blurted out the lie in one breath, avoiding her gaze the entire time. His heart pounded so loudly he thought she might hear it.
Lila eyed him carefully, her maternal instincts tingling. Something about his story didn't sit right. Dave was usually so confident, so honest. But today, he couldn't even meet her eyes.
After a long pause, she sighed. "Alright, go wash up and come to dinner."
She turned back toward the kitchen, but her mind lingered on Dave's behavior. She knew something was off. Dave is a good boy… he wouldn't get into trouble, would he? Still, the mention of Henry nagged at her.
I'll keep an eye on this, she decided. If something's wrong, I'll figure it out soon enough.