Chapter 2 - CRACKERS
Sophie fell beside her desk.
The teacher, Ms. Lauren Hayes, reached her first.
“SOPHIE!”
Sophie’s eyes fluttered.
She tried to speak.
Nothing useful came out.
The school nurse found:
low blood pressure,
dehydration,
weakness,
significant recent weight loss.
An ambulance took her to the hospital.
Rachel arrived shaking.
She held Sophie’s hand.
The doctor asked:
“What has she eaten in the last twenty-four hours?”
Rachel looked at Sophie.
Sophie whispered:
“Crackers.”
“What else?”
“Tea.”
“Dinner?”
Sophie looked away.
Rachel called Margaret.
Her mother answered while chewing.
Rachel heard television.
“Why didn’t you feed her properly?!”
Margaret sighed.
“Give her crackers.”
Rachel froze.
“She’s in the hospital.”
“She’s always been dramatic.”
Rachel’s voice broke.
“She’s MALNOURISHED!”
Margaret rolled her eyes even though Rachel could not see it.
“She’ll survive.”
Silence.
Something inside Rachel went cold.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Finished.
She ended the call.
Opened her banking app.
Found the grocery card.
Current monthly limit:
$2,800.
Available balance:
$1,947.
Rachel stared.
Sophie had eaten crackers.
Where had eight hundred fifty-three dollars gone in nine days?
Rachel pressed:
CANCEL CARD.
Then whispered:
“Then survive.”
Forty minutes later, Margaret stood at a luxury supermarket checkout with an overflowing cart.
Steaks.
Wine-free sparkling drinks.
Imported cheese.
Seafood.
Prepared meals.
Flowers.
Cleaning supplies.
Protein powders.
Cases of bottled water.
The cashier tapped the card.
DECLINED.
Again.
DECLINED.
Margaret’s face twisted.
“WHAT?!”
She called Rachel immediately.
“WHERE’S MY $2,800?!”
Rachel answered silently.
Margaret screamed again.
“That is MY grocery money!”
Rachel looked at Sophie asleep in a hospital bed.
Then said:
“No.”
Pause.
May you like
“It was hers.”
And hung up.
