My mother’s favorite hobby is playing the rich housewife. Freshman year of college, she sent me exactly two hundred dollars a month. Rain or shine, never a penny more. But to the outside world? She claimed she was wiring me two grand a month. Whenever people asked why I dressed in thrift store finds despite my "generous" allowance, she’d sigh and say, "Oh, Summer is just so frugal. She saves every penny for a rainy day." Then came my little cousin Tyler’s birthday. Mom bragged to the whole family that I was going to chip in two months of my "allowance" to give Tyler a massive surprise. Privately, she told me to fake a serious illness so I could skip the party and save her the embarrassment of my empty wallet. I agreed. But on the day of Tyler’s birthday, I didn't stay in bed. I showed up dressed to the nines, walked right up to the head table, and slapped down a thick envelope of cash as a birthday gift. My Aunt Beth’s jaw hit the floor, grinning like she’d won the lottery. My mother, however, looked like she’d seen a ghost. "Summer! Where the hell did you get that money?!" 1 "Mom, what are you talking about? I saved it from my allowance, obviously! You know that. Why do you look so shocked?" I waved her off casually and turned to chat with Aunt Beth. "Right? Sis, I thought you were just hyping it up, but I didn't think she’d actually drop this much cash on Tyler!" Aunt Beth was beaming. "Summer, you are such a sweetheart! Dropping two grand on Tyler’s ninth birthday? You’re making us look so good!" From the moment I pulled out that cash, Aunt Beth’s attitude did a complete 180. Before, she used to look at me like I was something stuck to the bottom of her shoe. Now? She was practically glued to my side. Tyler was turning nine. It wasn't a milestone birthday. Everyone knew this party was just a cash grab. Aunt Beth did this every year. Usually, people would slip a twenty or a fifty in a card and call it a day. This time, I dropped two thousand dollars cold hard cash. She was ecstatic. If the restaurant wasn't so crowded, she probably would have done a backflip. My mother’s face was still frozen in shock. Her mouth twitched, desperate to ask more questions. But with Aunt Beth hovering, she had to swallow her panic. "Summer, honey, I’m going to make the rounds at the other tables. I’ll be back to chat in a few!" Aunt Beth grabbed her wine glass and fluttered away. The second she was gone, Mom grabbed my wrist, her voice a harsh whisper. "Where did it come from?" "Mom, seriously? Is your memory going?" I didn't lower my voice. In fact, I turned the volume up a notch so the whole table could hear. "I told you, I saved it from my allowance! That's what you told everyone, right? How could you forget what you said a few days ago?" The table was packed with Mom’s side of the family. Aunt Karen (the eldest), Aunt Sarah (the second eldest), my parents, and me. Ten people squeezed into a booth at a mid-tier Italian chain restaurant. It was cramped, hot, and perfect for my plan. I had a captive audience. Just as I hoped, everyone heard me. Jessica, Aunt Karen’s daughter and my older cousin, looked at me with pure envy. She nudged Aunt Karen. "Mom, look at Summer’s lifestyle! When I was in college, I felt guilty ordering guac at Chipotle! She drops two grand without blinking. Why couldn't you be generous like Aunt Diane?" "Jessie, look at us, then look at them. We aren't in the same tax bracket," Aunt Karen snapped, though she looked annoyed. "Besides, Summer got into Stanford. You didn't even finish community college. You expect me to fund your lifestyle?" Aunt Karen scolded Jessica, then turned her hawk eyes onto my mother. "Diane, I remember you guys were renting an apartment two years ago. You just bought that new house last year with a mortgage. Where are you getting the cash to fund Summer like this?" Mom froze. She stammered, trying to find an excuse. "Well, you know what they say. You can't skimp on education. We’ll eat ramen if it means Summer lives comfortably!" She let out a nervous laugh, shoving a breadstick into her mouth to avoid talking. She wanted to change the subject and interrogate me later. I wasn't going to give her the chance. I glanced at Aunt Sarah, whose face was stiff and pale. I dropped the bomb casually. "By the way, Mom? I remember when we bought the new house, you said our savings were locked in a CD (Certificate of Deposit) and couldn't be touched, so you borrowed ten grand from Aunt Sarah to cover closing costs." "Since you're sending me two thousand a month, we clearly have cash flow. Why don't you pay Aunt Sarah back? It's been a while, I don't want you to forget." 2 "Oh my god, Diane! I totally forgot about that!" Aunt Karen slapped her forehead, jumping on the bandwagon immediately. "Look at you guys now. You clearly aren't hurting for cash. Pay Sarah back!" "Sarah isn't like you. Her son still needs a down payment for a house! He’s stuck renting! You borrowed that money ages ago." "We all know Sarah’s had a rough year. If you have extra, you should pay her back with interest. It’s only right." "Exactly! Aunt Diane, everyone is here to witness it. Just Venmo her now!" Jessica chimed in, loving the drama. Mom’s face turned a shade of green I’d never seen before. My dad, hearing this, stared at the floor like the pattern on the carpet was the most interesting thing in the world. Aunt Sarah and her family hadn't said a word. From the moment I walked in wearing a designer dress, Aunt Sarah looked like she swallowed a lemon. She’s usually the quiet, nice one. When Mom claimed her money was locked up, Sarah lent her ten grand without hesitation, even though her own son was trying to plan a wedding. Now, her son’s wedding was on hold because they couldn't afford a house. The fiancée’s family was demanding a down payment, which Sarah couldn't provide because my mother had her money. Sarah had asked for it back multiple times. Mom always used the "It's locked in a 5-year CD" excuse. Sarah was too polite to push. But seeing my "wealth" today broke her. "Karen, Jessie, it’s not that simple," Mom finally spoke up, sweating. "Ten grand isn't ten bucks. I told you, it’s in a long-term CD. The bank penalties are huge if I pull it out early." "I was stupid, I locked it away for five years! Sarah, if you're not in a rush, just wait a few more years. I promise I’m good for it!" "Years? How many years do I have left to live?" Aunt Sarah finally spoke. Her voice was ice cold. The temperature at the table dropped twenty degrees. "Exactly! Sarah needs that money now," Aunt Karen pressed. Mom tried to dodge again. "Okay, okay! I’ll go to the bank next week and see what I can do. Let’s just eat! It’s a celebration!" She tried to escape. I blocked the exit. "Mom," I said loudly. "Didn't Dad get a huge project bonus last month? Like, thirty grand? Just use that to pay Aunt Sarah. You can transfer the rest later." 3 All eyes snapped to my mother. She snapped. She stood up and slapped me across the face. Hard. "You little liar! What are you talking about?! When did your father get a bonus?! I haven't disciplined you in a while and you’re making up stories!" "If you don't explain where you got that money right now, you aren't leaving this table!" The slap silenced the room. Even Uncle Mike and Aunt Beth, who were mingling at the back, rushed over. "Diane! What is going on? It’s Tyler’s birthday, don't make a scene!" "This is family business, Mike! Stay out of it!" Mom screamed, her face red. She grabbed my arm, trying to drag me out. She knew the "bonus" was a lie, but she needed to get me away from Aunt Sarah before the web of lies collapsed. I wasn't going anywhere. I stumbled backward and deliberately fell to the floor. "Mom! Why are you hitting me?!" I wailed. "Diane, are you crazy?" Aunt Karen tried to help me up, but Mom shoved her away. "Don't touch her! This brat is out of control! Who knows what shameful things she’s been doing at college to get that money! I’m going to break her legs!" "Shameful?" Jessica scoffed. "Aunt Diane, Summer got into Stanford. She’s on the Dean’s List. We all saw the acceptance letter. What’s shameful about that?" "Exactly," Aunt Beth chimed in, pulling me behind her. "Summer is the golden child. Why are you treating her like a criminal?" "You people don't get it!" Mom was panting now. "I don't give her two thousand a month! I barely give her enough to eat! Where did she get two grand to give to Tyler? Look at her dress! That’s Gucci! Unless she’s selling her body, where did that money come from?!" Silence. Even Aunt Beth let go of my arm. In my mother’s eyes, my reputation meant nothing compared to her hoarding Aunt Sarah’s money. She would rather brand me a prostitute than pay back a loan. So be it. "Summer... is that true?" Aunt Beth asked, her voice changing. She looked at me with a mix of pity and disgust. "If that’s how you got the money... take it back. I can't accept that. Tyler is innocent. I don't want him catching... whatever you might have." She pulled the envelope out of her purse and shoved it back into my hand, wiping her fingers on a napkin afterward. The other relatives scooted their chairs away. Mom let out a manic laugh. She snatched the envelope from me and stuffed it into her bra. "It’s okay, Summer. Mommy doesn't judge you. Just tell the truth and we can fix you." I wasn't nervous. I smirked. "Mom, that’s rich coming from you. You gave me the money. Why are you pretending you didn't? Just to avoid paying Aunt Sarah back? Are you seriously destroying your daughter to save ten grand?" "Summer! Stop lying! I’m going to kill you!" Mom grabbed a heavy bread basket—the metal kind—and raised it to smash my head. I calmly pulled out my phone and held it up. "Stop! Look! I have proof the money came from Mom!" 4 Everyone froze. Mom hesitated for a second, then swung the basket anyway. Uncle Mike caught her arm just in time. "Diane! Stop! Tyler is watching! Do you want the cops called?" "She says she has proof. Let’s see it!" Mom was forced into a chair, chest heaving. "Proof? What proof? I have my bank records! She can't fake reality!" "Diane, if she didn't get it from you, where did she get it? Just look at the phone," Aunt Karen said, suspicious. "If she’s doing... bad things... we need to know." "Yeah," Aunt Karen sighed. "Going to the city changes people. I’m glad Jessica stayed home." Jessica looked smug. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. The downfall of the perfect cousin. "Fine!" Mom yelled. "Look! I’m going to expose this ungrateful brat!" I unlocked my phone and handed it to Uncle Mike. "Uncle Mike, look. These are the transfers from Mom. Dates, times, amounts."
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