Chapter 3: The Teacher's Message
Walter read the message again.
Then he enlarged the photograph.
Tasha was standing near the checkout counter of a children's clothing store. She was holding a shopping basket filled with school supplies, including notebooks, pencils, lunch boxes, and two backpacks.
But there was something strange.
Neither backpack was pink.
One was red.
The other was blue.
And both were clearly designed for boys.
Walter stared at the photograph.
"What's wrong?"" Daniel asked through the speaker.
Walter didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the sender's name.
Mrs. Collins.
Isaiah's teacher.
Then he looked at Tasha.
"Do you know Mrs. Collins?""
Tasha's shoulders stiffened.
"Why?""
"She just sent me a photograph.""
Tasha's expression changed.
"What photograph?""
Walter turned his phone slightly.
"The one from three days ago.""
For several seconds, Tasha said nothing.
Then she laughed.
"That could be anybody.""
"You're in it.""
"So?""
Walter enlarged the image again.
"Why are there two boys' backpacks in your shopping basket?""
Tasha folded her arms.
"I was buying things for someone.""
"Who?""
"That's none of your business.""
Daniel's voice became sharp.
"Tasha, whose backpacks were those?""
She turned away.
"I don't have to explain every little thing I buy.""
"You're right," Daniel replied.
"But you do have to explain what happened to the money I sent for Isaiah.""
Isaiah was standing beside Walter now.
He stared at the photograph.
His eyes moved between the two backpacks.
Then he pointed at the blue one.
"Grandpa?""
Walter looked down.
"Yes?""
"That's the one I wanted.""
The room became painfully quiet.
Daniel spoke through the phone.
"Buddy, how do you know?""
Isaiah swallowed.
"Because I showed Mom that picture online.""
Walter frowned.
"What picture?""
Isaiah hesitated.
"The blue backpack. It had a football on it.""
He pointed again.
"That's the one.""
Walter looked at the photograph.
The blue backpack did indeed have a small football emblem.
He felt something tighten in his chest.
"Did your mother tell you she was going to buy it?""
Isaiah nodded.
"She said maybe.""
"Maybe when?""
"On my birthday.""
Tasha immediately interrupted.
"Isaiah, stop talking.""
The boy flinched.
Walter turned toward her.
"Don't silence him.""
Tasha shook her head.
"He's a child. He doesn't understand what he's saying.""
Walter knelt beside Isaiah.
"You're not in trouble, son. Just tell us what you remember.""
Isaiah looked at his grandfather.
Then he spoke softly.
"Mom said she would get the blue backpack if I behaved.""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"She told you that?""
Isaiah nodded.
"Then she said Dad didn't send enough money.""
Daniel went completely silent.
Walter reached for the phone.
"Son?""
"I'm here.""
"Are you okay?""
"No.""
The answer was simple.
But it carried more pain than anyone in the room expected.
Daniel continued.
"I sent enough money. I sent more than enough.""
Tasha threw her hands up.
"This is ridiculous. You people are acting like I robbed a bank.""
Walter stood.
"Nobody is talking about a bank. We're talking about a little boy who has to start school with a broken backpack while his mother buys new things for everyone else.""
"I have three children to care for!""
"And all three deserve the same consideration.""
Tasha looked toward Jordan and Ava.
"They have needs too!""
Jordan quietly raised her hand.
"Mom?""
Tasha turned.
"What now?""
Jordan looked nervous.
"Can I say something?""
"Not right now.""
"But it's about the backpacks.""
Tasha's eyes narrowed.
"Jordan.""
The girl looked down at her pink backpack.
Then she spoke.
"You told us Isaiah didn't need a new one because he was going to a different school.""
Isaiah looked up.
Walter frowned.
"What different school?""
Jordan glanced at her mother.
"I don't know. Mom said Isaiah was staying home until Dad sent more money.""
Ava nodded.
"She said we shouldn't tell him about the shopping trip.""
Tasha's face went white.
Walter slowly turned toward her.
"You told the girls to keep secrets from their brother?""
"No! That's not what happened.""
Jordan continued.
"You said the blue backpack was for Mason.""
Walter blinked.
"Mason?""
Tasha stepped forward.
"Jordan, that's enough!""
But the girl had already spoken.
Walter looked at the photograph again.
The sender's message suddenly made more sense.
He typed a reply.
Who is Mason?
The answer came almost immediately.
He's Tasha's nephew. She told me she was buying him school supplies with the money Daniel sent for Isaiah.
Walter read the message twice.
Then he looked at Tasha.
"Your nephew?""
Tasha's lips parted.
Daniel's voice came through the phone.
"Who is Mason?""
Nobody answered.
Walter finally said, "Apparently, your school money went to your wife's nephew too.""
Daniel inhaled sharply.
"Tasha, is that true?""
She looked around the room.
At Walter.
At the phone.
At the girls.
Then at Isaiah.
"His mother is struggling," she said quietly.
Walter stared at her.
"Whose mother?""
"Mason's mother. My sister. She's having a difficult time. I was trying to help.""
Daniel's voice became colder.
"With the money I sent for my son?""
"She needed help!""
"So did Isaiah!""
Tasha's eyes filled with tears.
But her voice remained defensive.
"You don't understand. My sister has been going through a lot.""
Daniel replied immediately.
"And my son hasn't?""
Tasha looked away.
Walter held up the photograph.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I knew you'd react like this!""
"Like what?""
"Like I'm some terrible mother!""
Walter glanced at Isaiah.
The little boy was still holding the broken backpack.
"Then stop making decisions that hurt your child.""
Tasha wiped her cheek.
"I was going to replace everything eventually.""
Daniel asked, "When?""
"After I got paid.""
"When is that?""
"Next week.""
"Then why did you tell Isaiah he couldn't have a new backpack?""
Tasha didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
"And what happened to the extra three hundred dollars I sent for his football uniform?""
Tasha's eyes darted toward the kitchen.
Walter noticed.
So did Daniel.
"Where is it, Tasha?""
She pressed her lips together.
"I used some of it for household expenses.""
"How much?""
"I don't know.""
"Then check.""
"I can't do this right now!""
Walter picked up the phone.
"Daniel, I think you need to come home.""
There was a long pause.
"I already booked a flight.""
Tasha's head snapped up.
"What?""
Daniel's voice was steady.
"I'm coming home tomorrow.""
"Daniel, you can't just leave work!""
"I've already arranged it.""
"You should have discussed that with me.""
"I've spent months discussing things with you. Every time I ask about Isaiah, you tell me everything is fine.""
He paused.
"Now I know why.""
Tasha lowered herself onto the sofa.
Her expensive suit suddenly seemed out of place among the discarded shopping bags and the little boy's worn-out belongings.
Walter turned toward Isaiah.
"Come here, sweetheart.""
Isaiah walked over.
Walter gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Do you want to go shopping with Grandpa tomorrow?""
Isaiah looked surprised.
"For school?""
"Every single thing you need.""
"Even a new backpack?""
Walter smiled sadly.
"Especially a new backpack.""
Isaiah hesitated.
Then he asked a question that made Walter's throat tighten.
"Can I choose one myself?""
Walter nodded.
"Anything you like.""
The boy finally smiled.
A small smile.
The kind that appears when a child has almost forgotten what it feels like to be considered.
Daniel heard him.
"Buddy?""
Isaiah leaned toward the phone.
"Yes, Dad?""
"I want you to listen to me.""
"Okay.""
"I never forgot about your backpack. I never forgot about your football shoes. And I never stopped wanting to give you the things you need.""
Isaiah's eyes filled again.
"Are you coming home?""
"Tomorrow.""
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
Tasha suddenly stood.
"Daniel, you need to stop making promises you can't keep. You know how he gets when you disappoint him.""
Walter looked at her.
"Enough.""
But Tasha wasn't finished.
"He's too sensitive. That's his problem. He cries over everything.""
Walter stepped between her and Isaiah.
"No. His problem is that the adults around him keep giving him reasons to cry.""
Tasha stared at him.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Her sister's name appeared.
Walter noticed the photograph still displayed on his own phone.
He answered before Tasha could walk away.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice immediately came through.
"Walter? Why are you asking questions about Mason's school supplies?""
Walter exchanged a look with Daniel's phone.
"I think we need to talk about that.""
Tasha reached for her phone.
"Give it back!""
Walter ignored her.
The woman on the other end continued.
"Look, I don't know what Tasha told you, but she promised me the money was hers to spend. She said Daniel had agreed to help us.""
Daniel suddenly spoke through the speaker.
"I never agreed to that.""
There was silence.
Then the woman whispered:
"Oh, my God.""
Walter looked at Tasha.
"How many people did you tell that story to?""
Tasha's face had gone completely pale.
Her sister continued, voice trembling.
"Wait. If Daniel didn't agree, then where did the other money come from?""
Walter's expression hardened.
"What other money?""
The woman hesitated.
Then she said something that made everyone in the room stop breathing.
"Tasha told me she had already taken care of Isaiah's school supplies. She said she was using the extra money to pay off a debt.""
Daniel's voice became almost inaudible.
"What debt?""
The woman sighed.
"I thought you knew.""
Walter looked toward Tasha.
"Tell us.""
Tasha stood frozen.
Her sister finally revealed the amount.
"She borrowed three thousand dollars from someone, and she told me Daniel was paying it back.""
Walter's hand tightened around the phone.
Three thousand dollars.
That was not the money Daniel had sent.
That was not a shopping mistake.
And suddenly, the empty backpack on the floor seemed like only the beginning.
Because Daniel had just asked the question nobody had thought to ask before.
"Dad...""
"Yes, son?""
"Find out whose name is on that debt.""
Walter looked at Tasha.
May you like
And she whispered four words that changed everything.
"Please don't tell Daniel.""
