“My mom works two jobs,” he said. “She helps me with homework even when she’s tired. She saves money so I can play soccer. She stayed up all night when I had pneumonia. She tells me I’m not a mistake, even when people in our family act like I am.”
Tiffany whispered, “Oh my God.”
But Ethan was not finished.
He looked at my mother.
“And Grandma, you told Mom nobody wanted her. But I want her. Every day. I want her at breakfast. I want her at school plays. I want her when I’m scared. I want her when I’m happy. So maybe you shouldn’t talk about people like they’re trash just because they don’t live the way you think they should.”
My mother opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Caleb climbed onto the stage and reached for the microphone. Ethan held it away.
“Uncle Caleb,” he said, his voice smaller now, “you used to be nice to me before Tiffany. You promised you’d still be my family. But you let them laugh.”
That broke him.
Caleb stopped moving.
His face crumpled with shame.
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