“Wait—So It DID Pay for His Truck?”

Her mother realized too late what she had implied.

Kayla stared at her.

“You used my rent for Tyler.”

“We used family money.”

“Tyler doesn’t put family money into that account.”

“That’s irrelevant.”

“No, it’s literally the whole point.”

Her father entered the kitchen.

“What is going on?”

Kayla held up the statement.

“Did you use the rent I pay every month to help buy Tyler’s truck?”

Her father looked at her mother.

That was enough.

Kayla felt sick.

“You did.”

Her father tried to explain.

“Your rent helps the household.”

“How does Tyler’s truck help the household?”

“He needs reliable transportation for work.”

“So I work two jobs, pay you seven hundred dollars every month, and that money helps buy a truck for the twenty-six-year-old who lives here for free?”

Her mother responded:

“Don’t talk about your brother like that.”

Kayla laughed.

“Which part was inaccurate?”

Tyler Walked In Halfway Through the Argument

He looked between them.

“What happened?”

Kayla pointed toward the driveway.

“Did you know they used my rent money toward your truck?”

Tyler’s smile disappeared.

“What?”

Their mother immediately said:

“That is not what happened.”

Kayla looked at him.

“Where did you think twelve thousand dollars came from?”

Tyler looked uncomfortable.

“They said they had savings.”

Kayla nodded.

“Apparently they did.”

She tapped the statement.

“Mine.”

Her father interrupted.

“Stop saying that.”

Kayla looked at him.

“What should I call it?”

“Rent.”

“Then why doesn’t Tyler pay any?”

Silence.

Tyler looked toward his parents.

“Actually, yeah. Why don’t I?”

Their mother responded:

“This has nothing to do with you.”

Tyler laughed awkwardly.

“You bought me a truck. I think I’m involved.”