Chloe Did Something Nobody Expected

She walked outside.

Sandra called after her.

“Chloe?”

No response.

Several minutes later, Chloe came back in.

She placed the car keys on the table.

“I don’t want it.”

Sandra looked stunned.

“Don’t be dramatic.”

“I’m not.”

“You’ve wanted a car for two years.”

“Yes.”

“Then stop.”

Chloe pointed toward Ava.

“Not like this.”

Sandra looked furious.

“This has nothing to do with Ava.”

Chloe actually laughed.

“Mom, she got fifty bucks.”

“A transit card.”

“That is not better.”

A few relatives looked away because they were trying not to react.

Ava Didn’t Want Chloe to Give Up the Car

That surprised everyone.

Ava picked up the keys and handed them back.

“Keep it.”

Chloe shook her head.

“No.”

“This isn’t your fault.”

“It still feels wrong.”

Ava replied:

“You didn’t make the decision.”

Sandra jumped in.

“Exactly.”

Ava turned toward her.

“That doesn’t make the decision okay.”

Sandra went quiet.

Ava continued:

“I don’t need the same exact gift Chloe gets.”

Mark watched her carefully.

“I don’t even want a new car.”

Sandra seemed relieved for half a second.

Then Ava finished:

“I just don’t want to find out in front of twenty people that I count differently.”

That hit harder than shouting would have.