The boy reclined against the couch in his house, the side of his face in one hand as he flicked through the channels with the other. His mom was shouting into the phone from the other room.
The boy ignored her banging footsteps down the hall towards him, and her saying I need money.
But he ignored her, so she grabbed his shoulder, hard. He cried out and whirled around to face her What?
I need money! she repeated.
We're broke he snapped at her, and she glared at him with a cold that made him want to shrink away.
Useless she muttered and released his shoulder with a shove. He fell back and watched her disappear into the kitchen, shouting into the phone again.
Her word echoed.
Useless.