looked small and frail, his grey hair uncombed and falling over his forehead. She’d always seen him as a giant, her hero. She fought back tears. She surely didn’t want him to see her cry.
“Well, Dad, sounds like you have some hospital reservations to make,” she said trying to be strong.
“Ali, honey, I’m so sorry.” He looks so defeated, she thought. He’s been there for me my whole life and now I can be there for him. She went to him and hugged him. “Don’t worry about a thing. I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
She tried to brighten for his sake. “Now let’s get you better!” She switched on the TV and snuggled in next to him to watch a movie, but she couldn’t keep her mind on it. She was furious. What was the point of insurance if they weren’t going to help you when you needed it the most? What about school? What about her Dad? Would he be OK? The thoughts raced in her mind, but she kept a pleasant smile on her face for him.
***
“So you’re going to help him out?” asked Ben as he stuffed a ham and Swiss sandwich in his mouth. The only time he and Ali had lately had been short lunch breaks. His case was nearing trial and he was working around the clock.
“Of course, what else could I do? It’s my Dad.”
He watched her and knew that this new financial burden was going to be rough. “Is it going to keep you from school?”
“Maybe…yeah, probably,” she frowned and shrugged. “Like I said, what else could I do? Toni is going to spend what she can but you know her, she’s already blown most of it that she didn’t set aside for me. My cousin told me she bought a suede sofa and a fur coat.”
Ben nodded. Ali’s aunt Toni was a sweet and nutty. Just like a candy bar.
“So that’s it then. I’ll save and go next year. No big deal,” said Ali picking at her salad. She had no appetite these days and that was rare.
“I could loan you some,” he offered.
“No! I won’t borrow from you when the money is there. It just needs to be…reallocated is all.”
“Well, if you need it, it’s here for you. I don’t mind. I really don’t.” He’d love nothing better than to loan her the money and fix all her problems, but he knew her stubborn independent streak would not allow it.
“I already dropped out of school and they refunded my tuition…all except for $100 that was for administrative costs. At least that’s what they call it.”
“Well, at least you got your money back.” Ben struggled for something positive to say.
Ali shook her shoulders as if to shake off the whole topic. “So, enough about me…how’s your case?”
Ben nodded with a full mouth. Once he swallowed and took a drink of water, he said “I think we’re in really good shape. This woman, the one that owns the building, has dodged courts for a couple of years but we’ve got so much against her, we’re pretty much golden.”
“No more continuances?” Ali asked
“Nope, her attorney is all out of time. This is it.” Ben looked at his watch. “Speaking of my case, gotta roll. I’ve got so much to do this afternoon.”
He stood up and fished out some cash. Ali started to protest, but they both knew it was better if he paid right now.
“Thanks, Ben. Don’t work too hard, now!” She smiled up at him
He reached over and gave her a quick hug. “It’s good to see you. I’m sorry I’m not such a great friend lately…”
“Don’t even mention it,” she said. “Just win that case!”
With that, Ben was off.
***
“Darlin’ I just wish I hadn’t bought that stupid coat,” said Toni. “She was shaking her head. I have no way to return it because I burned the receipt. Can you believe it? I was so happy to finally buy myself a fur coat that I had a whole little ceremony and burned the darn thing!”
Ali laughed. “Don’t
“Well, Dad, sounds like you have some hospital reservations to make,” she said trying to be strong.
“Ali, honey, I’m so sorry.” He looks so defeated, she thought. He’s been there for me my whole life and now I can be there for him. She went to him and hugged him. “Don’t worry about a thing. I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
She tried to brighten for his sake. “Now let’s get you better!” She switched on the TV and snuggled in next to him to watch a movie, but she couldn’t keep her mind on it. She was furious. What was the point of insurance if they weren’t going to help you when you needed it the most? What about school? What about her Dad? Would he be OK? The thoughts raced in her mind, but she kept a pleasant smile on her face for him.
***
“So you’re going to help him out?” asked Ben as he stuffed a ham and Swiss sandwich in his mouth. The only time he and Ali had lately had been short lunch breaks. His case was nearing trial and he was working around the clock.
“Of course, what else could I do? It’s my Dad.”
He watched her and knew that this new financial burden was going to be rough. “Is it going to keep you from school?”
“Maybe…yeah, probably,” she frowned and shrugged. “Like I said, what else could I do? Toni is going to spend what she can but you know her, she’s already blown most of it that she didn’t set aside for me. My cousin told me she bought a suede sofa and a fur coat.”
Ben nodded. Ali’s aunt Toni was a sweet and nutty. Just like a candy bar.
“So that’s it then. I’ll save and go next year. No big deal,” said Ali picking at her salad. She had no appetite these days and that was rare.
“I could loan you some,” he offered.
“No! I won’t borrow from you when the money is there. It just needs to be…reallocated is all.”
“Well, if you need it, it’s here for you. I don’t mind. I really don’t.” He’d love nothing better than to loan her the money and fix all her problems, but he knew her stubborn independent streak would not allow it.
“I already dropped out of school and they refunded my tuition…all except for $100 that was for administrative costs. At least that’s what they call it.”
“Well, at least you got your money back.” Ben struggled for something positive to say.
Ali shook her shoulders as if to shake off the whole topic. “So, enough about me…how’s your case?”
Ben nodded with a full mouth. Once he swallowed and took a drink of water, he said “I think we’re in really good shape. This woman, the one that owns the building, has dodged courts for a couple of years but we’ve got so much against her, we’re pretty much golden.”
“No more continuances?” Ali asked
“Nope, her attorney is all out of time. This is it.” Ben looked at his watch. “Speaking of my case, gotta roll. I’ve got so much to do this afternoon.”
He stood up and fished out some cash. Ali started to protest, but they both knew it was better if he paid right now.
“Thanks, Ben. Don’t work too hard, now!” She smiled up at him
He reached over and gave her a quick hug. “It’s good to see you. I’m sorry I’m not such a great friend lately…”
“Don’t even mention it,” she said. “Just win that case!”
With that, Ben was off.
***
“Darlin’ I just wish I hadn’t bought that stupid coat,” said Toni. “She was shaking her head. I have no way to return it because I burned the receipt. Can you believe it? I was so happy to finally buy myself a fur coat that I had a whole little ceremony and burned the darn thing!”
Ali laughed. “Don’t
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