Dad’s Letters

Emma finds 96 unopened letters from her father—one a month for eight years. Each contains a transfer receipt: $900 monthly, $85,500 total, all sent to her mother. None reached Emma. The money went to her stepbrother. Her father had come to her school, been pushed down by her stepfather, had a birthday cake thrown away, stood across the street on her wedding day. Her mother kept them apart. At Thanksgiving, Emma pours out the letters and receipts: "Pay back every cent."