Chapter 2

As soon as Grandma Evelyn walked in, she pressed a wallet into my hand and handed over a bag of treats, which Mom quickly took from her.

Then she pulled another bag from her purse and gave it to me: "Sarah, Grandma got you a tablet. You can use it for work."

I took the bag, frozen for a moment.

Mom gently nudged me from the side: "What are you staring at? Hurry and thank Grandma! Everything you've had since you were little—didn't it all come from Grandma? Even if it's secondhand..."

Grandma Evelyn rubbed her hands together, smiling awkwardly and nervously: "Grandma doesn't have much money, but if Sarah wants something, I want to get it for you."

I took the bag and sat aside, carefully opening the packaging. Sure enough, there was a tablet inside, with obvious signs of wear along the edges.

I pressed the power button, and the screen lit up with a yellowish tint.

I stared at it for a few seconds, then abruptly stuffed it back into the bag and slammed it down on the coffee table:

"Are we so hard up that we can't even afford new things? Why do I always have to get stuck with secondhand stuff?"

The living room went dead silent, everyone freezing in place.

Grandma Evelyn jumped to her feet, hands trembling slightly: "Oh honey, don't you like it? Is it not working right?"

I turned my head away, voice tight: "How much did this tablet cost? Please don't waste your money on stuff like this anymore. Just give me cash, and I'll buy something new myself."

"What on earth are you saying?!" Mom shot up. "That's Grandma's way of showing she cares!"

"What good is this secondhand garbage?" I pushed the bag forward.

"I need a proper computer for work. Don't try to palm this off on me."

My relatives started murmuring among themselves.

Uncle Mark shook his head: "Kids these days, so unappreciative."

Aunt Susan pursed her lips: "Tell me about it. When we were kids, we'd be thrilled to get a piece of candy. And she's already starting her career, yet she's still so clueless."

...

Mom grabbed a throw pillow from the couch, ready to hurl it, but Grandma Evelyn quickly held her back. She gently took my hand, her voice very soft:

"Sarah, don't be upset. Grandma didn't think this through... You've grown up now, you have your pride—you deserve new things."

Aunt Lisa chimed in from the side: "Mom, are you still coddling her? My son hasn't even gotten any hand-me-downs from you!"

Grandma Evelyn waved her off: "Alright, alright. Girls should be spoiled... I just didn't realize Sarah's got her pride now."

I looked at Aunt Lisa: "Then give this tablet to your son. Just give me the cash instead."

Aunt Lisa sputtered, turning red. She opened her mouth but said nothing.

Mom rolled up her sleeves, ready to come at me again, but Grandma Evelyn quickly pulled her toward the kitchen: "Let's make dinner first. Sarah must be hungry..."

"Just wait till your dad gets home—he'll straighten you out!" Mom turned and shot me a glare.

Grandma Evelyn, still walking, murmured: "Grandma'll make you ribs, your favorite when you were little..."

"Don't bother," I cut her off. "I haven't liked those in years."

Grandma Evelyn froze mid-step. She stood there for two seconds, then slowly walked back to the couch and sat down, a forced smile still on her face.