They had taught me the lesson yesterday. I had simply applied it back to them today.
I walked to my truck, opened the door, and reached into the back seat, where the guitar case still sat. What remained of the Gibson was inside. Derek was already on his phone again, this time calling the insurance company, his voice frantic and desperate. It went in the lake, he was saying. Yes, the entire car. No, I don’t know how.
Barbara followed me to the truck. Where are you going, she asked. Home, I said. Marcus, please, she said. I looked at her. Thanks for the lesson, I said. She looked confused. What lesson, she asked. You taught me how this family handles the destruction of expensive property, I said. I’m a fast learner.
Richard stepped forward and drew his line in the sand. If you leave now, he said, you’re choosing to end this family. I looked at him, my father, the man who had taken everyone else’s side but mine. No, Dad, I said. You chose yesterday, when you sided with Tyler over me. When you dismissed my feelings. When you told me it was just a guitar. I climbed into my truck. I just made sure the lesson was clear, I said.
