"Are you sure you counted it last night, Mom?" Ethan, who had been listening to Hellen's conversation with their mother, finally chimed in.
"Yeah! Did you count it yourself last night, Mom?" Hellen echoed.
"Good heavens! You both saw it yourselves, didn't you? Before Mr. Drago handed over the money, he counted it first," Mrs. Elizabeth retorted, trying to recall.
"Are you sure Mr. Drago counted it correctly? I'm one hundred percent not sure. Mr. Drago did appear to count the money, but it was obstructed by his suitcase lid," Ethan revealed, making his mother realize her mistake.
"I myself don't believe Mr. Drago counted it correctly; he might have reduced the amount," Hellen chimed in again.
"You two are being judgmental towards Mr. Drago! It's clear he counted it right in front of us!" Mrs. Elizabeth retorted fiercely.
"Try to remember, Mom, when Mr. Drago was counting, did you actually see the money he was counting?" Ethan asked as he picked up his breakfast.
Mrs. Elizabeth frowned, as if trying to recall something, placing her index finger on her temple. "This can't be happening; Mr. Drago couldn't have reduced it. Because before, I borrowed money, and not a single cent was missing," Mrs. Elizabeth replied, still firm in her opinion.
"Mom, please! Just this once, try listening to Ethan's and my opinion. If you still accuse us of taking it, go ahead and search me and Ethan," Hellen pleaded, unwilling to back down.
"I'm just giving you advice, Mom. It would be best to ask Mr. Drago again whether he reduced the amount or not. Even if you still accuse us of taking your money, what would be the point of me giving you money every month? Why would we take it? Have you ever lost money before this?" Ethan asked, offering his mother advice.
"Where's the money, Mom? I'll count it again; maybe there was a mistake when you counted it," Hellen requested, holding out her hand toward her mother.
Mrs. Elizabeth handed over the money she had been holding to Hellen, who then began to count it, observed by her mother and Ethan.
As Hellen recounted her mother's money, Mrs. Elizabeth barely blinked. Hellen took quite a while to count all the hundred-dollar bills. Ethan also helped Hellen count the money, even neglecting his breakfast. After all the money was meticulously counted, it turned out to be five thousand dollars short. Mrs. Elizabeth slumped weakly onto the bench, then took the money and put it into her bag. Mrs. Elizabeth looked distraught; she then stood up from her seat. Mrs. Elizabeth paced back and forth in front of Ethan and Hellen, looking very confused.
"Mom, it's really best to ask Mr. Drago again. Besides, why would you borrow so much? Do you really want to open a shop? It seems unlikely to succeed," Hellen said.
"What should I ask Mr. Drago again? He might accuse us, because he'll definitely say he counted it in front of us. Don't be pessimistic, Hellen! What makes you think my business won't succeed?" Mrs. Elizabeth retorted, pounding the dining table
.
"Don't you know, Mom? Almost every shop along this city's streets is owned by Mr. Drago. Look at our neighbor who just started trading not long ago; they're already bankrupt and impoverished. Their debts are even unpaid," Hellen explained firmly.
"Then what else should I do, Hellen? You two should be supporting what I'm doing, not opposing it," Mrs. Elizabeth complained.
"We're not opposing everything you do, Mom. Try asking Mr. Drago again; maybe he miscounted. If necessary, Hellen and I can be witnesses. This really doesn't make sense, Mom! What Hellen said is true; all the shops in this city belong to Mr. Drago. I can't imagine how you're going to compete with Mr. Drago," Ethan tried to explain the risks his mother would face.
"In that case, take me to Mr. Drago's house right now!" Mrs. Elizabeth demanded.
Ethan and Hellen exchanged glances when their mother asked to be taken to Mr. Drago's house. Ethan didn't know whether to cry or laugh, while Hellen stifled her laughter internally, afraid of her mother's wrath.
"How are we supposed to take you, Mom? My motorcycle only fits one person. Do I need to carry you on my lap? Or do you want to walk to Mr. Drago's house, which is quite far?" Ethan asked, holding back his laughter.
Hellen could no longer contain her laughter; she burst out laughing at Ethan's amusing explanation.
Mrs. Elizabeth glared at Hellen, asking, "What are you laughing at, Hellen? Do you think this is all a joke?"
"I'm not laughing at you, Mom. I'm laughing at Ethan's funny expression when he said his motorcycle only fits one person," Hellen replied, then covered her mouth with her palm.
"Good heavens! You're very skilled at wordplay, Hellen. Alright, then take me to Mr. Drago's house by taxi. Don't make any more excuses," Mrs. Elizabeth retorted, frowning.
"I have morning classes now, Mom!" Hellen protested, giving an excuse.
"What about you, Ethan?" Mrs. Elizabeth asked.
"My work schedule is also in the morning, Mom!" Ethan replied, still holding back his laughter.
"Good heavens! You two seem to have agreed to ask for morning shifts. You, Ethan, ask to swap shifts with your colleague!" Mrs. Elizabeth pleaded hopefully.
"It's already set, Mom! We're not the ones who wanted the schedule," Hellen argued.
"Then, who will take me?" Mrs. Elizabeth whined.
"Can't you just go by yourself, Mom? Don't you know Mr. Drago well already?" Ethan asked in return.
"Who will defend me if something happens? Don't you pity me?" wailed Mrs. Elizabeth, hoping one of her children would take her and accompany her at Mr. Drago's house.
Hellen approached Ethan, who was continuing his breakfast, then asked Ethan to accompany their mother, "Ethan, you should take Mom and accompany her. You can ask your boss for permission to be late; besides, your workplace isn't too far, is it?"
"Wait, I'll contact my boss first," Ethan replied, taking his phone from his pocket.
Ethan once again stopped his breakfast; he rose from his seat and stepped out of the house. Not long after, Ethan came back inside and met his mother and Hellen.
"I've got permission from my boss; I'll take Mom and accompany her," Ethan said, sitting back down and continuing his breakfast.
"Just finish your breakfast first, Ethan! I'm not in a hurry; I'll order a taxi now," Mrs. Elizabeth replied, then she called a taxi.
Hellen, who had finished breakfast and was neatly dressed, got ready to leave for college. Hellen picked up her college supplies that were lying on her bedroom table.
"Mom, I'm leaving now!" Hellen called out, saying goodbye.
Mrs. Elizabeth nodded; she was already prepared to go to Mr. Drago's house. After breakfast, Ethan brewed black coffee without sugar. Then Ethan took his cigarettes from his room, lit one, and inhaled. Mrs. Elizabeth, already aware of Ethan's post-breakfast habits, let him finish his coffee. As Ethan smoked and drank coffee on the front porch, he saw a taxi entering his yard. Ethan guessed it was his mother's ordered taxi. Ethan quickly grabbed the leather jacket hanging in his room, then snatched his motorcycle keys from the table.
His mother's shout was heard from outside the house, where she was waiting for him, "Ethan, are you ready to leave?"
Mrs. Elizabeth was about to call Ethan again, but Ethan was already at the front door. Ethan locked the front door, then gave the house key to his mother. Ethan immediately started his motorcycle engine, while his mother had already gotten into the taxi. Ethan followed the taxi his mother was in; the taxi drove at a moderate speed. The distance between Mrs. Elizabeth's house and Mr. Drago's house was not too far. Ethan drove his mother reluctantly, as he did not want to deal with or see Mr. Drago, who was known to be sly. Unfortunately, Mrs. Elizabeth never knew about Mr. Drago's cunning, even though both her children had warned her. It only took fifteen minutes to reach Mr. Drago's house. Mrs. Elizabeth asked the taxi driver to stop the car in front of Mr. Drago's rather tall gate. A fierce-looking gatekeeper approached the taxi and inquired about their purpose.