No(t) Home for Christmas

By Obelia Akanke

A privileged teen must face her prejudices about the homeless community.

Daphne's parents cover every bill she creates. However, when she racks up over $3000 in barely two months without concern for who pays the debt, her parents decide it's time for her to learn financial responsibility – starting with missing out on the trip to Aruba and loss of driving privileges. Daphne is sent to spend Christmas break with her frugal Aunt Sophie who lives in a modest apartment on the other side of town.

Determined to do what she wants, Daphne finds her keys and sneaks her car out only to incur a bill that may cause her to lose her car permanently. The only person who can cover the bill and keep her secret is Sophie. Desperate to keep her parents from finding out, she agrees to work to repay her aunt. Can Daphne put her pride aside long enough to earn her wages, or will her troubles double when her parents return?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Write Heart Publishing
• Release date: Nov 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223998648

Book preview

Chapter one

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Daphne’s seatbelt locked three-quarters of the way into a left turn. Her friend slammed the brakes to avoid hitting the woman pushing her shopping cart across the street.

Why is she so slow? The thing has wheels to help her move faster, for crying out loud. Monique blared her horn. Move it, will ya, lady?

Daphne ran her finger under her seatbelt and across her collar bone to rub the sore area. Was it necessary to stop so abruptly?

Yes. I didn’t know she was going to keep walking across. I had the green light. All she had to do was wait at the median until the cars in my lane finished turning. Why didn’t she use the crosswalk signal? That’s why it’s there.

Daphne chose not to point out that the walk signals and lights for traffic turn green at the same time to allow everyone to cross the street. Monique liked to be in charge, but she tended to become demanding, almost dictatorial, whenever she got behind the wheel. Arguments never turned out well, and Monique had been known to pull to the side of the road to make a passenger walk home if the person upset her. Daphne watched the woman head toward the curb. I wish she’d get a job already.

Exactly. It’s bad enough that she looks messy, but then she just treks from place to place, wandering aimlessly as if she has nothing better to do with her life. Monique sped down the road as if to make up for the three seconds she had lost when she stopped.

She probably doesn’t. I’m just glad she wasn’t begging for money like some of the men out here. Daphne rolled her window down. I mean, why are you spending hours asking me for money when you could be out there earning it? It doesn’t make sense.

Monique nodded. My cousin told me that her friend’s mom told her that she knew of a beggar who wasn’t even broke. He’d change clothes to get money from unsuspecting people, but he was really a millionaire. They’re actually scammers.

Really? Daphne wondered how many were pretending to be poor.

Monique pulled into Daphne’s driveway Have fun on your trip. I’ll see you next year!

Thank you! Enjoy your break. I’ll see you in about twelve days. She shut the door and carried her shopping bags into the house.

***

Daphne held a pile of toll bills in her lap while her father paced the living room.

Do you know how much your mother and I have paid since getting you this car? He pulled out another stash of envelopes and passed them out as if he was dealing cards. Look at these. Late fees for unpaid tolls. Parking fines. Traffic violation.

Daphne inched forward. Technically, that’s a parking violation, Daddy.

Mr. Hambry stood upright and crossed his arms. Mrs. Hambry closed her eyes and held her hand up to stop her daughter from speaking.

Okay, you can pay for the parking ticket. Mr. Hambry grunted. That’s not even counting maintenance, gas, or insurance.

Well, Daddy, you’re supposed to pay for the insurance because we’re on a plan.

I agreed to pay for what was necessary to keep you on the road and in a safe vehicle. I didn’t sign up to let you run reckless in the streets as if you’ve never had any lessons or learned the rules of the road. He fanned the bills out like a winning poker hand. Why is it that the one person who has no job or income costs me the most money? Huh? Where are you going that you keep driving through tolls and have timed parking – that you obviously don’t monitor?

Daphne looked to the ceiling and leaned against the couch. I don’t know. My friends and I just wanted to hang out and visit some people in the shops downtown. I don’t keep track. I didn’t even know there were bills.

Mr. Hambry waved his hands above his head. You didn’t notice any of the signs that read toll ahead or the ones that state the fees?

Well, yeah, but I don’t have a truck or the axles for the vehicles they mention, so I didn’t think it was a problem. Nobody ever stopped me to pay like in the parking garages.

Mr. Hambry looked at his wife, who put her chin in her hand and looked away. They mail the bills. He picked up his checkbook and walked to Daphne. Do you know what this is?

She looked at the register. Yeah. That’s a record of your credits, debits, and balance. She pointed. You’re positive. That’s good, Daddy. You know, my economics teacher said a lot of people end up with a loss at the end of the month and end up borrowing against their charge cards.

He closed the book. I am at a loss. I’ve spent over three thousand dollars for you in less than two months because you have excessive fees and then charged a new phone to my account. What use does an unemployed student have for a phone that costs almost one thousand dollars?

Daphne stood to get a soda from the kitchen. It’s the latest upgrade, and I needed a new phone. Besides, we have the money, so I didn’t think it’d be a problem.

She poured the drink into a glass and sat down. Her parents watched her the whole time without uttering a word. After an awkward minute of silence, she asked if there was anything else to talk about before she went to her room.

The problem, Mrs. Hambry began slowly, is that you don’t recognize there’s a problem at all. You’ve gotten so comfortable spending our money that you don’t appreciate it. You don’t appreciate us.

I say, ‘thank you.’

Mrs. Hambry shook her head. "Words are meaningless if your actions are empty. Actions are insincere if your heart isn’t in them. I don’t want you