Mom huffed, clearly annoyed by the interruption. I ignored her and went outside to meet the delivery guy. The sight of the mattress made my back feel better already. I tipped the guy, thanked him, and wrestled the thing into the hallway. When I got back to the dining room, the tension hit me like a wall. Mom stood there, arms crossed, her face a mix of annoyance and something I couldn’t quite place.An annoyed woman standing with her arms crossedWhat the hell, Jason? You know we’re all saving money for Ashley’s car. Return that mattress immediately!” Mom’s voice was sharp, cutting through the awkward silence.
Ashley, sitting pretty at the table, chimed in with her signature whine, “Why does he get a mattress when I need a car?” I took a deep breath. I’d been waiting for this. “Mom, I bought this with my own money. I’ve been saving for months. I need this bed for my back.” Mom’s eyes narrowed.“That money should be going towards something the whole family needs. Ashley’s car is a priority.” I could feel my frustration bubbling up. “A priority for who? For you and Ashley? I’ve been working hard to afford this. My back is killing me, and I need a decent bed.” Ashley’s pouty face twisted into a scowl. “You’re so selfish, Jason! I can’t believe you’re doing this right now!”Before I could respond, Granddad cleared his throat. The room fell silent. He’d been watching the whole exchange quietly, his face growing darker by the second. “Michelle,” he said, his voice steady and calm, but with an edge that made everyone listen.
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