Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Trap is Set
Saturday morning, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. It was a group text from my sister, Sabrina. Sabrina: Hey everyone! Carter is looking at the new MacBook Pros for his graphic design classes. Since Mom and Dad handled the tuition, I was hoping everyone could chip in for the laptop! Claire, can you do $500?
My thumb hovered over the screen. This was it. The golden opportunity. In a court of law, I needed proof that they knew exactly what they had done. I needed them to put their arrogance in writing.
Claire: Sabrina, Mom transferred Anna’s entire $73,000 college fund to Carter three days ago. Since he has Anna’s money now, he can buy his own laptop.
I watched the three little typing dots appear, disappear, and reappear. Ten minutes later, the response came.
Sabrina: Oh, grow up, Claire. Carter is actually going to a real university. Anna just doodles. Mom and Dad made an executive decision as the family elders to put the money where it belongs. Carter deserves it more. We can pay Anna back eventually. Don't be greedy. So, are you sending the $500 or not?
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I took a screenshot. Then, a text from my mother, Janet, popped up. Janet: Claire, stop trying to ruin your nephew's big moment. The money was sitting there doing nothing. We are family. We share. Stop being so dramatic.
I took another screenshot. They had just confessed, in writing, to the unauthorized liquidation and misappropriation of a protected educational trust. I’m not being dramatic, Mom, I thought, closing my phone. I am being apocalyptic.
