“He ordered them for me online because Mom said her household budget is too tight right now.

She can’t afford to buy me decent clothes.”

“We have a budget too, Ava.”

“Well, my dad makes the money, so he gets to decide how to spend it.”

She uncrossed her ankles and let her feet drop loudly to the floor.

“How much were they?” I asked.

“A hundred and forty dollars.”

Ava picked up her duffel bag and walked up the stairs to her bedroom.