She picked a stray scrap of cardboard up off the rug.

“He needs something to keep his mental health steady while he applies for jobs.”

“Those graphics cards cost more than our grocery budget for a whole month,” I said.

Brent slid the heavy silver board out of its anti-static wrapper and held it up to the ceiling light.

“You don’t understand how the modern economy works, Naomi.

All you do is process spreadsheets for corporate managers.”

“I put eighteen hundred dollars toward this house on the first of every month,” I said.