By September seventh, eighteen hundred dollars of it had already been taken out.”

My mother straightened the collar of her floral cardigan.

“Prices are higher everywhere these days, Naomi.

You know what the grocery store charges for plain milk now.”

“Grocery bills don’t add up to nine hundred dollars in one transaction at a computer supply store in Schaumburg,” I said.

“Brent unboxed a graphics card on the living room rug last night.

I saw the empty box sitting right beside the couch.”