$20,000

Sam held the cold phone to his ear as it continued to ring. It was pointless call, and he knew it. Nevertheless, he sat on the couch and waited. Eventually the phone stopped ringing and he waited to leave a message.

“Hey Gen,” he said, forcing his voice to be calm. “I was just calling to check on you.”

He paused for a few seconds.

“You missed Dads funeral today…” Sam bit his lip, controlling his emotions. “You said you were coming, so I was just calling to see what happened. Call me back. Bye.”

He hung up and set his phone down. He huffed a breath and tried to relax. It wasn’t an easy task, all the built up emotions from the day were threatening to come crushing down. Leaning back into the couch, he closed his eyes.

The buzzing of his phone woke Sam. He hadn’t even realized he had fallen asleep. He grabbed his phone and answered, hoping it was Gen.

“Gen?” He asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

“No,” a deep voice replied. Sam blinked and he realized he was talking to John, his best friend.

“Oh, hey John.” Sam yawned.

“Where you still sleeping? Its like eleven.”

Sam rubbed the back of his sore neck, “I didn’t get home until late, I finished cleaning out Dads old apartment.”

John was quiet for a few seconds and when he spoke his voice was soft. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just don’t know where Gen is.” Sam heard John sigh curtly, “she said she was going to come John.”

“Have you met your sister?” John growled angrily.

“It was our fathers funeral, I thought she’d be there.” Sam bit his tongue to keep from snapping. “She said she would be there, and I believed her.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” John advised, knowing Sam would. “Your sister, all due respect, is a terrible person. You know this.”

Sam didn’t want to hear this again. However, he said nothing and let John ramble on about all the things she’s done to him and his parents. Finally, when he ran out of breath, John stopped. Sam waited, not trusting himself to speak calmly.

“Sorry Sam…” he sighed sadly. “When’s the will reading?”

Sam was glad for the subject change. “Tomorrow at noon.”

“And its just going to be you?”

“Gen is supposed to be there.”

John ignored this, “do you want me to come? I mean, are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

Sam grinned at his friends kindness. “I’ll be okay, but thanks.”

“Okay…” John said almost hesitantly. “Call me after the reading.”

“I will, goodbye John.” Sam hung up and rubbed his eyes again. He was still exhausted, but he regretted falling asleep on the couch. So he made his way to his bed, crawling under the thick covers.

Sam stepped into the tall office building. He was greeted by ugly green carpet that didn’t match the small chandelier that hung above him. Around him were a few chairs and a short coffee table in the middle of them.

Assuming this wasn’t were he was supposed to be, he continued down the corridor. He found a small desk with a tiny old lady sitting behind it. She looked up and forced smiled, making her eyes squint tightly.

“Hello, I’m looking for Clare Smith.” Sam told her the lawyers name. The lady stopped smiling and pointed further down corridor.

“Second door on the left,” her voice crackled.

Sam gave her a kind smile and walked where she had directed him too. He poked his head into the already open door. The ugly green carpet extended into this room. There was a large, dark wooden desk sitting in the right corner of the room. A few feet from the desk, were a few chairs.

“Sam, come on in.” Clare spoke in a monotone voice and smiled softly at him.

Sam walked in and saw Clare was standing behind her desk. He returned her smile, but it just felt like he was wincing. She offered him a glass of water and told him to sit. He took the water and did as he was told.

“Sam, your fathers will-” Clare started.

“We’re waiting for Gen,” Sam said bleakly.

“I know, but this was apart of the instructions.” Clare spoke fast and with definition, “your father left you a notebook. I don’t know what’s in it or why, I’ve been instructed to put it with the rest of your inheritance. The will was very specific to not tell Gen about this.”

Sam opened his mouth to say something, but a knock on the door stopped him. Sam twisted to see who it was and his blood boiled. Gen walked into the room flashing a happy smile. Gen offered a greeting to Clare, but did no more than glance at Sam.

Sam couldn’t believe it. She wouldn’t come to his funeral, but she’ll come to the will reading? Of course she would, because it might benefit her for being here. Sam pushed his anger and emotions down, trying to stay calm. He didn’t want to make a scene in the lawyers office. Especially at their fathers will reading. So he turned back around and stared straight ahead.

“Right, let us begin.” Clare glanced at Sam once more, but didn’t mention the notebook again. Clare began reading the will. She was looking at a piece of paper in front of her, keeping her words fast and explicit. She explained to them that the only things their father had owned was twenty-thousand dollars and his car. “Gen, your father left you with the car. Sam, he left you with the cash.”

Sam blinked, his father left him twenty-thousand dollars? Where did he even have this money? He was in an apartment building with only his old, rusty car.

Gen however, was far past disbelief already. “WHAT?!” She howled, leaping to her feet.

Clare leaned back in her chair and tried to calm Gen.

“I will not calm down, my father left me with a crappy old truck while my brother gets twenty-thousand dollars!” She practically screamed, “how is that fair? How is this allowed?”

Sam looked at his little sister. She was fuming, he could almost see the steam puffing out of her ears. Sadness filled him, even at Dads will reading, she thought she deserved everything. Thought she could get it all handed to her on a silver plater.

With a sigh, Sam stood. “Thank you Clare,” Sam bellowed to be heard over his frantic sister. Then he turned on his heels and started out.

“Sam, you aren’t going anywhere until we get this sorted out!” Gen screeched.

Sam ignored her, knowing if he said anything he would regret it. So he walked out of the building, got back in his car, and drove home.

The next day, Sam had retrieved his inheritance and deposited it right away. He gripped the notebook in his hand and stared at it. It was small, barely bigger than his hands. The front and back cover were pitch black, and there was no writing on it. Letting out a shaky breath, he opened it.

Dear Samuel, I know your sister won’t be happy about this. That’s my fault, I always handed her everything. I babied her and that’s why she acts the way she does. I’m sorry. I hope this makes up for it. I’ve left you with twenty-thousand dollars, and Gen with my car. I’m going to leave it up to you if you want to give her any of the money. If you do, that’s okay. If not, I understand and am okay with that as well. I love you so much Samuel.

Sam closed the notebook with misty eyes. Dad wanted him to decide? That’s what the notebook was for, to tell him he could share the money? Sam rubbed his temples, feeling a headache forming.

His phone buzzed and he answered it slowly, half hoping it would stop ringing. He put it to his ear and answered with a sighed ‘hello’.

“Sam, are you alright?” Johns voice was fast and Sam could hardly tell his words apart. “You didn’t call after the reading so I thought maybe you just needed some time. The longer I waited the more worried I got, because of Gen. Then I-”

“John!” Sam had to shout to get his attention. Silence fell from the other side of the line. “I’m okay.”

“Oh, good.” John sighed with relief. “How’d it go?”

Sam told John what had happened. Starting with Clare telling him about the notebook, to Gen throwing a fit, and then to Sam telling him what the notebook said. When he stopped there was a small pause on the other end.

“You’re going to keep it right?” John asked, his voice careful and soft.

“I don’t know, she’s my sister. I feel like I have to give her something. All Dad left her was his crappy car, and I feel like she deserves something more.” Sam sighed, his headache getting worse.

“No Sam, you feel obligated because she’s manipulative.” John said plainly.

“Gen-” pounding on his door cut him off. “I have to go John, someone’s at my door.”

They said goodbye as Sam got up and moved to the door. Putting his phone down, he opened the door.

Gen stood there, her face red with fury. She pushed Sam aside and stomped into the house. Sam tried to talk to her but his voice didn’t seem to reach her. When she entered the living room, she scanned around shortly. Her eyes landed on the notebook and before Sam could do anything she snatched it up.

“Gen!” Sam growled, trying to take it back. His sisters eyes widened with rage as they looked from the book to him.

“This is the notebook from Dad?” Gen snarled, her dark green eyes piercing his.

Sam stared at her blankly, Clare said Gen didn’t know about the notebook. How did she find out? Sam said nothing as he reeled for what he should do.

“You knew Dad told you to share the money and you didn’t even call me?” She howled at him.

Sam stared at her as Johns words echoed around in his head ‘No Sam, you feel obligated because she’s manipulative.’ Sam laughed darkly, he’s had enough. “Call you Gen? I called you the day of Dads funeral, and you didn’t answer! You said you would be there, and you couldn’t make an appearance for a few minutes?”

“Something came up,” she said defiantly. “That has nothing to do with this.”

Gen shook the notebook in her hand, making Sam snap. “It has everything to do with that! For years you’ve done nothing but manipulate and steal from Dad! And even after everything he’s done for you, everything he’s handed you, you can’t come to his funeral?!”

“Sam, I deserve some of that money!” Gen screamed back at him.

“No!” Sam howled, “you don’t! You don’t deserve the money, you don’t even deserve his piece of crap car!”

Silence filled the room as they both stood there fuming at each other.

“But that’s all your going to get.” Sam finished, his voice thick with venom. “You’ll get the car Gen, but you won’t get a dime of this money. Get out of my house.”

Gen stood there for a few more seconds, glaring at him. However, much to Sams surprise, she said nothing more. She threw the notebook back down on the table, her eyes still piercing his. Then Gen turned on her heels and stormed out of his house, slamming the door behind her.

Sam stayed where he was, his heart pounding in his chest. His anger still boiling within him. Trying to calm himself, he sat down on the couch and stared at the notebook. It was time for Gen to grow up. Sam smiled as his headache eased, this was for the best and he knew it.