Chapter 2: The Paper He Didn't Want Me to See
**— Part 2 —**
Evan was on the floor, his lip split, cradling his right hand against his chest.
An older man I didn't recognize was standing over him, red-faced and shouting.
"Tell her!
Tell your mother what you've been doing!"
"Evan." I dropped to my knees beside him.
"What happened?
Who is this man?"
Evan wouldn't look at me.
His boss, a heavyset man named Ray, stepped between us and the stranger.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
"Find out WHAT?" My voice cracked.
"Someone tell me what is going on."
Ray exhaled slowly.
"Every Saturday after his shift, Evan walks six blocks to Millfield Road.
There's a group of older kids there.
They've been taking his money.
Every week.
All of it."
I stared at my son.
"Evan…
is that true?"
He finally looked up.
His eyes were wet, but his jaw was set.
"I didn't want you to worry, Mom."
"How long?"
He hesitated.
"Since the second week."
Six months.
He had been h*t and r0bbed every single week for six months, and he never said a word.
Then Ray put his hand on my shoulder.
"Ma'am…
that's not the part that's going to be hard to hear."
He glanced at Evan.
Evan shook his head slowly.
"Please, Ray.
Don't."
But Ray was already reaching into his apron pocket.
He placed a folded piece of paper on the table between us.
---
What was on that paper — and why did Evan fight so hard to keep it from his mother?
May you like
The full truth is more heartbreaking than anyone expected.
Click the link below to read the rest of Evan's story.
