My brother actually laughed at dinner and said, ‘I sold that useless laptop of yours for five hundred bucks. Finally got rid of your junk.’ My cousins cheered him on. Then he added, almost proudly, ‘Already handed it off to the buyer.’ I got up, stepped outside, and called my supervisor. By the time I made the report, the FBI cyber team was already tracking the device…

I fit in that story. As contrast.

“Marcus, ever think about buying?” Aunt Marie asked, spooning carrots onto her plate. “Rates won’t stay this low forever.”

“I’m fine where I am.”

She sighed lightly, the way people do when they think you’re making your own life harder out of laziness.

Derek barely touched his food at first. He kept checking his phone under continue reading …