That evening, after our first conversation, I sat beside him on his bed.
“Julian, I want you to tell me exactly what happened.”
He nodded nervously.
Three days earlier, he’d posted the guitar on a local musicians’ forum.
Mr. Keller, a member of our church’s music group, had responded.
He offered Julian $1,000.
“Did Mr. Keller know you hadn’t asked me?” I questioned.
Julian looked embarrassed.
“He asked whether you knew. I told him you did.”
I sighed.
“Julian, you know that wasn’t right.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
He explained that Maya needed a specialized lightweight wheelchair costing approximately $1,400.
I immediately noticed the difference.
“But you only received a thousand dollars.”
Julian hesitated.
Then he opened his desk drawer and showed me an empty savings tin.
“I used my birthday money.”
“How much?”
“Everything.”
He looked toward the empty shelf beneath his television.
“And I sold my PlayStation and games.”
