Chapter 8 - THE EXCLUSION OF THE ENTITLED
Scott’s family didn't fare much better.
Without the weekly infusion of Jenna’s gourmet cooking and leftovers,
their own budgets were under strain.
Greg and Alicia had to start meal-prepping,
and their kids missed the "fancy house" and the desserts.
Pamela tried to host a few dinners herself,
but she quickly realized she lacked both the skill and the funds to match Jenna's standard.
She called Scott constantly,
complaining about Jenna’s "cruelty" and "greed."
But Scott didn't have the energy to agree with her anymore.
He was too tired from working overtime to pay for his own groceries.
He began to resent his mother’s interference,
realizing that she had destroyed his comfortable life for the sake of a theory.
At work,
his performance began to slip.
He was distracted by the constant mental math of his bank account.
His coworkers noticed his shabbier clothes and his constant exhaustion.
The man who had boasted about "putting his foot down" was now the one looking for change in the office vending machine.
Jenna,
on the other hand,
received a promotion.
She was now the Director of Global Logistics,
her salary increasing even further.
She bought herself a new car,
a sleek European model that Scott could never dream of affording.
When she parked it in their shared garage,
the contrast was painful.
His aging sedan looked like a toy next to her professional machine.
The "independence" he wanted had created a chasm between them that was too wide to jump.
He sat in the living room one night,
watching her prepare for a gala she was attending alone.
You look beautiful,
he whispered,
the words feeling heavy and useless.
Thank you,
she replied,
adjusting a diamond earring she had bought for herself.
I'm glad I can afford to look this way without being a burden to anyone.
May you like
She walked out the door,
leaving him in the dim light of the apartment he could barely afford to heat.
