Family Landlords Raise the Rent to Force One Sister Out
“You took my pink lease folder out of my drawer,” I said, my voice rising. “You did it so I couldn’t show you the signature.”
My mother did not deny it. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a single sheet of folded white paper.
“Come into the hall, Lauren,” my mother said, standing up from the table.
I followed her out of the kitchen, leaving Vanessa sitting alone by the salt shaker. The hallway was narrow, smelling of the damp wool from Helen’s coat.
“You are being incredibly selfish,” Helen whispered, her voice sharp and low. “Your sister has had a very difficult year, and you are worrying about a few hundred dollars.”
“It is nine hundred dollars more every month,” I said. “It takes almost my entire take-home pay.”
“If you cannot afford to help your family, perhaps you do not belong in this neighborhood,” Helen said.
She reached out and pressed the folded paper into my palm.
“We expect the first double payment on the first of December,” my mother said. “Arthur agrees with me on this.”
