For this one: You must blackmail a kid who has robbed your mother.
SIBLINGS (any gender, early teens to early twenties)
The picture is password protected. I have no intention of sharing it with mom or the police. So long as you work with me, here. We're supposed to be like siblings, right? Let's cooperate.
Our story is this: It was a random stranger who stole mom's jewelry. YOU had nothing to do with it. YOU even said we should lock up the house more often. 'Cause where you come from, like "people will steal the shoes off your feet if you don't watch out." Or some streetwise crap like that. YOU were trying to protect us. A random STRANGER ripped off my mom. That will be the story.
That will be the story because I disagree with the law. The law says you should go to prison. Repeat offender... no more juvie because you're 18 now. I don't think you deserve that. You deserve better. You deserve a REAL chance to redeem yourself.
Here's what I say: The picture of you stealing mom's jewelry? I won't share it. If you earn ten grand in the next three weeks, I won't share the picture. You have all kinds of ways to earn money, don't you? No pretty ways but you can do it. I believe in you.
So: You pay me five grand to help replace the jewelry. Two grand for sentimental damages: That jewelry was inherited, you know. And four grand to compensate for taking advantage of a well-meaning woman who took you in.
After that, we'll see. I might even let you stay here. Who says we can't bond over this?
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes. If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage