couldn’t repair the ignition myself.
Because I wanted the family to understand something.
My labor had value too.
The technician arrived forty minutes later.
He replaced the faulty component.
The furnace started.
Warm air began flowing through the vents.
Within fifteen minutes, the house began warming.
Mom stood beside me.
“I’ll pay you back.”
I looked at her.
“I don’t want the money.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Respect.”
She started crying.
“I do respect you.”
“Then stop treating my help like an entitlement.”
She nodded.
“I will.”
“And stop
