Not Your Replacement, Not Your Spare

Summary

While we're shopping for college supplies, my younger brother, Reuben Whitaker, picks up a limited-edition gaming bedding set and grins at Mom.

She doesn't even glance at the price before putting it in the cart.

When it's my turn, I barely pick up a charcoal-gray bedding set when my older sister, Cheryl Whitaker, frowns.

"Garrett, why do you always choose such gloomy colors? You need to be more upbeat like Reuben," she scolds.

My childhood friend, Phoebe Thorpe, smiles as well.

"No one at the dorm knows you anyway, so buying something new will be a waste," she says.