Pizza Money

by Thomas Gold

Every Friday in fifth grade, Michael’s mom gave him five bucks for a slice and a soda, just like all the other kids. But Michael never once walked with the crowd to Tony’s Pizzeria—he pocketed the cash, ate from home, and spent lunch scribbling plans in a spiral notebook. While the others cracked jokes over greasy napkins, he mowed lawns, tutored math, and built a computer from parts he bought himself. Years passed, and Michael’s dreams grew tall while his circle of friends stayed small. Decades later, he returned to the old neighborhood in a sleek black car, slipping into Tony’s for a slice he never used to buy. He sat alone and ate quietly.

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Thomas Gold owns his own business.