I originally thought she would let me stay for dinner.
I smiled faintly, "If you can't help me, I'll go ask someone else for help." With that, I got up to leave.
Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the door outside, "Open the door! If you don't, I'll break it down! It's New Year's Eve. Time to pay back what you owe!" From the voices, there were six or seven people outside.
Everyone's faces changed and they quickly put down their cutleries.
My mom stood up and slapped me twice across the face, "Why didn't you just die out there? You owe so much money and still dared to give the creditors our home address?"
My dad kicked me hard in the hip, "If I'd known, I never would've raised a jinx like you!"
He used so much force that I couldn't control myself and fell sideways, hitting my head on the edge of the coffee table. It buzzed with pain.
The door shook violently from the pounding.
My mom urged my dad to open it, while Agnes hid behind Clay, clutching my nephew in fear. When the door opened, Clay's expression changed.
He bent over and approached the visitor with a fawning smile, "Ah, Donny is here! Please, come in, come in!"
Donny Chapman, the leader, wore a leopard-print fur coat, a thick gold chain around his neck and a cigar in his mouth. Behind him were a group of swaggering lackeys.
Donny lightly patted Clay's face, "You said you'd pay me back by five this afternoon. What time is it now?"
Clay slapped himself twice hard, "Donny, look at me, such a pig-headed fool with a terrible memory. I forgot something this important. Have you and your men had a reunion dinner? Come in and eat. I'll cheers to you."
Donny took the main seat and his lackeys also sat down without hesitation.
Clay remained bent over, lighting cigarettes for each lackey, pouring them drinks and cursing himself as a pig-headed fool.
My parents, Agnes and my nephew stood by with their heads lowered, not daring to make a sound.
After making his rounds, Clay stood deferentially by Donny's side, ready to take orders.
Donny smiled faintly, extinguishing half his cigar on the dining table, "Clay, since I've come here today, I'm not leaving empty-handed. Your wife, your son, or one of your organs, you choose one for me to take."
"No! Absolutely not!" My mom's voice immediately turned tearful. My dad glared at her fiercely and she instantly fell silent.
Clay's legs gave out and he knelt beside Donny with a thud. My nephew started crying loudly in fear at those words.
Agnes quickly covered his mouth, "Don't be scared. Your dad will figure something out."
Clay begged desperately, "Donny, please give me a few more days. I'll gather fifty thousand and deliver it to you personally."
One of the lackeys kicked Clay in the head, "You said the same thing a few days ago."
Donny remained calm, still smiling faintly, "If you sit at the gambling table, you need to have the capital to gamble. I despise broken promises and hate people who waste my time."
The lackey grabbed Clay from the ground and slapped him repeatedly across the face, "Donny came here personally as a favor to you. He's giving you choices and you're still stalling? Another word and I'll end your pathetic life!"
My parents' eyes reddened with distress, but they could only fret helplessly.
Clay repeatedly banged his head on the ground while kneeling, "Donny, they're all my family. I can't bear to choose any of them."
The lackey sneered, "Then what about one of your organs? Pick one."
Clay suddenly lifted his head, his eyes gleaming. He extended his arm and pointed at me, "Her! Donny, she still has three hundred thousand in her account. Take the money, take her and it'll cover my debt and interest. That's more than enough, right?"
