My dad canc3led my ticket and texted, “walk home.” I laughed and replied, “you sure?” my dad suddenly became nervous. Five minutes later, they rushed back to pick me up. but… they were too late.

Apparently, leaving me at the airport was supposed to teach me what happened when I stopped cooperating.

Then I remembered something my father apparently had forgotten.

I had personally booked and paid for the vacation rental in Carmel, the seven-seat SUV, and a prepaid coastal tour.

I opened the reservation app.

Everything was still under my name.

I laughed once and texted Dad.

“You sure?”

Five minutes later, the SUV carrying my family came racing back toward the airport.

By then, I was already inside a rideshare heading away from the terminal.

Dad called eleven times before I reached the highway.