Mr. Allen took a deep breath, clearly eager to resolve the situation. “I apologize, Ms. Johnson, to both you and your daughter. Let’s get this checked and processed right away.”

The teller, looking somewhat embarrassed, quickly processed Maya’s check. “It’s cleared,” she announced, handing Maya a receipt with a small, apologetic smile.

With the ordeal behind them, Vanessa turned to Maya. “Are you okay, sweetie?” she asked softly. Maya nodded, grateful for her mother’s support and proud of how she had handled the situation.