Loose Change

Jake, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, lives an undesirable life alongside his pet hamster and his drug-addled mother, Angela, who sells her body to feed her son and her addiction. Desperate to rid his mother of her vice, Jake has convinced her to leave town for a better life, but the night before their departure, he discovers she's out of drugs. Fearing she won't make it through the morning, Jake takes her earnings and hits the streets to find a fix-though he has no idea how. He turns to Sal, a streetwise friend, who refuses to help. Instead, Rikki, a bold seventeen-year-old, offers to take Jake to a new dealer. Jake reluctantly agrees and hands over the cash. Over street food, Rikki admits they need more money and decides to mug a drunk man. Jake protests, but when Rikki gets caught, he jumps in to help. Together, they fight their way out and make off with the wallet. At the dealer's spot, they find it's under new, sketchy management. Rikki backs out, but Jake pushes forward alone. He returns home to a furious Angela, offering a few leftover bills and claiming he was hungry. She lets it slide, unaware he's stashed the drugs under his pillow. Later, Jake checks on her-only to find the baggie empty and Angela passed out. Crushed but determined, Jake grabs the last of her money and heads back into the night. This time, knowing exactly what he's doing.