Honest Men.

He was craving smokes real bad, but didn't have any money. In between paying to get his car fixed and rent there was no wiggle room for activities that he found relaxing. Staring at his dad in that hospital bed was really stressing him out- that was, of course before he found himself thinking "Fuck it." He ducked below the gurney and searched through his fathers possessions, eventually encountering a $20 bill which quickly made it's way into his pocket. He immediately headed to the convenience store across the street. "Love you, Dad. I'll be back in a bit" he said, with a foot already out the door.
His last name was Ericman. His grandfather was a German immigrant, who fought as a foot soldier for the Allied forces in the second World War. He was ashamed of his homeland and his family, who he may have personally fought and killed. Because of his shame, as well as being afraid of the prejudice he may face, he changed his name from Ehrlichmann to the Americanized Ericman. Ehrlichmann meant honest man, which his father, his grandfather, and even his grandfathers father were. He arrived at the store and walked up to the counter and asked for a box of his favorite cigarettes.
"Have an ID?" the clerk asked. He took it out of his pocket and handed it to the clerk, who observed the picture of him and read his name aloud, so the whole store could hear, "DANIEL KURT ERICMAN, that will be $7.25." Daniel paused while taking his ID and grabbing his newly acquired crumpled up 20 dollar bill. "You know what? Forget it man, thanks anyways." he said in a tone of voice that was composed of both shame and yearning and proceeded to walk out of the store, empty handed. When returning to the hospital he was required to check in at the front desk.
"Hi, Nathan Ericman is only accepting visits from direct family members at this time, are you an Ericman?" the lady at the desk asked. And for the first time in his life that he could remember, he found himself unable to answer that question.