03
Dad’s old place was in the next town over,
like six miles from Grandma’s.
Because of that, the neighbors kept Mom
updated about Dad and his new wife.
Today, she was at it again.
“Susan! Heard Harry built a princess room for
that stepdaughter of his. Gorgeous!”
“Ashley’s his real daughter, ya know.”
Mom chuckled like she didn’t care
Г
The neighbor kept going.
“You wouldn’t believe it, Kevin calls Harry’s
new wife ‘Mom,‘ so affectionate. Probably
forgot what his real mom looks like.”
“Good thing you guys split the kids.
Otherwise…”
She caught herself, laughed nervously. “Oops,
sorry, what am I doing? Don’t worry, Susan,
you still have Ashley!”
Mom didn’t say anything.
The neighbor, realizing she wasn’t getting a
rise, scurried off.
Mom stared off into space, lost in thought.
Г
A while passed.
“Grumble.”
I only had a donut for lunch, and now I was
starving.
That sound brought Mom back.
She glared at me.
“Are you a pig!? All you do is eat?!”
“Think your mom’s so poor, can’t even feed
you? Wanna go crawling back to your
deadbeat dad? Then get out!”
She ranted, totally incoherent.
く
I teared up, shook her hand.
“Mom, I’ll study hard, so you can live in a big
house.”
“And… I won’t call that lady ‘Mom,‘ like Kevin
does.”
Mom ripped her hand away, scoffed.
She gave me a look.
“You can’t compare to your brother.”
“Get lost! You make me sick. If I hadn’t had
you, Kevin wouldn’t have been taken!”
My chest tightened.
Г
What was the difference between Kevin and
me?
Weren’t we both Mom and Dad’s kids?
I was confused.
But soon, I didn’t have time to think about it.
Mom told me to get money from Dad.
“Why should his money go to that woman’s
kid? That money’s for Kevin!”
Mom saw I wasn’t thrilled.
She glowered.
“Don’t wanna go? Fine, you’re not going to
<
school. I can’t afford the tuition.”
She was serious, not joking.
I freaked.
)
Grandma said that dropouts couldn’t get jobs.
No money, you starve.
I didn’t want to be a dropout, didn’t want to
starve.
I grabbed Mom’s leg, gave in.
“I’ll go, Mom, I’ll go.”
