02
Ethan was a cute, chubby baby, and Uncle
Mark treated him like a prince.
Dad had tears in his eyes, saying the Miller
family finally had an heir, and clasped a gold
“baby’s blessing” necklace around Ethan’s
neck.
That necklace cost Dad half a month’s wages,
and Mom had a huge fight with him about it.
But Dad didn’t care. All that mattered was the
Miller family’s only son, their legacy.
Mom wavered when they changed the law
allowing couples to have two children.
I was ten then, and she asked me if I wanted
a little brother.
Thinking of Ethan, I shook my head firmly. “I
hate little brothers,” I said.
Mom didn’t have another baby, and Dad
resented me even more for it.
When I was little, I asked Mom if I was
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adopted.
She said Dad was just old–fashioned, but he
loved me.
I was his daughter, he couldn’t not love me,
he just didn’t know how to show it.
But I’d heard him tell Ethan, “My favorite
nephew! Uncle David loves you best!”
The only time Dad looked at me kindly was
when I brought home good grades.
When I was ten, I surprised everyone by
ranking first in my class.
Ms. Jones, our new teacher, was young and
kind.
She gave me a twenty–dollar bill from her
own pocket as a reward.
She encouraged me to keep up the good
work.
L
I bowed deeply and thanked her sincerely.
Walking home, clutching the envelope with
the money, I felt like I was walking on air.
Even the wildflowers seemed more beautiful.
I gave the envelope to Mom, who was busy
tending the fire in the kitchen stove.
She wiped her hands on her apron before
taking it.
That night, for the first time, Dad put food on
my plate.
It was a slice of pepperoni. He didn’t say a
word of praise.
Still, I said, “Thank you, Dad.”
I started to believe Mom was right.
Dad did love me. He just didn’t know how to
show it.
Until New Year’s Eve, when that familiar
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envelope appeared on the dinner table.
My world shattered.
