- 11.
L
“My brother didn’t say the cards were yours.
There are two, maybe one is for me.”
Brittany tried to look strong.
I stared at her in silence.
Brittany thought I was speechless, so she got
cockier. “I’m his cousin, you only have all this
because of me.”
I scoffed. “My brother’s money is only for me.
You’re nothing to him.”
Brittany was shocked that I’d said something
so mean.
She glanced at something, and her tears
started to fall.
“What’s wrong?”
Mom and Dad had just gotten home. They
saw the situation and rushed over.
Brittany threw herself into their arms, almost
fainting.
Anyone who didn’t know better would think I’d
done something to her.
I laughed. “She opened my gifts and now
she’s having a meltdown.”
Brittany sobbed. “My cousin didn’t bring me
anything, just her. Am I so unlikable?”
I agreed and said, “Yeah, that’s probably
true.”
“Kayla, are you sure your brother didn’t get
anything for Brittany?”
Mom seemed surprised.
I shrugged. “Maybe he found out about what
happened when I came home.”
That made Mom and Dad uncomfortable.
Dad, who was always honest, said, “That
makes sense.”
“Dad?” Brittany looked at him in disbelief.
Mom told her, “Honey, your cousin has always
been close with Kayla. It’s normal for him to
not like you.”
I was about to laugh myself sick at how
honest my parents were being.
Brittany’s face was black as coal.
