4
“Who told you to pick the lock? Who’s going
r
to pay if it’s broken?”
“He said the lock cylinder wasn’t broken.
Would he tell you if it was?”
“You got all that book learnin‘ and you’re still
dumb!”
As soon as she came in, before she even took
off her heels, Mom started berating me.
She sneered after seeing my makeup.
“And trespassing is against the law, you
know?”
I stared at her in disbelief.
So, this was someone else’s house now?
く
Dad nudged Mom’s arm.
“Lay off her, will ya?”
Mom frowned and reluctantly put down her
purse.
Then, she gasped and ran into the bedroom.
“I need to see if anything’s missing!”
She ran back out, fuming, and demanded to
search me.
“I spent so much money on you, and now
you’re stealing my gold bars? That’s mine and
your dad’s retirement money. Have you no
conscience?”
“Why are you accusing me of stealing?”
L
“Don’t even try to deny it!”
Mom grabbed her keychain and threw it at
- me.
The sharp nail clippers scratched my cheek.
A thin line of blood appeared.
“You stole from your uncle, from school, and
at home. You’ve been stealing since you were
a kid! You dare to say you didn’t?”
“You’ve embarrassed me enough!”
I had lived with my aunt and uncle for a few
years.
During that time, rumors started that I had
く
After my aunt and uncle got into trouble, my
parents took Jenny and me back.
But the accusations of theft still followed me.
The worst time was during parent–teacher
conferences in middle school.
Someone’s wallet went missing.
The teacher found it in my desk.
“You stole from your aunt, and now you’re
stealing at school?!”
Mom slapped me in front of all the parents
and students, and condemned me.
I looked at the judging eyes, tears welling up,
but I couldn’t defend myself.
I became the joke of the school.
After that, I was alone.
But I hadn’t done anything.
Maybe I was too boring and unlikeable, but no
one would listen to me.
Not even my parents.
They thought I was a liar and were ashamed
of me.
“I’m not the only one living here,” I tried to
say.
Mom scoffed.
L
“But you’re the only thief.”
Yeah.
Mom and Dad were innocent.
Jenny was innocent.
Only me, covered in dirt, with a character as
rotten as a fly.
Dad looked at me with disappointment, his
lips pressed together.
“Call the cops,” I said.
“If you say I stole something, you need proof.
Your prejudice doesn’t count.”
