Mom said Tiffany was still small, and she
couldn’t handle two kids. She said, “Sarah,
you’re the older one. You need to be
responsible and let your sister have things.”
I bit down, trying not to cry. When they left, I
chased their car, crying, as Grandma tried to
catch me.
- 5.
Grandma was a tough woman from the country.
She was loud and big. While she chased me she
yelled, “You little brat, why are you running?
Your parents aren’t coming back if you break
<
When she finally caught me, she dragged me
back home. On the way, she bought a bunch of
meat to make meatballs to try and cheer me up.
Grandpa had passed away years ago. My two
uncles had moved away with their families.
Grandma refused to leave, preferring her life in
the country. Until I came.
When I first arrived, she sighed all the time,
saying she had no life left. She acted like I was
a burden. To her, she was not raising her
granddaughter but rather her own tormentor.
I was really picky. I took showers every day.
Grandma thought I was ridiculous. She said
people from the country didn’t act so fancy.
Taking showers every day was a waste of
wood.
I was stubborn, and we had a war of wills over
- it. I wouldn’t go to bed unless I got a bath.
Grandma finally gave in, grumbling the whole
time while wotting thn water rondy,
Grandma wasn’t very hygienic. She would go to
the bathroom and then make food without
washing her hands. I refused to eat. Grandma
was furious, dumping the food in the pig trough before storming off.
An hour later she dragged me out of bed, washed her hands three times, and then held them up for me. “Are they clean enough now?” she asked, her face hard. Then, under my watchful eye, she grumbled and made us new dishes. She made sure to scrub the pot three times, while rolling her eyes at me.
Whether I wanted to or not, I ended up living with Grandma. For eight years.
- 6.
For the first two years, Mom and Dad would
come to see me. Then, they stopped. I almost
forgot I had parents a thousand miles away.
<
Mommy! Mommy!
Grandma would hang up and then scold me. “Why do you have to act like a mule? You need to be more charming. I’m going crazy living with you.” She sighed all the time, making it sound like I was disappointing her.
I stood there and let her rant. I didn’t want to call them “Mom” and “Dad” over the phone. Day after day, I lived like this. Just as I was starting to forget Mom and Dad, they suddenly showed up, bringing Tiffany.
I was eleven, and Tiffany was six. I had just
finished helping Grandma work in the fields. I
was barefoot with my pants rolled up. When I
got to the yard, I saw Tiffany wearing a pink
tutu and white shoes, with her hair in two
perfect little buns. It was the first time I’d ever
seen my little sister.
Tiffany bounced over, stared at my bare feet,
and tilted her head. Then she said “Ew you
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stink. Are you a beggar?”
Mom and Dad were in the house, talking to
Grandma. Every few seconds Mom called out, “Tiffany, don’t run so fast! You’ll fall!”
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My pride took a major hit. I felt really
embarrassed. I tightened my toes, ignored her, and walked away. Tiffany followed, clapping her hands and whispering, “Little beggar, little
beggar….”
When I still didn’t respond, she picked up a
rock and threw it at my head. I lost it, pushing
her to the ground. Tiffany flew into a rage, hitting me with her little fists. “I’m going to beat you up, you little beggar!”
I lost my temper, pushed her down again, sat on
her and slapped her.
She cried loudly. Mom and Dad rushed out.
Mom was panicking. “Sarah, stop it! She’s your
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<
((
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sister! How can you be so mean? I wish I’d never had you!” She yanked me away by my hair and slapped me before picking up Tiffany
and carrying her away.
Dad came over and kicked me, hard. Grandma rushed over and helped me up, wiping the dirt off me, tears in her eyes. “Sarah, are you hurt?”
I just stood there.
“Are you trying to start something? You’re so cruel at such a young age. You would hurt a six–year–old! I should punish you myself!” Dad
was furious, about to hit me again.
Grandma stood in front of me. “Calm down,
Henry! You and your wife and your darling
daughter can get out of my house right now!”
Mom turned around, saying, “Mom, we’re trying
to teach her a lesson. She needs to learn that
while she’s young. She might be worse when
she is older.”
Grandma said, “Teaching her a lesson, huh? Then take her home. Don’t go around acting
fancy in my house! I never seen such a terrible
mother.”
Mom didn’t say anything. Ten minutes later,
they left. She said I was too wild, too cruel to
Tiffany. If I couldn’t accept Tiffany, I could never
return home.
