Chapter 4
I
I was hungry and thirsty, feeling dizzy.]
“I didn’t steal it.“]
David grabbed the silver locket from my neck
“Katie says this is hers. If you didn’t steal it, then what?”
I grabbed my brother’s hand, trying to pry the locket away.]
This was the first time I’d ever been this angry.]
“This is what Mom left for me. I didn’t steal it.“[]
David paused for a moment.
Marcus said, “Mom hates you. Why would she leave you anything?“]
“If Katie says it’s hers, then it’s hers.“[]
Dad came back from outside and looked at me.[]
“What’s going on?“||
I wiped away my tears and tried my hardest to explain. “I didn’t steal it. I really didn’t steal it.“]
Katie cried and tugged at Ryan’s sleeve, “But I have one exactly the same. My daddy left it for me.“]
Dad’s expression changed too.
“You’d better tell the truth.“]
“I didn’t steal it… Mom left it for me.“[]
Katie’s grandmother, Mrs. Johnson, came over too.
She said. “Our Katie does have a silver locket, this exact style.“}]
Everyone looked at me differently now.
Just like the children at kindergarten]
With disgust and disdain
David said, “Children who lie get their tongues cut off. Give it back to her “||
I didn’t understand how something Mom gave me could be called stealing()
“I won’t. I won’t give it to her.”
Dad towered
dover me and slapped me hard.
“Now you’ve learned to lie too.”
I fell to the ground, scraping my arm.]
Tears poured down
Sobbing, I could barely get the words out, “Daddy… you can… kill me… but I still… didn’t steal it.”
Dad’s hand at his side clenched into a fist.
I closed my eyes, preparing to be hit again, clutching the locket tightly in my palm.[]
I knew Dad didn’t care about me at all–otherwise how could he not notice that Mom had left this locket for me?]
Finally Dad gave in.
“Since she likes this piece so much, I’m sorry. How much was it? We’ll pay you back.“[]
Mrs. Johnson said, “It’s not expensive. If the child likes it, just let her keep it.“[]
Dad’s voice was cold. “Butler, go get a silver locket–the one from the auction the other day.“]
“Yes, sir.“]
Dad ended up giving Katie a silver locket much more expensive than mine.[]
Katie stopped crying.]]
My brothers also brought her lots of snacks and toys to take home.
Those snacks and toys? They never shared with me.]
My stomach growled again.
They looked over at me.]
Frightened, I crawled up the stairs and hid in my room.
In the evening, Mrs. Wilson told me to come down for dinner
I held my painfully empty stomach, not daring to go out.]
I waited for a long time.]
Until Dad spoke, “Leave her be.”
Midnight.]
Π
My whole body hurt.]
I couldn’t breathe properly either.
Death felt close, just like the little hamster at kindergarten–my whole body going stiff.[]
The door creaked as I pushed it open. The living room light was on.
Standing on the stairs, I saw Dad and Mrs. Johnson from next door.
Mrs. Johnson was crying and kneeling before Dad.[]
“That item was Katie’s father’s keepsake.”
“Now the child is traumatized and has a high fever at night. If we’re too late, it might be too late.“]
“Could you drive the child to the hospital?”
“If something happens to the child, what will I do?”
Miss Davis had said when you feel unwell, you go to the hospital.]
I could go to the hospital with Katie, right?
Only when I got better could I see Mom
She hadn’t forgiven me yet, had she?
My legs went weak and I almost tumbled down the steps.]
“Daddy, my stomach hurts, everything hurts. I want to go to the hospital…” I couldn’t describe the feeling properly, but they thought I was lying.]
Mrs. Johnson knelt down crying again.[]
“Miss Claire, please don’t do this. Any later and Katie won’t be saved.”
Dad’s eyes looking at me were full of disgust.
“You’re just like your mother–good at pretending disgusting.”
With that, he headed for the door.
I chased after him, my little belly cramping like it was being twisted, my body getting hotter and hotter.]
“Daddy…” I carefully grabbed Dad’s sleeve.
“I can go to the hospital with Katie…
“Pretending to be sick for attention is fun? Deliberately not eating, deliberately making yourself like this–do you think the mistakes you made can be covered up?”
“If you want to die, go die somewhere elser[]
Dad shook me off and I fell backwards onto the ground.]]
I even forgot to cry.]
My three brothers stood on the second floor watching the show.
“You hurt Katie. This is your punishment.“[]
“How could the Bennett family have a sister like you–a lying deceiver.“[]
Ryan laughed cheerfully.
“How about this–if you can call Mom back, we’ll forgive you. How’s that?”
looked at my brothers innocently. “Will you treat me like Katie too? Give me yummy snacks and lots of toys?“]
“Will you comfort me too?“]
My three brothers nodded.
“Of course, you’re our sister.““]
Later, they coaxed me down to the basement and locked me in
David threw me a phone.[]
“The first number is Mom’s. When you get through, we’ll let you out.”
“This is punishment for stealing.”
I touched the phone and lit it up.
Dad had called Mom before, but she never answered once.
Maybe the number didn’t work anymore.
But I still called over and over.[]
The phone lit up and went dark.]
Finally, someone answered.
