I heard a sob behind me. I turned around and
saw my mom holding a hot water bottle.
“Willow, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’m so sorry.”
I shook my head and wiped away her tears.
<
I heard my mom crying all night that cold
winter night.
I couldn’t comfort her. In the face of reality,
all words were empty.
For the last test, I calmly checked my
answers.
This was the first time in three years that I
had finished all the questions carefully.
The correct answers that I had been
suppressing were finally showing up on the
answer sheet.
That night, my dad, Brandi, and Chelsea were
<
discussing the graduation party. Brandi called
me over.
“Willow, your dad is going to have a party
when your SAT scores come out, and he’s
going to check the scores in front of the
media. You see…” Brandi looked at me as if
she was in a difficult position. “Of course,
we’ll have to check both of your scores.
Would you feel…”
She paused meaningfully.
Chelsea looked guilty, but she smiled when
she thought of my terrible scores. “Forget it.
She’ll be too embarrassed to have her score
checked.”
<
I smiled. “Aunt Brandi, what are you talking
about? My sister’s scores are good, even if
mine aren’t. She’ll look even better with me to compare her to. I don’t mind. It’s best to
invite all the media in the city.”
Brandi and Chelsea looked at each other and smiled.
My dad smiled. “You’re being reasonable. Since you’re being reasonable, I’ll let you have
a bite to eat in the Sterling family after I divorce your mom.”
I lowered my head and smiled, looking
obedient.
L
The day before the scores came out,
everyone in the Sterling family was preparing
for the party.
Chelsea was trying on dresses in the house,
and Brandi gave me a dress that Chelsea
didn’t want.
But I was in an internet cafe, looking at the
pictures of Chelsea’s abortion that Chad had
taken her to the hospital for a few months
ago.
On the day of the graduation party, a lot of
people came.
