“Keep this up, and she’ll turn into a greedy, wasteful thief!”
“I was teaching her a lesson, and she still acts wronged!”
She shook the money she had just seized from me.
Dad had lost badly at the casino that day, and his mood was foul.
The moment he saw money, he snatched it, shoved it into his pocket, and slapped me even harder.
“I told you this jinx is nothing but trouble! She’ll grow up rotten!”
“You should’ve drowned her at birth. But you were too softhearted and let her live, and now look!”
“I lost so badly today—it’s all because of her bad luck!”
Dizzy from the blows, I collapsed. He stepped on me as he cursed:
“Stealing money, too? We already have enough rats in this house, and now even our daughter has turned into one!”
Then he swaggered over to the spot where Mom kept her cash, grabbed the remaining loose bills, and counted them all with satisfaction.
“Now that I’ve disciplined this jinx, my luck will turn around. I’ll win tonight for sure!”
On his way out, he scooped Jacob into his arms, planting a loud kiss on him.
“My good boy! When I win, I’ll buy us a big house in downtown Chicago!”
Jacob squealed with joy, smearing cream everywhere.