I glanced at my brother, not even out of middle school and already heavyset, then down at my own scrawny uniform.
No words came out...
I felt like a rat peeking out from the sewer, spying on someone else's happiness.
Mom, am I not your kid too?
Eventually, Karen and Jim got the divorce papers signed.
I ended up with Dad, and Johnny stayed with Mom.
She finally got what she'd always wanted—full custody of her son.
I wonder, without me there to sacrifice, will they still be happy?
Once the divorce was finalized, Jim was quick to head back to his overseas job.
He planned to send me to a boarding school, just like he had arranged for Johnny before.
But I refused.
When Grandma was still with us, she ran the household since Karen was mostly out playing cards, only coming home to eat.
When she won, she'd bring little toys for Johnny.
Picking him up, she'd coo, "Missed Mommy, sweetie?"
But when she lost, it was a different story.
I was her target, always finding some fault to yell about.
After blowing off steam, she'd lighten up and say, "Be good, Jessie. Mommy doesn't like it when you misbehave."
I was always good. I learned all the chores from Grandma, hoping it might make Karen love me a bit more.