Chapter 2

2

I was back at boarding school.

I passed out at school because I didn't have any money for food.

The school called Janet.

She said, annoyed, that they should just call a cab.

The teacher was mad.

If a parent wasn't there to take responsibility, she couldn't be responsible.

If Janet didn't come pick me up, she would have to call the cops.

Janet told me to drop dead over the phone, then hung up on the teacher.

School was over, but my teachers and friends were keeping me company.

I felt ashamed and mortified.

It made me feel insecure not having someone to pick me up.

I longed for her to pick me up.

I wanted my friends to know that someone cared about me.

I'm not sure why.

Janet showed up at the school clinic after a few hours.

I cracked my eyes open.

My expectations were high.

She glared at me.

"What are you faking for? Where's that viciousness you had when you attacked Mikey?"

I quietly shook my head.

"I didn't."

"Liar!"

She raised her hand to hit me, but the teacher stepped in.

She asked Janet if she was my mother.

That sent her over the edge.

"Are you blind? Can't you see she's my sister?"

The teacher looked confused.

Then she apologized.

"You guys just look so alike."

That's when a few of the students who took me to the nurse couldn't help but say to the teacher:

"Ms. Rogers, Amy doesn't have parents. She lives with her sister."

"They're so poor. Her sister doesn't give her any money. I saw her sneaking off and eating just a plain bun every day."

Janet grabbed me off the bed, fuming.

She started dragging me out.

"Who are you trying to make me look like I'm abusing you?"

"I don't have time for you, but I give you money every week."

She got more and more worked up.

She pushed me away and started bawling into Ms. Roger's shoulder.

"My son has leukemia! I'm her sister, not her mom. Her folks had her but couldn't afford her. Amy's been living at my place, eating and drinking for free, and she's always hitting my son when I'm not looking!"

"She's just trash, nothing but trouble."

I could feel the other kids looking at me differently.

Ms. Rogers was taken aback.

"Are you sure? Amy is a hard worker in class and tries her best. Other than being introverted, there's nothing wrong with her."

They talked for what felt like forever.

My ears were ringing, and I couldn't hear a thing.

I just remembered her saying:

"I'm her sister, not her mom."

It was pathetic.

She pretended to be a sister for too long and forgot I was her daughter.

She gave me five hundred bucks a week, but she also let Mikey steal the money.

Mikey faked passing out and she took my allowance as punishment.

But she forgot about it all.

After eating a little something, I looked better.

The hospital called.

Janet left in a hurry again.

This time, I grabbed her arm.

"Give me money."

"Money, money, money! That's all you ever think about!"

She tossed a few bucks at me, glaring.

"Grow up, find a quiet place to die, and stop causing me problems!"

I picked up the cash, squeezing it tight.

"Okay."

After that, I stood on the school roof a few times.

Luckily, the teacher always pulled me back.

She always told me college would be great.

My life had something to look forward to.

I didn't want to die.

By saving every penny, I was able to get through the month.

Janet didn't give me any more allowance.

She sent me a text telling me to spend some time to reflect on myself.

Janet barged into class while the teacher was teaching the day I had one dollar left.

I was too hungry to sit up.

She looked elated.

"You're a match! Let's go to the hospital."

The teacher stopped her, and she went and spoke to the dean.

This was the first time she'd taken care of things as a mom.

Too bad it wasn't because she loved me, but because she was making me withdraw from school.

She drove along and spoke to herself on the way home.

"After keeping you around for so long, you're finally useful."