“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.
Instead of scolding him, Dad cuddled him tighter.
“Eat more, son. Grow up strong and become someone important one day!”
With that, he put Jacob down and left cheerfully.
Mom didn’t find any more money, and she looked dissatisfied.
I stayed silent, curled in a corner, my head and hands still bleeding.
Two rats darted out of the kitchen trash can.
They snatched up the crushed chocolate crumbs, squeaking.
Jacob shrieked and threw himself into Mom’s arms.
“Mom! There are rats!”
Mom grabbed a slipper and hurled it at me.
“This is your fault, you worthless brat! You brought the rats in!”
Then she hugged Jacob tightly, speaking in soft, soothing tones:
“Don’t be afraid, Jacob. Smart little boys know rats only go after filthy things and low-lives. We’ll never be like her.”
I watched them cautiously.
From as early as I could remember, I had longed for affection like that.
But she had never once treated me that way.
I didn’t even know why she hated me so deeply.
“Are you deaf? Can’t you see your brother is scared?”
“Hurry up and kill those rats!”
“If you can’t get rid of them, you don’t get to eat tonight!”
But my house had always been like it was built on top of a rat’s nest—there was no way to kill them all.
Her words only meant she didn’t want me to eat.