I took a deep breath to steady myself. “Amanda,” I said, my voice trembling with controlled anger, “You pinched my arm. I didn’t push you. … ”
Before I could finish my sentence, George cut me off, "Enough! Amanda is a kind and gentle person. Why would she hurt you? Stop making up ridiculous lies!”
At that moment, Amanda whimpered, “George, my ankle hurts.”
Without sparing me another glance, George scooped Amanda into his arms and carried her outside. “She’s this way because I’ve spoiled her too much,” he explained.
“George, don't act like this. Kelly must have felt that I snatched you away, that's why she's acting like this …."
When George did not see, Amanda glanced back at me, a smug smile curling on her lips.
I stood rooted to the ground. This absurdity felt so ironic to me.
When she first arrived at the military compound, Kelly had been a timid girl. So, she was easily bullied by others.
Back then, it was George who had been the one who chased off the other troublemakers and stood by her side to protect and take care of her. He took care of her with unwavering devotion even if there were scrapes on her skin, he would feel heartbroken.
General Palmer often joked, "George may be a tyrant to everyone else, but in front of his little sister, he'd suddenly become a doting older brother."
Kelly snapped back to reality, got the medicated oil from her room, put it on her wrist and began messaging her bruised wrist while comforting herself.
It would only be a few more days before I would be able to leave this compound and at that time George and Amanda could do whatever they pleased and it had nothing to do with me.
The compound was a cluster of modest single-story homes, each with its own small quarters.
In another room, Amanda watched Kelly carefully apply the same medicated oil to her wrist. Her eyes shined with satisfaction.
“George,” she cooed. “Our art troupe got two tickets for Red Detachment of Women. Let’s go see it together in a few days.”
George who was holding Amanda's foot, couldn’t shake the memory of Kelly’s tear-filled eyes from earlier. His heart softened against his will.
“Could you get an extra ticket from the art troupe?” he asked as he looked up at her. “I’d like to give one to Kelly.”
Though Amanda was upset about it, she kept her smile and said, "Of course." Then she fished a ticket from her pocket and gave it to him.