Chapter 2

"Maddison's always causing trouble. She's nothing like Evelyn, who's such a good kid and never upsets her parents." I overheard a neighbor say.

Hearing the neighbors gossiping, Mom hurried to open the door and softly called me in.

"Honestly, this girl insists on kneeling outside. No matter how much Wise and I try, we just can't stop her," Mom said with a smile to the neighbors.

She kept chatting and laughing with them, all the while practically dragging me inside.

Mom yanked me up so fast I nearly lost my balance.

Everyone's eyes immediately landed on my limp right leg.

Mom must've noticed too, because Eleanor's smile faded and her expression turned sour.

There was nothing left on the table but cold scraps, and I didn't have anything to eat, so I just went straight to my room.

It was a small room sectioned off from the storage area, nowhere near as nice as Evelyn's bedroom, but it was the only place where I ever felt truly safe.

That night, I was so hungry I couldn't sleep, so I snuck out of my room and headed to the kitchen.

But I walked in just as Mom was sneaking Evelyn some extra food.

"I bought this lobster just for you today. I was worried Maddison would eat it, so I kept it hidden. Go ahead and eat," Mom said.

Evelyn's face lit up with a bright smile.

"Thanks, Mom," Evelyn said sweetly.

I stopped outside the kitchen door, my heart sinking. I didn't say anything, just turned around and left without a sound.

When I was ten, I found Eleanor had hidden a chicken leg in Evelyn's lunch.

But there was nothing for me.

At that age, I couldn't hide my feelings. I burst into tears and made a scene, yelling that it wasn't fair, and they were always picking Evelyn over me.

Without saying a word, Eleanor dragged me downstairs, tore off my clothes, and started whipping me with a cane.

Crying as she whipped me, she said, "Your dad and I wouldn't even touch that chicken leg. We got it just for you and your sister.

"It's just that I didn't make one for you today. I was going to give you one tonight, but you just had to go and make a scene, smashing things around the house."

The neighbors, not knowing the real story, immediately took Mom's side and started scolding me.

"Eleanor and Wise treat both girls totally fair. They just forgot this time, that's all. Honestly, she's just acting out because she's been coddled too much. Let her go hungry for a few days, and she'll snap out of it," one of them said.

"Yeah, kids these days are way too dramatic. That chicken leg was bought by your parents, so what if they didn't give it to you?" another neighbor chimed in.

Everyone was pointing fingers at me, and I was left standing there, completely exposed with nothing to hide. My naked body on display for the whole world to see.

Panic and shame burned themselves into my childhood memories, leaving marks I could never erase.

Back then, I was just a kid, a single chicken leg meant the world to me.

But now, I was all grown up.

Even if it was a lobster, I couldn't care less.

The next day was the weekend.

That evening, Eleanor and Evelyn came back from shopping, carrying two big bags between them.

Mom called out to me with a big smile, "Maddison, isn't your school's coming-of-age event coming up? I bought these dresses just for you and Evelyn, one each. See? I'm being fair, right?"

She shook out the red dress in her hand. "Evelyn really liked this one, but I set it aside for you."

Evelyn pouted, playing along. "Yeah, Maddison, your dress is way prettier than mine. Mom's totally playing favorites."

After they went inside, I dug through the trash by the door and found two cut-off price tags.

Evelyn's white dress was 2 thousand dollars.

My red dress was 20 dollars.

I tossed the tags back into the trash.

Inside, Evelyn kept chattering away. "Mom always says she treats us the same, but I swear she's always liked you best since we were little.

"It was boiling outside, but she wouldn't let you go out. She dragged me along to buy the dresses, and then she gave you the one I liked most."

I finally couldn't take it anymore and cut her off. "Why don't we just swap?"

Evelyn's endless chatter came to an abrupt halt.

She said awkwardly, "Forget it, I'm the little sister. Taking the loss is just part of the deal. I've missed out so many times already. What's one more?"

Just as I was about to say something, Wise burst in and gave me a hard glare.

"That white dress is a short skirt. What would you look like wearing it with that leg of yours? Evelyn's doing you a favor, and you're still so ungrateful," Dad snapped.

My heart felt like it was stabbed.

Monday finally arrived, the day of the school's coming-of-age ceremony.

Every student was dressed up to the nines, looking all grown-up and perfectly put together. With their parents by their side, they strutted down the red carpet like little princes and princesses.

Mom and Dad were hovering around Evelyn, looking uneasy. "Everyone else has both parents with them. People might think Evelyn only has one parent, and that wouldn't look good."

"Evelyn's a bit timid, so Wise and I will stay with her. Maddison, you'll be fine on your own, right?" Mom said.

I nodded.

Then I turned and walked down the red carpet all by myself.

People all around were shooting me strange glances.

"Isn't she the one with the bum leg? Why's she all alone? Where are her folks?" someone whispered.

"Maybe she's an orphan. Poor thing," another person said.