Chapter 5

Tommy's face turned as red as a baboon's butt.

Sarah continued, "Let's talk about what you brought to my family. The first time you came over, you showed up empty-handed.

"My mom cooked for you, and you ate and left without even a thank you. My dad smokes, and you didn't even offer him one.

"Later, when my mom said you were being rude, you finally brought something over. What was it? Discounted fruit from the supermarket and milk that was about to expire. And you dared to say it cost over 70 dollars and asked me to pay you back."

The neighbors burst out laughing.

Susan was laughing so hard she was slapping her thigh. "Oh my, what a character!"

Gwen shook her head. "Sixty years I've been around, and this is a first for me."

Tommy wished the ground would just swallow him up.

Callum was still being stubborn. "Hey, that's just my brother knowing how to manage money! Unlike you women, always asking for things and never satisfied!"

Sarah turned to him. "You call yourself good with money? How much do you actually earn each month? And how much do you blow?"

Callum was caught off guard.

Sarah said with a laugh, "Tommy told me you don't even have a job, just spend all day gaming at home, and your mom gives you your spending money. Since you're such a financial genius, why not get yourself a job?"

Callum's face turned red. "Mind your own business!"

"I couldn't care less about you," Sarah said, turning to Maggie. She said, "Maggie, you've got one son who's stingy and calculating, and the other is a lazy bum. So what makes you think you deserve a house and a car?"

Maggie was shaking with anger. "You!"

"Why, what about me?" Sarah stepped forward. "Let me tell you, that cup of coffee yesterday was just me being polite, even though you didn't deserve it.

"And today, I'm saying all this loud and clear for the neighbors, so everyone knows exactly what kind of people the Houston family really is."

She turned to the neighbors. "Everyone, if this family ever comes around causing trouble again, I hope you'll back me up and be my witnesses. If they try to harass my family, I'll call the police right away."

"No problem!" Susan patted her chest. "Sarah, don't worry. I've got your back!"

Gwen nodded. "You can't let people like that get away with it!"

Tommy's face was stormy with rage.

He shot Sarah a venomous glare. "Sarah, you really think you're clever. We'll see who's laughing in the end."

He spun around and stormed off.

Maggie and Callum rushed to follow him.

"Wait," Sarah called out, stopping them in their tracks.

Tommy turned around.

Sarah strode right up to him and raised her hand.

She landed a solid slap right across his face.

"This slap is for your mom. Learn to have some shame," Sarah said coldly.

Tommy clutched his face, his eyes blazing with fury.

Sarah slapped him again.

"And this one's for myself. I must've been blind to ever fall for you," Sarah said coldly.

Tommy snarled through clenched teeth, "Sarah!"

"What, you want another slap?" Sarah rubbed her wrist. "My arm's still good for another one if you're asking."

Tommy shot Sarah a furious glare, holding his face as he ran off.

Maggie and Callum followed behind him, looking embarrassed and with their tails between their legs.

The neighbors all cracked up.

Susan shot Sarah a thumbs-up. "Way to go, Sarah!"

Gwen shook her head in amazement. "This girl always seemed so meek, but today she finally stood up for herself."

Sarah smiled and thanked them, then turned to head home.

As soon as she walked in, Jasmine took her hand. "Sarah, you were amazing today."

Sarah hugged her. "Mom, from now on, I'll be the one protecting you."

Jasmine's eyes grew teary. "Okay."

Robert muttered from the side, "This girl's like a whole new person."

Sarah smiled.

'A whole new person? Guess you could say that. The clueless Sarah is gone. Now I finally see things for what they are,' she thought.

Sarah figured it was time to live for herself.

But she knew the Houston family wouldn't back down that easily.

Still, she wasn't worried.

Every time they showed up, she'd slap them. If they came back for more, she'd give them a double slap.

She wondered which would win out. Their shamelessness or her strong arm.

The Houston family lay low for three days.

Sarah thought it was all behind her, but on the fourth morning, when she went out to buy groceries, she saw a crowd gathered at the front gate of the neighborhood.

Right in the middle, Maggie was sitting on the ground, wailing and slapping her thigh.

"Everyone, please help me! The Bolton family is bullying us! My son was with that girl for two years, and she dumped him and even slapped him!" Maggie cried.

Standing next to her, Callum was holding up a cardboard sign with big, bold letters, "The Bolton family bullies people, breaks off the engagement, and hits others!"

Tommy was nowhere to be seen.

Sarah stood outside the crowd, holding her basket of groceries, and almost burst out laughing at the scene.

'Seriously? This is all they've got?' she thought.

Callum spotted her right away. "Mom! She's here!"

The crowd stepped aside, clearing a path for Sarah.