Chapter 8
I slid the bowl over to her.
"I'm angry," I said.
She flinched.
I continued, "But what I want even more is for you to understand.
"If you want freedom, you have to have the guts to face the consequences.
"You can't just be brave when you're with me.
"When you're with the others, you just wait for someone else to speak up for you."
Anna started crying even more.
This time, I didn't hug her.
It wasn't that I didn't want to.
I knew that if I reached out, she'd just keep hiding behind me.
That night at eight, Anna sat at the dining table and called James.
The phone rang for a long time before he finally picked up.
James's voice was impatient.
"What is it now?" he asked.
Anna gripped the phone, her lips trembling.
I sat across from her, saying nothing.
She took a deep breath.
"Dad, I want to move back to Mom's place," Anna said.
There was silence on the other end for a couple of seconds.
Then James gave a cold laugh.
"Did your mom tell you to say that?" he asked.
Anna looked up at me.
I didn't answer for her.
Her eyes were full of pleading.
I just looked at her.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "No.
"I want to come back on my own."
James's voice grew colder.
James said, "Anna, don't cause drama.
"You're stressing your grandma out so much her blood pressure's up.
"Your stepmom is pregnant with your little brother, and the house is already a mess.
"Can't you just try to be a little more understanding?"
Anna's face fell bit by bit.
She gripped the phone like it was a piece of burning metal.
I saw something in her eyes shatter at last.
Anna didn't cry right away.
She just stared, her eyes wide, as if James's words made no sense to her.
James kept going.
James asked, "Didn't you always say your mom was too strict with you?
"Now you're at your grandma's, and you're saying you can't handle it.
"What do you want, anyway?
"You're thirteen, not three.
"Stop acting like the world has to revolve around you all the time."
Anna's knuckles went white.
She whispered, "But Dad, you said things would get easier if I went."
James paused.
His irritation only grew.
James snapped, "But that doesn't mean you can just do nothing.
"There's someone pregnant at home. Is it really such a big deal to help out a little?
"Your grandma loves you, that's why she wants you to learn these things.
"If a girl knows how to take care of the house, she won't lose out," James added.
As soon as James finished speaking, Anna's tears finally fell.
She looked at me, and for the first time, there was no defiance in her eyes.
Only confusion.
I didn't say a word.
Then Grace's voice came through the phone.
Grace said, "Tell her to stop playing the victim.
"She's only been here a few days and already wants to run back to her mom.
"I told you, this kid's been spoiled rotten.
"She's living with us and still complaining about everything."
Anna choked up.
"Grandma, I didn't," Anna said.
Grace's voice got even louder.
Grace snapped, "What do you mean you didn't?
"I ask you to help with dinner, and you say you have homework.
"I ask you to pick up a package, and you say you're busy studying vocabulary.
"Just because your grades are good, you think you can skip chores?
"Your mom's spoiled you so much you don't even respect your elders anymore."
Anna opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Mary's gentle voice chimed in from the phone.
Mary said, "Anna, I'm not blaming you.
"It's just that since you moved in, things at home have gotten a lot busier.
"Your dad's working hard, and your grandma's worn out from taking care of me.
"If you keep crying and saying you want to go back, it's just going to make things harder for everyone.
"If you keep acting like this, we can't even focus on taking care of your little brother," Mary added.
Tears clung to Anna's chin.
Her lips quivered.
I watched her.