Chapter 1
There was a fire. My mom, Grace Jefferson, scooped up my little sister, Daisy Jefferson, and Dad, Philip Jefferson, carried my elder brother, Danial Jefferson, on his back. Then, they dashed away.
Alone, I was left in the house, which was on fire.
As a result, I got burns on the face.
After that incident, I became taciturn and no longer battled for my family's attention, love, or affection.
I was dying. I didn't give a damn about family love or affection anymore.
However, a wave of regret came over my family. They held my skinny hand and pleaded, "Please throw your little tempters again."
*****
Mom carried Daisy in her arms, and Dad put Danial on his back.
They dashed out of the house. Outside the house, they held tightly to each other and wept for their narrow escape from the fire.
"Anyone inside the house?" The firefighters arrived and made inquiries.
In a panic, Mom started doing a head count.
Pointing at Danial and Daisy, she said, "Danial and Daisy, my two kids are here. All my children are here."
"Are you sure that nobody is inside the house?" a firefighter pressed.
With her gaze fixed on Danial and Daisy, Mom ignored the question from the firefighter and murmured, "Great that all my kids are safe. All."
Then, she tightly embraced her kids.
Right then, I ran out of the burning house with my palm over my mouth.
At that moment, I became a laughing stock.
My clothes were burned and torn while my family was neatly dressed because of their quick escape.
Saddened by Mom's speech, I slumped to the ground.
Instantly, the burning pain spread across my whole back.
I was Dora, and my full name was Dora Jefferson.
As the second child of my parents, I was unpopular in my family.
*****
"Danial, stop tickling me!" Daisy laughed.
On the lawn outside the burning house, she and Danial messed around, and their hearty laughter brought a faint smile to my parents.
Daisy slipped, and her hand landed right on the wounds on my back.
"No!"I let out a scream of pain.
I felt that blood was seeping through the clean gauze above my wounds again.
Scared, Daisy sprang to her feet and hid behind Danial. There was conspicuous fear and helplessness in her large eyes.
"Dora!" Immediately, Mom shot me a reproachful look and said sternly, "You're acting up again! Why are you yelling at Daisy?"
She looked me in the eyes, and there was a flicker of resentment in them.
Did her resentment result from the burns on my face?
She gave all her attention to Danial and Daisy, so she thought that I was throwing a tantrum again.
She ignored the fact that the medical staff had just treated my wounds.
As always, I was invisible to her.
I finally lost control of my sorrow, moved into a corner, and burst out crying.
In the darkness, my crying filled the air. My family fell silent.
After I cried my heart out, Mom came over with Daisy.
After a sigh, she tried to take my hand.
I quietly shrank away. Her hand froze in the air.
Then, she said, "Dora, can't you understand us? We love you, but Danial just started his career. As for Daisy, she is little..."
Sobbing, I looked up at her.
"Behave yourself, okay?" she pleaded. Her sincere look made me laugh.
How absurd! She seldom spared a bit of love or attention to me.
She misunderstood the meaning of my smiling face. She pulled my hand and placed it in Daisy's palm.
"That's my good girl. Dora, apologize to Daisy now, and this trifle is over. We are a family," she said.
In a soft tone, she tried to smooth things out for a happy ending.
She was talking to me, but her gaze lingered on Daisy. Her soft tone was to soothe the tearful Daisy.
Without hesitation, I yanked my hand back.
Disappointed, she stared at me and then stabbed my heart with harsh words. "I have three kids, and you are the most willful one."
Then, she angrily carried Daisy away.
Yeah, I was a willful and bad kid in her eyes.
Before the fire, I loved to pester my parents for new stuff. The reason was that I would get nothing from their negligence.
Now, I would soon die. I was seriously ill.
I didn't give a damn about their pity or charity anymore.