- 3.
I woke up again to the pop of fireworks outside my window.
New Year’s. New Year’s Eve.
Mom and Dad were preparing our big family dinner, and Tiffany was curled up on the couch watching TV.
“Dinner’s ready! Dinner’s ready!”
I lay in bed for five seconds, then realized – I was reborn!
I quickly took my seat, grabbed a fork, and started shoveling all the meat from the pot onto my plate.
“SMACK!”
A sharp slap landed on my face. I turned to see my dad, his hand still suspended in the air, looking stunned himself.
“Oh, Audrey, it’s not that Dad doesn’t want you to eat meat, it’s just… leave some for
sister.”
your
In my past life, whenever they said that, I’d dutifully only take vegetables.
But round two, and I wasn’t backing down.
I put down my fork, clutching my cheek, and ran into the hallway, wailing at the top of my lungs: “Dad, I just want some meat! Tiffany always gets all the meat! Just let me have one
bite on New Year’s Eve…”
It was New Year’s Eve, and everyone in the apartment complex was home celebrating. When they heard my wailing, doors started popping open, and concerned neighbors poked their heads out.
Mr. Henderson, from the apartment across the hall, pulled my dad aside. “Listen, Mr. Miller, when raising kids, you have to treat them fairly. They’re both your own flesh and blood. You can’t hurt your older daughter’s feelings just because the younger one is
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prettier…”
“Mr. Henderson, what are you implying? No, no, we’ve always treated both our daughters exactly the same!”
I scoffed internally: *Dad, do you even understand what ‘treated equally means?*
After the ‘meat incident; Mom and Dad did stop neglecting my meals, probably afraid I’d
spread more rumors.
But they didn’t realize that I was about to unlock another perplexing mystery from my
past life.
In my previous life, Tiffany was always sickly as a child. Mom said it was ‘born with it‘
And the culprit who supposedly made Tiffany so frail? Of course, it was me, her ugly, sturdy older sister.
According to Mom’s theory, I’d ‘stolen‘ all of Tiffany’s nutrients in the womb, which led to her inherently delicate constitution.
But what confused me was that every time Tiffany would ‘get‘ a stomachache, and Mom took her to the doctor, she’d return in a brand–new, stylish outfit.
Then I’d look at myself, wearing Tiffany’s old, unwanted clothes, and it suddenly clicked.
That day, Mom gave Tiffany a knowing look, and Tiffany, without missing a beat, crumpled to the floor.
“Ohhh, Mom! My stomach hurts so bad! My stomach bug is acting up again! Mom… I can’t take it anymore!”
Just as Mom was about to rush over and help Tiffany up, I dashed forward and scooped
my sister into my arms.
“Are
you okay, Tiff? Come on, big sis will carry you to the hospital!”
Mom and Tiffany were stunned, staring at my wide, ready stance.
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“Mom, Tiffany’s in so much pain, what are you waiting for? If you think I’m too slow,
maybe I should go shout for Dad’s friends from work to come help in the apartment
complex!”
As soon as Mom heard I was about to make another public scene, she quickly agreed, letting me carry Tiffany to the hospital.
After the doctor confirmed nothing was wrong with various tests, Mom insisted the doctor check again.
The doctor grew impatient: “Are you nuts? I’ve never seen someone insist on being sick
when they’re perfectly fine!”
Finally, the three of us were practically kicked out of the hospital.
And my thoughtless sister, thinking that leaving the hospital meant it was time for the
mall shopping for new clothes – kept tugging at Mom’s arm, demanding to go.
next step
–
“SMACK!”
Mom landed a slap right across Tiffany’s face. Tiffany burst into tears.
*Well, look at that!* Mom would rather smack Tiffany than let her go shopping, just in
case a stray dollar might end up in my pocket!
Fine, fine, no shopping then.
Living this life again, I didn’t care for such petty advantages.
No, a real payback needs a plan.
