They all said I had clearly come from a home with good values.
I went to a private school and got chauffeured around in a limo.
When Ashley visited for Christmas, she was wearing a worn–out school uniform.
My little brother wrinkled his nose and buried
his face in Mom’s arms.
“Who’s that? She smells!” he said.
At the dinner table, Mr. Henderson and I talked about which parties we’d be going to next weekend, which etiquette classes I’d be taking,
and Mom promised to buy me a bunch of new
dresses.
Ashley tried to join in, but she couldn’t find a
way.
く
She burst into tears.
“I should be a Henderson too! Why does she
get everything, and I get nothing?!” she sobbed.
Mr. Henderson frowned at Mom.
“Why did you have to bring her here?” he asked. “We’re talking about important things.”
Ashley thought Mom would defend her, but
Mom just said, “If I didn’t care what people said, I wouldn’t have brought my other daughter here. Ugh, kids from the country always act like
this.”
Ashley broke a bunch of stuff that night, and
Mr. Henderson had enough.
Grandpa drove all the way over and took her
back home.
Ashley had a good cry, but that’s what it was.
<
Once back home, Grandpa didn’t allow her
back to the Henderson residence.
Mr. Henderson made sure that Mom never
bothered with Ashley.
All she could do was stay at Grandpa’s, with
Grandpa pushing her to study.
When the SAT scores came out, she did well
and started to hope to be welcomed back to
the Henderson family.
She took her acceptance letter over there.
No one cared.
It was my send–off party.
Mr. Henderson already used his connections to
set me up to study abroad.
<
9:33
The barrettes in my hair, the bracelet on my wrist, the necklace around my neck, all sparkled.
Ashley’s eyes were burning with jealousy.
100
She elbowed her way through the crowd, trying
to show Mom and Mr. Henderson her letter.
My bratty little brother shoved her.
“Who let the hillbilly in? Are the security guards asleep?” he asked.
Ashley got up, and Mom recognized her.
Her acceptance letter was on the floor, all
crumpled and smudged.
Mom told the staff to send Ashley home, then
she went back to the party.
Mom grabbed my arm and chatted with the
9:33
other rich ladies.
I made them laugh.
100
“Your older daughter is so graceful,” they said.
“The family that marries her will be happy.”
“I heard you had another daughter. What is she like?”
Mom waved her hand. “Forget about her, she’s
just like her old grandpa, a cheapskate.”
Ashley stood off to the side, watching me
charm everyone.
I held a champagne glass and talked to a
spoiled rich kid.
Mr. Henderson clapped his hands, and the room
went quiet.
He took my hand and walked to the stage. “My
<
100
daughter is 18, and it’s time for me to let her go
out into the world.”
Mr. Henderson gave me a bank card. “It’s
different studying abroad than being home, so take care of yourself!”
It was a sweet moment, but it was all for show.
Then, Chad Foster came up and got on one knee, kissing my hand. “I’ll wait for you.”
When Chad stood up, Mr. Henderson gave him
my hand, and announced, “When Amy gets
back from school, she and Chad will get
married!”
Everyone clapped, but some of the other guys
in the room looked jealous.
“Chad’s great, he makes deals at a young age,
just like his dad,” they said.
9:34
Г
That was supposed to be her!
100
She was supposed to live the high life, to marry
the most eligible bachelor!
That night, I got a text from Ashley.
She wanted to talk.
“Sis, I feel terrible, I miss you.”
I threw on a jacket and went to meet her.
Ashley turned around, looking crazy, carrying a
bucket.
“It should have been me!”
She splashed the liquid onto me, hugged me
tight, and tossed a lighter.
“If I can’t be happy, neither can you!” she said.
r
9:34
We both died in the fire, and woke up at the
moment of choice.
This time, she chose Mom and Mr. Henderson first.
Before she left, she gave me a hug and
whispered in my ear, “Have fun dying with the
old man, you old bum!”
