- 11.
I left the hospital early.
I went to the countryside to investigate.
When I got home, they were celebrating
Tiffany going to college.
She didn’t do well in high school but got into
a private school through the art program.
As soon as I walked in, I clapped. “Congrats.”
Г
Everyone looked at me.
I took off my hat and mask, showing my bald
head and scarred face.
“Tiffany put the stew on my head because
she was angry. She ruined my face. Mom and
Dad said she needed money for her art
career, so they couldn’t help me.”
People started whispering.
Tiffany looked at me and started laughing.
“You’re so ugly! Why are you even here?”
My dad was embarrassed. “It’s a
misunderstanding.”
Mom said, “We never said we wouldn’t help
く
her, she wanted plastic surgery, and we don’t
have that kind of money.”
Jake grabbed my arm.
“What do you want?” he said.
“I’m celebrating with my sister. I didn’t eat,
and I’m hungry.”
Jake looked at my face and looked away.
“There’s shellfish and beef. You shouldn’t be
in the living room.”
“Okay,” I said.
Jake was worried.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ll listen to you.”
Jake stayed with me in the storage room.
We listened to the laughter.
My words hadn’t affected them.
I said, “I always wanted to go to college.”
“But I had to survive, and I was never able to
go to school.”
“What about you? Why did you go to trade
school? You could have gone to a re
