Scheming Sisters
Chapter 1
In my past life, Sarah and I were born at the
same time.
She played the innocent angel, always
knowing the right things to say, which made
Mom favor her, over and over.
It got so bad that when she accidentally killed
someone, Mom threw me under the bus to
protect her.
I died full of hate in that prison cell.
Meanwhile, Sarah was probably registering
for grad school, using my acceptance letter.
Now I’m back.
When we were five, fighting over a stuffed
animal, I made sure to fall before Mom and
Dad could see what happened.
<
Then I put on my best brave face.
“It’s okay,” I sniffled. “Sarah just really wanted
my dolly.”
“Gimme the bunny!”
Five–year–old Sarah shrieked, yanking on the
stuffed rabbit as hard as she could.
I was counting the footsteps outside the door.
Click.
The doorknob turned, and I let go of that
fluffy little ear, hitting the floor with a thump.
Mom, just like before, rushed to Sarah,
checking her for boo–boos.
Dad helped me up.
“Ashley, what did I tell you about fighting with
your sister?” Mom snapped.
Same words as before.
We were only minutes apart at birth.
But because Sarah could cry and whine and
be all cutesy, she always got the benefit of
く
“Calm down, Deb,” Dad said, frowning. “I saw
- it. Sarah pushed Ashley.”
Dad, always the voice of reason.
“I did not!” Sarah screamed, her eyes wide.
“She fell all by herself!”
“Ashley, honey, what happened?” Dad asked,
kneeling down so I could see him.
I took a deep breath.
My eyes needed to be just the right amount
of shiny.
Then I looked up at Dad, and whispered.
“It’s okay, Daddy. Sarah really wanted the
bunny. Even though you gave it to me…”
Anyone with half a brain could see who was
at fault.
Dad turned to Sarah.
“Apologize to your sister.”
Sarah’s mouth dropped open.
Shock flashed in her pretty little eyes.
<
She hadn’t expected me to steal her thunder.
“I told you, I didn’t push her! I want the bunny! Why did you buy her one and not me?”
For twins, things were supposed to be fair,
you know?
Mom’s face tightened.
“Mark, what’s going on? You buy a toy for
your older daughter and not the younger
one?”
Dad wavered.
I made sure he could see my pathetic little
face.
“But, Sarah,” I said, like it was just a thought
popping into my head, “Remember? When
Daddy bought them, you picked the teddy
bear…”
Yeah, this bunny was from the toy store last
week.
く
Dad was going to get two bunnies, but Sarah
pitched a fit for a teddy bear.
She knew if she whined loud enough, Mom
would make me give in.
She’d get two toys that way.
Last time, she’d gotten away with it. Not this
time.
I looked at Dad.
He saw my sad eyes.
“Deb, come on,” Dad sighed. “How long are
you going to coddle her?”
Mom’s face fell.
She knew she had misunderstood what
happened, but she still tried to play it off.
“It’s just a toy. Ashley is the older sister, is it
so bad for her to share with her sister?”
Dad picked me up.
“They’re only minutes apart,” he said, ignoring
Sarah’s wails.
He carried me out of the house.
“I’ll buy you another toy,” he said.
I snuggled my head against his shoulder.
It felt so good to be near him again.
Last time, when Mom and Grandma and all
those relatives were all over Sarah.
Dad was the only one who stood up for me.
But he couldn’t always protect me.
The day before our tenth birthday, Mom
picked a fight with him about something
ridiculous.
On the way home, Dad was in a car accident.
After that, I became invisible in Mom’s eyes.
She was always fawning over Sarah.
“Don’t blame your mother,” Dad would say.
“She’s just worried.”
Driving to the toy store. Dad started talking
like he always did.
“The teacher said to share, I should share
with Sarah.”
I knew how to play my part.
“That way Mom won’t be mad.”
Back in college, I learned that some people
said there were “mean girls.”
They acted innocent, but they used it to be
better than everyone else.
That’s when I understood how Sarah got Mom
to treat her like a princess.
People like to baby the weakest ones.
I can’t fix how Mom is. I can only rely on Dad.
So, this time, I’ll change his future, along with
mine.
