"Your bracelet, Wendy's golden hairpin, Dad's leather shoes, Gerry's suit, and Jack's tablet are all gifts I brought this time.
"What is it? Are you saying that I don't even deserve a meal?"
I questioned her.
Mom fell silent for a moment.
My sister-in-law, Wendy Johnston, immediately rushed out, hands on hips, shouting, "What is it? Are you back this time to collect debts?"
"You have gone too far."
I replied coldly. Then I walked into the kitchen, glanced at my father, who had a stern face, then looked at my brother, Gerry Walsh, who was drinking with his head down, and asked him, "Gerry, is this how you repay me?"
From childhood, I had always doted on Gerry.
The teacher rewarded me with a piece of candy. I couldn't bear to eat it and brought it back to Gerry to eat.
He didn't have money to study, so I gave him some.
He didn't have money to get married, so I paid for it.
He said he would repay me.
"Ursula, don't be angry."
Gerry looked up at me and smiled. Then he winked at Wendy, telling her to fix some food for me. After that, he said to me, "If you want to eat anything, tell Wendy."
"I guess you aren't that ungrateful after all."
I smiled and said, "By the way, we agreed that the master bedroom was mine. Move out tomorrow.
"Have you received the property certificate? Add my name to it."
I used to think that since we were family, I didn't have to care about those fussy details. I was busy with work, and whenever I came back, I only stayed for a few days.
But now I thought it through. Why should I be mistreated?
Gerry was dumbfounded.
"You coward. She's fired. What are you afraid of?"
Wendy was unhappy. She scolded Gerry and then said to me, "To tell you the truth, we've already received the property certificate. It's in my name. It has nothing to do with you."
She straightened her chest like a victorious mother hen in a fight.
"So, you mean there is no place for me in this family, right?"
I glanced at Wendy and then looked around, my gaze swept over my parents, Gerry, and my nephew Jack Walsh whose attention was on a tablet.
They all remained silent.
Finally, Wendy spoke, "I have never seen such a self-righteous parasite."
I almost laughed out of anger.
I was a parasite?
Since junior high school, I had been collecting bottles and washing dishes for others to make money to support my family.