"We found her wandering the streets," Dad explained. "She's an orphan. We couldn't just leave her behind."
So there she was—clinging to Dad's side and staring at me with those big, nervous eyes.
Oh my gosh! I finally had a sister!
I grabbed my favorite toy and ran over, super excited to welcome her into our family.
But before I could even say anything or touch her, she collapsed to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Tears streamed down her tiny face, and she looked so small, so scared.
I stood there frozen, my heart feeling heavy. When I thought I could help her, my brother pushed me aside.
"Stay away from her!" he yelled. "You're so fat, you didn't even notice you're hurting her!"
The words stung more than when I accidentally ate a raw garlic clove. I blinked and looked at him—at his hair, face, clothes, and body.
Was it really my brother saying those mean things? His eyes looked so big, terrifying like he wasn't even Charlie anymore.
What if this wasn't the same Charlie who left the house? My dear brother had never looked at me like that before.
For the first time, I felt so big yet so small at the same time.
My fingers were trembling, and I was afraid I might cry if I opened my mouth. I could only wave my hands, hoping they would not misunderstand.
I looked at Charlie, then at Mom, and then Dad. I wanted to tell them I hadn't even touched Ginny.
But they looked at me like they were disappointed. Like I was in trouble. Like they caught me lying.
I watched Mom gently pick Ginny up and whisper, "Oh, sweetie, don't worry. Betty didn't mean to scare you. She'll be careful next time. Right, Betty?"
No one wanted to hear me. It's like they'd already decided I was guilty. How come they believed I could hurt someone? It felt so unfair!
But how could I stand up for myself when all eyes stared at me impatiently, demanding an apology?
Ultimately, I could only look down and take the blame for something they believed I did.
"S-Sorry, Ginny..."
That night, the dinner table was filled with dishes Mom only made on special occasions: braised brisket, baked ziti, salad, garlic bread, and cheesecake with the words "Welcome to the family, Ginny!" elegantly written on top in whipped cream.
It was Ginny's first dinner with us. We were having a celebration.