So I just nodded and played along, keeping them off my back for the time being.
As soon as I nodded, Grace dropped her smile. "See, I told you this dead weight wouldn't dare say no. Brian, you're overthinking it."
My dad, Brian, added, "Right, she has cost us a fortune over the years. It's about time she paid us back."
Inside, I was rolling my eyes. I thought, "Cost a fortune?" Since I was little, I'd slaved away with chores. Grace always complained about the cost of hot water, making me wash dishes in freezing water even in winter.
Mealtime meant I got the cold leftovers, and I had to clean the plates or face a beating. I still carried scars from those beatings.
Whenever Logan had friends over, he'd point at me and say, "That's our little nanny." He even made me carry his friends on my back from upstairs to downstairs, just to show off how "obedient" I was.
If I refused Logan's requests, he'd complain to Grace, who would yell at me, "You little bitch, if you make Logan cry, you're out!"
Pretty soon, everyone in my class had heard about it, and they started calling me "Little Nanny." I spent my whole elementary school life swimming in shame and fear.