Amanda, hands on her hips, barked orders at me.
"Lisa, serve us some food. I'm starving."
I slowed my steps, trying to resist.
Jeremy slapped the back of my head, making me dizzy.
"Move faster!"
I hurried, afraid of being beaten if I was too slow.
The family sat comfortably at the table, chatting and laughing.
I huddled in the corner, feeling like an outsider.
To them, I was worth less than a maid.
My parents kept piling steak into Zed's dining plate, telling him that eating the red corn would make him smart and bring good luck.
Jeremy slowed his eating. "What's with these red corn?"
Linda lit up, "Some of the corn in the pantry turned red. I heard it's a good omen. Eating these will bring good luck and prosperity!"
Jeremy and Amanda hesitated, looking at me. "You work in a hospital. Do you know why the corn turned red?"
I shook my head, staying silent.
Gordon waved it off. "Don't worry. Red corn don't just appear. It must be fine."
Amanda sneered, glaring at me with undisguised hatred.
"You just wasted three years in school! You are a good-for-nothing!"
I kept my head down, eating pickles quietly.
They lost interest in me.