An more daughter
Amanda angrily retorted, “You know, I didn’t ask to be born, so why should I have to endure all these inconveniences because of your child?”
You took away my bedroom first, then you gave me a free job as a babysitter, and now you want me to give away my sole friend? Who has spent nine years with me?
Absolutely not! You can look after Andy on your own while Max and I go to Grandma’s!
For the past year, sixteen-year-old Amanda and her parents had been at odds all the time.
She had her reasons—after the birth of their son, her parents seemed to forget Amanda existed.
Since she was nine, Amanda had been left to her own devices. When she was younger, she couldn’t understand why her parents were so indifferent, and it made her deeply upset.
Amanda would cry secretly and complain to her grandmother:
“They’re always with Andy! I ask them to play with me, but Mom says she’s too busy, and Dad just turns away! Do they not love me, Grandma?”
“Oh, sweetheart,” reassured her grandmother, Margaret, looking away, “of course they love you! It’s just tough for them right now.
Andy is a baby; he needs constant attention and care. You understand that he can’t even hold his head up or walk on his own yet.
Once he gets a little older, things will get easier. Meanwhile, try to take the initiative, help your mom with your brother, take him for walks, play with him. Maybe then your mom and dad will have some extra time.”
Margaret knew very well that no matter how involved Amanda got with caring for her younger brother, it wouldn’t change the situation much.
The fact was, both Leo and Laura, Amanda’s parents, didn’t have much love for their first child. They had married, as the saying goes, “for the baby’s sake,” and Leo had only known Laura for a few months.
When he had started seeing Laura, he had no idea she was lying about her age—Laura had added two years to her age to seem more mature.
Her pregnancy at sixteen was going to cause Leo a lot of trouble, so he saw no choice but to marry her.
Nobody had been expecting Amanda; her arrival wasn’t something they had prepared for. Laura had wanted freedom to enjoy her youth, and resented not being able to live her life as she wanted because of Amanda.
Leo also felt little affection for Amanda for the same reason. He had always dreamed of having a boy.
Andy was like a beacon of light for his parents; they wanted and planned for him. They prepared carefully and well in advance for his birth.
“Mum, can we buy that doll?” Amanda asked her mother, eyeing a doll with a mermaid tail.
Laura, looking at tiny hats and booties, replied indifferently:
“I don’t have extra money for that. Stop embarrassing me, Amanda! Honestly, taking you shopping is a chore—you always want something!”
“You know very well your brother is coming soon; we need to buy him clothes, a crib, a pram.”
“Why are you so selfish? You only ever think about yourself!”
After hearing her mother’s reproaches regularly, Amanda started feeling guilty. Maybe her mother was right. So what if she hardly had any toys? Her brother needed more.
***
Andy was denied nothing. He received all his parents’ love, with Laura and Leo buying him something every day.
They even prepared a room for him before he was born—Amanda was moved to the living room, and her room was renovated for the new baby.
When Amanda tried to protest, her father sternly said:
“You’re old enough to sleep on a sofa! A baby needs his own space. Our room is small. If we put the crib there, there won’t be any room left.”
“Stop complaining,” her mom chimed in, “I’d be happy if I were you. I never had brothers or sisters; I was an only child.
Soon you’ll have someone to play with. Come on, Amanda, don’t be squirm, sort out your books and toys.
By the way, you’ll have to throw out half of them—there’s no room to keep all that rubbish.”
***
When Andy was born, Amanda lost all her childhood joys. Laura and Leo decided that their daughter was old enough to watch her brother.
When the baby cried at night, her parents would peek out of their room and wake Amanda:
“Can’t you hear the baby crying? Go, give him a bottle, check his diaper. Maybe he needs changing.”
Amanda would get up at night for Andy and watch him after school.
Laura, on her second maternity leave, always had time for herself.
Margaret would visit her son and daughter-in-law regularly and often voiced her disapproval:
“Laura, what’s this? Surely you can’t burden a ten-year-old girl with the care of a two-month-old baby? What can she really do?”
“I don’t see the harm in it,” Laura answered carefree, “let her get used to it.
She’ll be a mother one day, and this will all be good experience. I’m sure Amanda will thank me in ten years! I get tired too. How do you think I feel managing two kids by myself?
Leo’s no help; he’s always at work. When he gets home, he plays with Andy for half an hour, then he’s on the couch in front of the TV.”
“You’re robbing Amanda of her childhood, Laura. Don’t you realize she’s at a delicate age, she should be playing with dolls, not babysitting.
I had three other children besides Leo, all one after the other! I managed somehow without asking anyone for help.”
“Those were different times, Margaret,” Laura countered, “I don’t see anything wrong with this! Besides, Andy is her brother, she’s supposed to help with him. She’s the elder sibling!”
***
By the time Amanda turned thirteen, she started to hate her brother. Andy had grown into a smart, cheeky child.
The boy quickly figured out he could blame any mischief on his sister—Amanda got blamed for everything:
“What on earth do you do around here while we’re gone?” Laura would scold almost every evening, “I found broken pieces in the bin. Did you break that cup?”
“It wasn’t me,” Amanda would respond, “Andy deliberately knocked it off the table because I wouldn’t let him eat sweets.”
“Who are you to boss him around?” Leo would immediately defend his son, “Do you pay for those sweets? Stop acting like you’re in charge! Let him eat!”
“Mum told me not to let Andy eat sweets. He’s supposed to have soup first, then tea with a treat.”
“Andy refused the soup and demanded dessert right away. When I didn’t give him the bowl, he threw the cup on the floor.”
“Clumsy,” Laura fumed, “what if the child got hurt? You’re supposed to be the older one, yet you can’t even look after a kid!”
“You’re grounded today—no going out! You’ll stay home and teach Andy his letters.
His teacher told me he’s the slowest in the class!
All the other kids are already forming syllables, and ours can’t even count to five. That’s on you!”
Things came to a head when Amanda turned sixteen. Without asking her, her parents decided to find a new home for Max, Amanda’s old dog, whom she had found as a puppy and raised herself.
“I want him gone by tomorrow! Andy’s started sneezing for no reason, and I suspect it’s an allergy to dog fur.”
Amanda was outraged:
“I won’t give Max away. You can’t make me! He’s the only living creature that genuinely loves me. I won’t give him away!”
“Who’s asking you?” Leo remarked philosophically, “We’ve put up with your mutt long enough.
I would’ve tossed him out earlier if I had an excuse. Clever thing—never made a mess in the house. Though I was waiting for a chance.”
Amanda stood her ground:
“Max stays with me, I won’t give him up! I care about him! Can’t you see that I love him?!”
“And you don’t love your brother?” Laura narrowed her eyes. “You’re willing to risk his health over that mongrel? Did I understand you correctly?”
Amanda snapped back:
“Yes, exactly! I’m sick of you and Andy! You have no idea how tired I am of all of this! Why should I give up my only friend for him?
He’s ruined my life, Andy has! I had no childhood because of him! While my friends played outside, I was walking him in the park while you, mum, were sleeping!
When my classmates went for tutoring and prepared for exams, I was juggling school, kindergarten, and home because you went back to work.
I’ve had enough! I’m going to live with Grandma!”
***
Margaret welcomed her granddaughter, having no objections to Max.
At her grandmother’s house, Amanda felt at home—nobody bothered her or forced her to spend time with a brother she didn’t like. At her grandmother’s, she could do as she pleased.
Laura allowed her daughter to live separately for only a month—within four weeks, she called Amanda, her tone firm:
“Come back immediately! You’ve had your break, and that’s enough! We can’t manage without you.”
“Why should I?” Amanda sneered, “Who even said I’m coming back? Living here with Grandma suits me perfectly, and I have no intention of moving back with you!”
“I wasn’t asking for your plans,” Laura told Amanda, “I’m telling you to pack your things and come home.
No one’s around to pick Andy up from school! I’m having to skip lunch to bring him home after classes.”
“And that’s my problem how?” Amanda retorted, “He’s your son, you look after him.
I’ve got my own things to do, Mum. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m studying at college, working on my education.
Here, at Grandma’s, I can actually do my homework in peace. I’ve improved all my major subjects! So sorry, I’m staying here.”
“Just wait,” Laura fumed, “your father will come home, and I’ll send him after you. He’ll drag you back by force! So, you’re all grown up now? Independent?”
Margaret, witnessing the argument, gestured for Amanda to hand her the phone:
“Don’t you overstep, Laura,” Grandma defended Amanda, “you’ve worn the girl out, won’t let her breathe!
Andy’s not a baby anymore—he’s almost seven. Can’t he stay alone for a bit?
Don’t want to leave him alone—hire a nanny! And let Amanda be, I’m not sending her back to you. Let her study in peace!
And do let Leo know what I said!”
***
Amanda was left in peace. From her grandmother, she learned that her parents eventually sorted out the issue with Andy—they didn’t stint on money and hired a nanny for their beloved son.
Amanda isn’t ashamed of her actions. In the end, Andy is her brother, not her son. She isn’t responsible for him.