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Todos os capítulos de The Toys Were Never Mine: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 9

9 Capítulos

Chapter 1

The first day of fall break landed on a Thursday. I told Grandma I was going into town with friends, then caught a bus into the city by myself.I had barely reached the apartment complex where my parents lived when I saw Mom step outside holding a little girl's hand.The girl couldn't have been more than seven or eight.My face lit up. I opened my mouth to call out to Mom, but the little girl beat me to it."Mommy! Look, it stopped raining!"Mom caught her before she could dart toward the street. "Maisie! There are cars everywhere. Stay beside me."I stood frozen. I didn't notice the curb until I tripped over it and tumbled into the bushes, disappearing from their view.The girl looked like Dad. She looked like Mom, too.And Mom had called her Maisie.Mara. Maisie.Did I have a little sister?When had my parents had another child? Why hadn't anyone told me?I followed them in a daze. After about ten minutes, they entered a big shopping mall, and Mom took Maisie straight to

Chapter 2

After I finished eating, I went back to my parents' apartment building.I stood by the entrance and counted the floors. The third-floor window on the left was glowing.Mom used to tell me that the big bedroom had flooded and the floorboards were ruined. That was why it was always locked and why I slept on the couch whenever I visited.So the floor wasn't ruined after all.I just wasn't the child who got to sleep there.I waited until another resident let herself in with a key card, then slipped into the building behind her.From the hallway, I could hear a little girl's delighted giggles on the other side of my parents' door.I raised my hand and pressed the bell.Mom opened it. The moment she saw me, her eyes went wide. "Mara? What are you doing here?"She didn't open the door any farther. Instead, she positioned herself squarely in the doorway."We agreed you'd stay with Grandma over fall break. Your father and I are busy. We can't look after you right now.""You don't hav

Chapter 3

After I went to bed, Grandma called."Mara, why on earth did you run off to the city?" Her voice was sharp with disapproval. "Don't you know how busy your parents are? Now they have to look after you and your sister. You're only making trouble for them."I sniffled. "Grandma, do you think I'm getting in the way of their happy family, too?"Was I adopted? Am I not really theirs?""Of course you're theirs! Don't be ridiculous.""Then why didn't anybody tell me I had a little sister?"Grandma was silent for a long time before sighing. "Maisie was sickly when she was born. Your parents kept her with them because she needed care. Then they got used to having her around and couldn't bear to send her here like they planned. They hired someone to help watch her instead."They worried that if you found out, you'd demand to live in the city, too. They couldn't handle two children at once, so they kept quiet. Once your sister was older and needed less attention, they meant to bring you hom

Chapter 4

Back at Grandma's, I gathered every toy I'd ever received and gave them to the kids in town whose parents worked far away.Poppy stared at me in disbelief. "Mara, aren't those the toys your mom bought you? You used to treasure them!"I pressed three into her hands, too. "I don't treasure them anymore."I don't want them."Life went on. I helped Grandma feed the chickens, cook dinner, and mix feed for the animals.The busier I stayed, the less my chest seemed to hurt.One afternoon after school, I heard several people talking in Grandma's yard.My uncle and aunt were visiting.Their son, my older cousin Finn, had come home for summer break and drowned while swimming. They had spent most of the past two months back home.Grandma sounded worried. "Rachel, I thought you'd arranged to take in that child from your brother's family. What happened?"Aunt Rachel sighed. "Everything was settled, but the parents couldn't bear to part with their child. They've changed their minds."Uncl

Chapter 5

Uncle Graham and Aunt Rachel asked if I'd discussed the arrangement with my parents.I nodded. "You don't have to ask them again."Mom said if we talked about it one more time, she might change her mind."Aunt Rachel nodded quickly. "Right. Yes. The longer you leave something like this, the more complicated it gets."We won't call them, then. Especially since your guardianship papers already list our household."Grandma wasn't terribly surprised when she heard.She'd always known my parents favored Maisie. They'd never paid much attention to me, their older daughter. Grandma didn't even think to check with them herself.The only part that shocked her was that I could bear to leave Mom and Dad behind.After all, I'd once counted the days until every school vacation, hoping they'd visit.After all, a single phone call from Mom could make me so happy that I'd eat an extra helping of dinner.After all...No. There was no "after all" anymore.I didn't want to be like the dozens

Chapter 6

Two months later, the week of New Year's, Judith and Daniel brought Maisie out to the farm for the holiday.Judith walked into her mother's yard and found only Ruth by the shed, feeding the livestock. Irritation flashed across her face."Mom, where's Mara? Her father and I are here, and she can't even come out to say hello?"The older she gets, the less respectful she becomes. We had one argument, and she hasn't contacted us in two months."If we hadn't come back, was she planning never to speak to us again?"Judith deliberately raised her voice, as if she wanted someone inside to hear.Ruth, whose hearing wasn't what it used to be, cupped a hand to her ear."What? Who had an argument?"Judith waved dismissively. "Never mind. Keep feeding the animals."She called louder. "Mara!"No answer.Judith exchanged a glance with Daniel. For a second, they both felt strangely hollow.Then Judith headed for the room where Mara used to sleep and pushed open the door.The room was full

Chapter 7

Judith found Graham's number and called him immediately."Graham! Is Mara with you? Have you lost your mind? She's my daughter!"She's not even thirteen. She doesn't understand what she's doing!"Graham answered calmly. "Judith, she understands everything. That's exactly why she wanted to come with us."Judith's voice rose. "Put her on the phone! Right now!"Uncle Graham handed me his phone."Hello?""Mara! Where are you? I'll come get you. Tell me the truth. Did they force you to go?""No.""Then why would you leave? Don't you miss your mother and father? You..."I interrupted her. "I'm happy here."Mrs. Fenwick, when I stayed at your home, you weren't interested in keeping me there."Silence.Then, in a strained, barely audible voice, she asked, "What did you call me?"Once, hearing Mom sound hurt would have crushed me.Now I felt nothing."When I came to your apartment last fall, I heard you and Dad talking that night."You were only nice to me because you wanted me

Chapter 8

Mom came looking for me in early spring, when the dust storms in Calvera were at their worst.She was covered from head to toe against the blowing grit. I didn't recognize her until she stepped into my path."Mara. Come home with me."I backed away, staring at her with suspicion and disgust.She seemed unable to bear the look on my face. Without thinking, she reached out and covered my eyes with her hand before she spoke."No matter how well they treat you here, you're living under someone else's roof! You're a replacement for the son they lost. You're not even their real daughter. How long do you think they'll keep loving you?"Listen to your mother. Come back. You can live in the city from now on, too. I bought a bunk bed, and you and Maisie can share the big bedroom."I pulled her hand away. "What happened to the princess bed? Was Maisie angry when you took it out?"Mom looked confused by the question. "...Yes. But we talked to her, and eventually she agreed."I almost laug

Chapter 9

From the end of elementary school through all three years of middle school, I stayed in the top five of my class.Every time I brought home an award, Uncle Graham pinned it to the living room wall. Before long, the wall was covered.One night, I got up to use the bathroom and found him standing in front of it. He'd just come home from working late.He was looking up at my certificates with pride shining in his eyes.Warmth spread through my chest.He heard me and turned with a smile. "When you get into college, your uncle's throwing you a party."I grinned. "Deal. I'll get into a great school and make you proud."I scored third in the county on the eighth-grade state exams.The day the results came out, the school put my name up on the sign out front.Uncle Graham, Aunt Rachel, and I took our first family picture beneath it. We framed the photograph and put it in the most prominent spot in our living room.That evening, Aunt Rachel made an enormous pot of green chile stew and

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