After My Cousin Introduced Me To His Cellmate For A Date

David narrowed his eyes. "What did you just say?"

Vincent beside him scowled as well.

Sandra Stone, David's sister, was the first to react. "Anna, what's your problem? My brother is just trying to help! If we weren't family, why would we even bother with you? You're not appreciating the favor!"

I rolled my eyes. "If he's such a catch, why don't you marry him? I'm clearly not good enough."

My aunt Emma Stone chimed in loudly, "Anna, let me tell you something. At your age, dragging your feet on marriage is a huge mistake. Once a woman hits thirty, it's tough to find a match. If we weren't family, who would even care about your situation? Don't mistake kindness for stupidity!"

My uncle Jack Stone also stood up, adopting a stern tone. "Anna, Daivd's friend comes from a great family. You really can't afford to wait any longer. Look at your age—year after year, and still no prospects. People in the village are laughing about it."

I cut him off sharply. "If you're so idle, why not go deal with the manure at the village entrance instead of bothering us? If he's such a catch, why isn't Sandra marrying him? Isn't she just three months younger than me?"

Sandra shrieked, "Anna, are you out of your mind? My brother is trying to set you up, and you drag me into this? I wouldn't marry a criminal with a record!"

Vincent shot her a gloomy look.

My parents edged closer to me, shrinking like two frightened quail.

The guests paused, forks mid-air, glancing between our family and David's.

Dylan and Amanda had two sons: my dad, Ben Stone, and my uncle.

They had always shown favoritism, which only grew worse over time.

My parents, always the pushovers, were like punching bags for them.

To use a modern phrase, messing with my parents was like kicking a cushion.

After my uncle and dad got married, they split the family assets.

Our home had only a few old pieces of furniture, some sacks of grain, and a few plots of land. We lived in three crumbling mud-brick rooms.

My parents worked hard to make ends meet.

One morning, we got new chairs, but by the afternoon, Dylan had come over, sat in them, and took them when he left.

This sort of thing happened repeatedly.

Two years after the split, while Jack's family had David, my mom had me.

Dylan and Amanda increasingly favored my uncle's family, claiming David was to carry on the Stone family legacy.

During busy farming seasons, they'd make my parents work in their fields, not even providing a meal. They were told to go home for meals before returning to work.

My parents bore this mistreatment in silence, never daring to speak out or fight back.

I had to stand up for us.

I became sharper with my words and excelled in my studies.

While David failed to get into high school, I secured a spot at the county's top high school. Dylan and Amanda came to our house, complaining to my parents that all the education in the world wouldn't matter because I'd end up leaving for someone else's family anyway.

I chased them off with a broom.

After being chased away, they became even more determined to keep me from studying.

"What's the use of good grades? She's got no filial piety and dared to hit her grandparents. She's sure to be a ingrate!"

David and Sandra came by to mock me.

"What's the point of going to a top high school? You'll still end up working in a factory!"

I threw a basin of wash water at them, drenching them completely.

They left cursing, soaked and furious.