When My Parents are Getting Divorced

Ignoring her, I bolted out the door, tears streaming, as I screamed, "Murder, murder! Grandma's trying to kill me and Mom!"

Maybe because I looked downright terrifying, more and more people clustered at the village entrance.

"You little hellion, get back here!" Grandma chased after them with a broom, flashing a grin, "Don't mind her; she's just a typical rebellious kid."

Spotting Sarah Parker in the crowd, I collapsed toward her and cried out, "Director Parker, save me!"

Then, I blacked out.

Of course, I was only playing possum.

I could distinctly hear the crowd's voices condemning my grandmother.

"The Miller family is nothing but trouble."

"Exactly, Elizabeth is just a kid; how could she be so heartless?"

Grandma stood there, flushed and fuming, wanting to grab me, but Director Parker held her back.

Director Sarah Parker is the village's sole female leader. She climbed her way out of the mountains, the only local girl to get a college degree and return.

She'd say this was her home turf, and even though her clout was minimal, she aimed to turn things around.

I believe her influence is significant. Since her return, the villagers have warmed up to the idea of girls' education, cutting the dropout rate by more than half.

When my mom arrived, she was panting, her eyes bloodshot.

Director Parker took Grandma to the office for a stern talking-to, and Grandma didn't dare utter a peep in her presence.

"Middle school is mandatory. Denying her education is against the law."

"Elizabeth, education is your ticket out of these hills."

With Director Parker's help, I secured the textbook fees.

Standing in the classroom, clutching the textbooks, I realized the struggle it took to get here.

I was in my room going over next week's textbook content when my dad stormed in.

He burst into the room. "Elizabeth, I'm gone for a bit, and you're already crossing swords with Grandma, huh?"

Clearly, Grandma had played the victim first.

No wonder she's been bedridden since the afternoon.

This was what she was waiting for.

As for my dad, back when I was little, he'd cradle me in his arms, hold my mom's hand, and kiss me, saying, "My darling Elizabeth, you'll be the sweetheart of this village."

Mom and Dad were high school sweethearts, madly in love from the start.

Mom hailed from the big city. She ditched her family for love and married my dad, David Miller, without hesitation, bringing a dowry of over 200,000 dollars.

Over the years, Mom used her dowry to support my dad, Grandma, and Aunt Linda's family, and they treated her like gold.

After I came along, Mom fell ill and was bedridden for six months. Grandma siphoned off the remaining 100,000 dollars of the dowry under the guise of medical expenses.

Dad handed his modest paycheck to Grandma, claiming it was to help with family expenses.

I looked up and noticed he was clean-shaven and wearing black glasses, looking nothing like the last time he was home.

BANG!

He slammed the table. "What are you staring at? Cat got your tongue? I think all this reading's made you lose your marbles."

"Did you even ask me what happened? Would you believe me if I told you?" I stood my ground, unwilling to back down.

My mother stepped in and tugged at him, "If you have something to say, say it to me, but don't disrupt the kid's studying."