I Knitted a Blanket from My Late Mom’s Sweaters for My Baby Brother – My Stepmother Threw It in the Dumpster, but Then My Grandma Made Her Regret It
Melissa’s face went pale. Dad looked embarrassed. Grandma folded the blanket again and handed it back to me.
“Remember your place,” she told Melissa.
Then she walked out.
At that moment, I believed the problem had been solved.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
“This house is legally in my name.”
***
The following day, I came home from school and immediately knew something was wrong. Andrew’s crib mattress leaned against the wall in the hallway. His diaper bag sat on the floor next to my bedroom door.
I pushed my door open. Andrew’s crib stood right beside my bed.
Boxes of baby clothes were stacked against my dresser.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Dad walked into the hallway just then. He looked tired. “You’ll be sharing your room with Andrew from now on.”
Boxes of baby clothes were stacked against my dresser.
I blinked at him. “What?”
“You embarrassed Melissa yesterday. You ran to your grandmother and made a scene. If you think you’re old enough to cause problems in this house, then you’re old enough to help raise your brother.”
My mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious.”
Melissa walked into the hallway, then looked as if she were enjoying a show. “You’ll take care of him during the night if he wakes up,” my stepmom continued. “Consider it a consequence.”
“He’s a baby!” I said. “I have school!”
“You’ll take care of him during the night if he wakes up.”
Melissa leaned against the doorframe and smiled. “You’ll manage. And don’t even think about tattling to your grandmother again.” She pointed a finger at me. “If you do, you’ll be out of this house. Understand?”
I didn’t answer.
That night felt endless. Andrew woke up five times!
The first time, he cried so loudly that it took me several minutes to calm him down. My hands shook while I warmed the bottle in the kitchen.
I kept glancing toward Melissa’s bedroom door, hoping Melissa or my dad might come out.
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