2.
My head was starting to ache.
I didn't have to think hard to know this was Millie's doing.
"It's just teaching her some discipline, that's all. It's not a bad thing."
"Don't make such a fuss over it."
Selina's grandmother was worked up now, her voice climbing much higher.
"There's only this one child left in our family, and now she's sick on top of it. You won't get her treated? What in the world are you doing?"
"Her father died young. Can't you, her own mother, put a little more heart into her?"
The moment she said it, the humiliation and grief I'd nearly buried came surging back, burning like fire.
"Her father died young because he had it coming. Who told him to go rolling around in the car with that mistress?"
"You couldn't raise your own kid right, so what gives you the right to tell me how to raise mine?"
"Or is it that you want her to end up like her father? Refusing to shape up and dying early?"
I'd struck a nerve. Her voice went thick with grief.
"Jasmine, I know you blame me. But Selina's situation is different."
"I've treated you decently all these years. Even if it's just for my sake, can't you spare Selina the suffering?"
"I'm begging you."
If I'm honest, my former mother-in-law really did care about me.
During my recovery after childbirth, my ex-husband wasn't there for a single day. She was the one who looked after me the whole time.
The lochia from the delivery soaked the bed, and she changed the sheets for me without a word of complaint.
I buried my face in the pillow, low and miserable, and she was the one comforting me.
"I went through the same thing back then."
"Except my mother-in-law called me filthy and wouldn't help me. And I thought to myself, if I ever have a daughter-in-law of my own someday, I'll take good care of her."
Her brow eased a little, and she nodded in agreement.
"Just let her stay three days. Once it's over, I'll go pick her up."
"That should be good enough, right?"
She wanted to say something more, but she held it back.
Over those three days, my boyfriend and I went to movies, played games, ate out, and shopped.
It wasn't until the third day that I made time to go to the camp.
I spotted her the second I reached the gate.
She stood trembling under the streetlight, a tall instructor behind her still talking.
"What to say and what not to say, you'd better remember it yourself."
"Go home and do exactly as your mother tells you. Otherwise you'll be right back here."
The instant he saw me, the instructor's whole face changed.
Nothing but courtesy.
"Selina's made great progress in just one day."
"And she says once she's home she'll do her problem sets properly and aim to get into a good college."
"Selina, tell your mother yourself."
My daughter's body gave a shudder, and she nodded again and again.
"I'll start studying the moment I get home."
"Mom, generate the plan right away. This time I'll finish all the problem sets first, and then go get treated."
"I won't let studying fall behind."
"I want to study, I want to study..."
Her voice suddenly shot up, and it startled me.
The instructor caught it and shot her a glare.
The sound vanished again in a hurry.
"Ms. Cannon, if there's any problem, just come to me. I guarantee the girl will behave from now on."
My daughter nodded frantically.
That cowering, frightened look softened me a little too.
"All right. Let's head home first."
"You'll finish the homework you owe first."
Back home, sure enough, she went straight to her room and got to work.
Through the door I could clearly hear her drilling her vocabulary.
I felt some relief.
I went to the kitchen and threw together a little something for her to eat.
When the time was up, I checked her problems.
Seventy percent correct. Lower than I'd expected.
"Eat first."
I slid the meat over in front of her.
"Eat. I made a meat dish just for you today."
She looked up, and a flicker of light crossed her eyes.
"If I eat this, does it not get counted into my problems?"
I set the test paper down and rapped on the table.
"Here you go again?"
"Didn't we settle this from the start? Your medical costs and your nutrition meals all get counted into your studying."
"Today's is a tier-two nutrition meal, and with your error rate today, you'll do an extra eighty-five problems tonight."
She put down her chopsticks, her voice small.
"Then I won't eat. I'll go fix my mistakes first."
"I don't..."
She started to get up, then met my eyes and sat back down.
"I understand, Mom."
I smiled, pleased.
She was finally listening.
