This big-sister thing wasn't pleasant. I was five, and my sister Lisa was two years younger. Every time we did something that we shouldn't do, I got into more trouble. It seemed everybody paid attention to her.
One day I was playing with the kids next door, and found out that in other people's houses, the older kids had later bedtime. Going back with my new-found information, I asked my mother to make a change and she said no.
So I went to my room and started to pack. Into the suitcase (行李箱) went my books and some toys. Putting some more clothes into, I went downstairs. Mum looked up and asked if I was running away. As I told her yes, she wasn't nearly as upset as I expected.
"Are you going to Grandma Sylvia's?" I couldn't believe she would know this. She was like a witch (女巫).
Without answering her, I went out, pulling the suitcase with great difficulty, not knowing Mum was following behind.
Finally I got to Grandma's house about two kilometers away. Before I knocked, the door opened. Grandma told me she was happy to see me , and I realized Mum had already called ahead.
Soon Mum came in; sat in my grandmother's chair, took my hot little face in her hands and said, "Sweet-heart, I don't want you to be so unhappy. If it's hard for you to live with Lisa, tomorrow I'll call the orphanage (孤儿院) and send her away."
Knowing what an orphanage was, I started to cry. "Don't send my sister away!" Mum unwillingly agreed that we would all go home and give it another try. That night, Mum fed us, gave us a bath and sent us to bed at the same time.
In the following years, once in a while Lisa and I would have a fight, and to this day, if I turn over my shoulder and say, "Mum, Lisa's being mean (坏) to me!" Mum always answers in the same way, "You had your chance."
