All of that being my best possible self to serve as an example. All of it. Wasted and worthless so that some not-quite random stranger could snatch me up right where I worked.

It wasn’t fair. More than that, it was so completely and totally unfair.

Typical.

“If you behave and don’t make a fuss on the way out,” Mrs. Evaneska said hoisting me onto her hip, “Mommy and Big Sister will get you some ice cream!” What was the point? I was beat. No amount of protestation. It was her word against mine as to whether I needed diapers, and her word weighed hundreds of pounds more. At least I could get ice cream. If I was lucky it wouldn’t even be the kind that made you wet your pants that I’d read about.

“YAY! Ice cream!”