Chapter 3 During summer break . Mom finally came home to see me . She spotted me crouching near the building entrance , watching ants . She called my name from a distance , but I didn't turn around . [ ] Mom thought I was too focused on the ants . She kept calling me , each time louder than before , until I slowly turned around . [ ] When I saw her , I threw myself into her arms . " Mom ! " Mom looked down at me , barely believing her eyes . [ ] " Riley , why are you dressed like this ? " I was wearing Casey's hand - me - downs - clothes she'd drawn all over until the original color couldn't be seen anymore . ] My exposed arms and legs were covered in mosquito bites . With my sensitive skin , every bite left a scar . [ ] My hair was a complete mess , hastily pulled into a tiny , sad - looking ponytail . At first glance , I looked like a little street urchin . If our apartment building didn't have just one kid around my age , Mom probably wouldn't have recognized me at all . ] She rushed me home , gave me a proper bath , dressed me in a new skirt , braided my hair neatly, and even added pretty hair clips . I was over the moon . I immediately ran outside to find my friends . ] From a distance , I spotted Casey with a group of kids at the slide , so I ran over to join them . ] " Riley looks so pretty today ! " I heard someone say as I approached . [ ] I nodded excitedly and announced loudly , " My mom came home ! She bought this for me ! " ] I took after my mom , with blonde hair and blue eyes . [ ] Casey , on the other hand , looked like Dad - freckled face and a bit chubby . She never looked as good in dresses as I did . When she heard me , she charged over , grabbed my braid , and yanked my hair clips out . Then she clutched my skirt in her fists . She was older and always well fed , so she was a head taller than me . I was no match for her . I broke down crying , but the neighbors who saw it happen didn't dare intervene . ] They'd tried to help before , but Dad had stormed into their homes and smashed their things . Now nobody wanted to get involved in our family drama . In the end . I couldn't fight off Casey . She cut my hair to shreds with scissors and tore my skirt to pieces She grinned at me triumphantly . " Kaley , I told you - you're only good enough for my hand me downs ! " When we got home , Mom was horrified . She immediately spotted the scissors in Casey's hand , and after figuring out what happened , grabbed a broom and swung it at her . Dad walked in right at that moment and snatched the broom away . " Jenna , what the hell are you doing ? " " Dave , is this how you raise the kids when I'm gone ? Look what she did to Riley !" But Dad shielded Casey . " Kids fight all the time ! And why was Riley showing off anyway ? She's just being vain ! " " I wasn't ! Mom , it hurts , and I can't hear anything from my ear ! " I clung to Mom , sobbing uncontrollably . [ ] Mom was terrified . She wanted to take me to the hospital , but Dad dismissed it . " She's faking it " ] But in the end , Mom ignored him and insisted on taking me to the doctor . " It's too late . The child has completely lost the hearing in her right ear . How could you parents be so irresponsible ?! " ] " The damage to the child's ear was caused by physical trauma ! " ]