Chapter 7 er went After that summer , I never back except to visit Grandma during holidays . I didn't see Casey either . [ ] After Casey got tired of her hip - hop phase , she started looking for work . With her limited education and skills , she ended up washing dishes at a fried chicken place and started dating some gang member . Dad was completely against the relationship , but Casey threatened suicide if he interfered . He had no choice but to let them be . [ ] Around that time , I was preparing for my TOEFL exam . After months of hard work , I received an acceptance letter from Columbia University . Mom was so thrilled she took me back to our hometown to celebrate with a big dinner party . Casey came too , she looked at me with a strange expression . Oddly enough , she was unusually nice to me , which caught me of guard . ] figured maybe she'd finally grown up and matured . ] What I didn't expect was Dad showing up that evening with a bag of gifts . ] He bombarded me with questions - asking where my school was located , when I was leaving , how the application process worked , and whether I had an acceptance letter he could see . I didn't think twice about showing him the letter. Dad examined it with a smile spreading across his face . After he left , I realized my acceptance letter was missing . Mom and I turned Grandma's house upside down looking for it , but it was nowhere to be found . Suddenly , it hit me - Dad must have taken it ! Mom tried calling him , but he wouldn't answer . She sent messages , but he didn't respond . Furious , she stormed over to Dad's place . " Dave , tell me right now - did you take Riley's acceptance letter ? " ] Dad shrugged like it was no big deal . " So what if I did ? Casey didn't get into college . I just wanted to show her what it looks like . " " The girls look so similar . Riley can just apply again next year , Casey can take this spot instead ! " I was absolutely stunned when I heard this . " Dad , what did you just say ? ' " You heard me . Casey is our family's princess - she deserves the best . Since she didn't get into college , she can take your spot . You're smart enough to apply again next year , right ? " ] His stupidity made me laugh out loud . " She didn't get in because she didn't study . Why should I pay for her laziness ? I'm not doing it ! " ] " What's wrong with you , Riley ? You're sisters - you don't need to make this difficult . Listen to your father . Soon our family will have two college graduates ! " ] I couldn't help but laugh . " Dad , do you realize that if this gets out , you could go to jail ? " Dad dismissed my warning . " That's ridiculous . How could I go to jail ? I didn't steal anything ! " I was stunned all over again by his twisted logic . Mom didn't waste another second - she called the police right then and there . With both audio and video evidence , the police arrived and gave Dad a serious lecture . Only then did he realize what he'd done was actually illegal . ] ] But Casey wasn't having it . " No ! Dad , I need to go to college tool I have to go ! " ] I couldn't resist pouring gasoline on the fire . " You can't . Your grades are too terrible . " She burst into tears , and Dad snapped at me , " Do you have to keep provoking her ? " ] I shrugged . " You can't just show up with an acceptance letter . Does Casey have proper ID ? " || Dad grabbed my arm . " Riley , I know I've wronged you , but this is your sister's only wish . Can't you help her fulfill it ? You two . could switch identities , couldn't you ? " " It's just a three - year age difference ! You're sisters who look alike - it would work perfectly ! " ] I looked at my father's face and couldn't help but smirk coldly . Clearly , he hadn't listened to a word Mom had said before . [ ] I yanked my arm away . " You can't be serious ! " [ ] Casey lunged from behind and grabbed me . " Dad , don't let her leave ! " ] " Get back here ! " he shouted . Mom had finally had enough . She stepped forward and slapped Casey hard across the face ! ] Dad roared at Mom , " jenna , how dare you hit her ?! " ] Mom was trembling with rage . " Dave , look what you've turned her into ! Identity theft ? That's prison time ! If you want to spend . the rest of your life behind bars , be my guest " ] Casey was completely losing it . " But you promised ! Dad , you promised I was the princess of this family ! " ] Dad held her while Mom and I walked out . After retrieving my acceptance letter , we immediately left town to travel before the semester started .