The story opens in a beautifully built mansion

The story opens in a beautifully built mansion. Ella, her father, and her stepmother live inside.

Ella was normal. She had a normal life, and she lived like a normal rich person, or so she wishes. Everyday, she would wake up and sit by her stepmother's bedside so that she wouldn't wake with a dry and sore throat. Every morning she filled a cup with water and left it by her bedside. Then, she would have to go to her father's room, on the other side of the mansion. As she did everyday, she would wake him up and lay out his business attire: a collared shirt, a solid-colored tie, and dress pants. Only then could she go back to her own room to change into her school clothes. However, it wasn't that easy. She had to dress quickly so that she would be able to have breakfast ready for her father and stepmother. Then she would have to polish her father's dress shoes so that he didn't have to go to work as a disgrace and a shame.

"Dad, wake up. It's time for work." Ella said, shaking him gently. Her father grunted and rolled over, ignoring her. "Dad, come on, you have to wake up now. You have to go to work, remember?"

Her dad groaned and sat up. "Damn it, Ella, why do you have to interrupt my sleep?! Do you realize how long I worked last night??"
"Yes, I know, Dad, but you have to go to work."

"Are you being smart with me, young lady?? You know my rules about being smart with me. I'm the boss of this house and if I'm not home, then you obey your stepmother. Do you understand??"

"Yes, dad."

"Good. Now get your useless self out of here and make me some breakfast. Don't forget to give Helen her water."

"I won't, Dad. I never forget."

"Do I hear an attitude?? I don't want anyone in this house giving me attitude, do you hear me??"

"Yes, Dad. I'm sorry."

"Well, are you going to stand there all day and gawk or are you going to do something useful for once and make sure we don't starve?!"

"I'm going to make some breakfast now, Dad. I'm sorry I took so long."

Ella left the room and went to her stepmother's room. Everyday she had to deal with this torture. She had to admit to crimes that she never committed. She had to lie to her dad's boss whenever her dad lost his temper. She reached her stepmother's door and knocked softly. When no one answered, she went in. "Helen, wake up. You need to drink some water."

Helen's reaction was the same as her father's. "Go away, you useless brat. Can't you see that I'm trying to sleep??"

"Yes, I know, Helen, but you wouldn't want to become dehydrated because then you will get a sore throat and it will be very irritating. It will be too late by then and I would be in school so I wouldn't be here to take care of you."

"Then I'll have Arthur drag you out of class so that you can take care of your poor old stepmother."

"But my education is very important! Without education, I'll never get anywhere in life!"

"So you would rather go to some damn school and let your stepmother DIE??"

"No, that's not what I said, Helen. I just said that I need my education and that you can't be dragging me out of class just because you have a little sore throat."

"Little sore throat?? Is that what you call it?? It's not just a little sore throat. What if it kills me, huh? When that happens, who's going to take the blame?? Oh, I know what the neighbors will think. They'll say, 'that stupid old lady. Why didn't she drink more water?' but it would be all your fault because you failed to sacrifice your education so that you can save your poor stepmother's life."

"But I bring you your cup of water everyday so that you can drink it."

"Any more lip from you and I'll knock some sense into you!"

"Alright, Helen. I'm sorry, Helen. It won't happen again."

"Good. Now get your ass out of here because I can't stand you anymore."

Ella left the room and sighed. She hated her life with a passion. She wished that some miracle would happen in her life so that she could ease this pain. She had five minutes to change for school before she had to rush downstairs to make breakfast for everyone. She made bacon and eggs for her father and Helen, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to eat any because her father's rule of "you're not good enough to eat like us" applied strictly to her. So she had cereal and milk instead. Quickly she polished her father's shoes and caught the bus that would take her to school. She looked forward to going to school. To her it was like a mini-paradise. At least the people in school wouldn't torture her the way her father and stepmother tortured her.

Just so you know…

Helen is Ella's stepmother.

Arthur is Ella's father.

Ella is in high school and she's in 10th grade.