The next day on Christmas Eve night, we were lounging in the living room watching television as Dad lights the fire place. Jill sits on the couch with Lily sleeping on her lap. John and I sit on the floor watching, and Mom and Dad are cleaning the kitchen. (They are doing a thing we aren't supposed to know.)

As Jill stood up taking Lily to her room and came back, I asked, "Jill? How come your husband ain't coming?"

She answered, "He's spending Christmas with my in-laws." She crosses passed me and I turned to her. She always lies to me. Never told me the truth all my life. Like this one time, she told me that she had to do homework and can't play with me, but the whole time, she left to go shopping with her friends.

I asked again, "Why won't he spend time here with us? I hardly got to know him."

"He just wants to be with his family. That's all!" She didn't even look at me.

I asked again, "How come? I really want to get to know him. All of us do." Jill took a moment and then finally answered, "I made him not come."

"Why not?"

"Why do you keep questioning me?" She asked back.

"Why did you make him not come? Is there something wrong with us?"

I believe Jill can't take it anymore, she grew a little more annoyed and angry at the same time.

I continued, "You once told me it would snow just like in the books! But we live in California, so you lied to me." I started to get mad that I felt warm stream coming on every edge of my body. "You've been lying to me for seventeen years. Tell me the truth Jill."

She took a deep breath and then says, "The reason why I don't want my husband here is because of you."

"Why?" I asked.

"The reason why, is because that it's always about you. It's always you. And John. All my life I wanted to be an only child. Until when John came, I was downright upset that I'm not an only child. They gave me everything I want until you and him showed up."

That kinda hurt a little. "You've been like this all your life?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm really sick of you asking questions! First of all, you ruin my life, and now you pry into it! Why don't you crawl under a rock and die!"

"JILL!" John stood up immediately.

Tears form in my eyes. That hurts. Really hurts. She hated me all this time? It felt like she's an ugly stepsister from Cinderella, except that we're related which is real worse. "Why do you have to be so cruel?" I asked her my voice breaking, and then ran off crying. I hear John calling my name and shouts angrily at Jill, "Thanks a lot!"

I went out to the porch and sat on the chair swing to cry.

"Jan?" I hear John coming and then I ignored him.

"Jan? Are you ok?" He asked me and I shook my head.

John explained, "Listen to me. Jill is just an idiot. She doesn't like me either. We still have each other at least. You are my favorite li'l sister."

I gave a small smile, looked up to him and then immediately embraced. I do need someone right now, and he's there for me when there are bad times.

"How about I make it up to you?" He asked, "maybe we can both go to the drive-in this week!"

"I would love that!" I smiled and sniffled.