Alice and I were setting up plates when Royce angrily called Rosalie downstairs. "ROSALIE! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!" he screamed
Rosalie ran downstairs in a light pink leotard and tutu. "I thought I told you to do your homework" he yelled
"I did that first Daddy. Now I'm practicing" Rosalie said her voice quivering
"What did I tell you about school?" he asked
"To be average" Rosalie sniffed tears already running down her face. She's so afraid of him. Royce doesn't like attention because he knows because he's been abusing us we'll be different in school. We really aren't though but he doesn't want us to stand out. All of us are smart. I learned on my own at the library reading and work groups. Mom also taught us. Then I taught my sisters everything.
I knew the only way to make sure we get out of here was to be smart. Royce used to make Alice and I not bring in homework so a teacher wouldn't want to come to the house and tell him we should skip a grade. He doesn't do this with Rosalie because he thinks Rosalie's stupid for some dumb reason because she's always crying.
"Wipe those tears off your face right now" Royce said sternly
Rosalie did as he said and sniffed. "I got a letter from your teacher and she told me you should skip the third grade next year and go straight to forth. I told you to be average and you disobeyed me. Now whatever homework you just did you aren't turning it in and in class you're going to start answering things wrong"
"But Daddy I can't do that! Everyone will think I'm dumb!" Rosalie cried
"Are you talking back to me? You know what I was only going use my hand for once today but you deserve the belt. Go bend across the couch"
"No! Daddy no! I'll be dumb I promise!" Rosalie said as she began to cry. I hate when she cries.
I focused on setting the table when Royce grabbed Rosalie and threw her across the couch. I can hear him taking her clothes off. He always spanks her bare because he can't throw her and like he throws us. She's younger and she bruises easily. People will notice but they won't notice he if just focuses on her back and butt.
I counted forty lashes until Royce stopped and told Rosalie to get dressed. "What do you say?" Royce said
"S-s-sorry D-d-daddy" Rosalie cried as she put her tutu on
"Stop crying" Royce said as he picked Rosalie up and sat her down at the table.
"C-an I..g-go to m-m-my r-room?" Rosalie sniffed
"No sit and eat" Royce barked
Alice held Rosalie's hand at the table and tried to comfort her. I'm sitting next to Royce.
We pretty much ate our chicken alfredo in silence aside from Rosalie's sniffs. When we finished Royce left and told our maid Francie to clean up. She's being paid so much she'll never say a word about the abuse.
"It hurts!" Rosalie sobbed as I carried her to our room "I know. Come on lets get your pajamas on" Even though Rosalie has her own room most of her stuff is in our room because she likes to sleep with Alice. They've always been really close.
"Stop crying you don't want him to come in here" Alice said as she helped Rosalie get dressed into a disney princess nightgown "Here I'll braid your hair so it'll be pretty and curly in the morning" Alice said as she sat on her bed with Rosalie kneeling in front of her
"I want my Mommy!" Rosalie cried
"You're okay" Alice said as she French braided Rosalie's hair before looking at me "Mom called me today. She wants to see us"
"When?" I asked as I took some homework out
"Tomorrow after school. Royce won't be here so she can come while we clean the house" Alice said
"Okay" I said smiling. That smile quickly dropped when Royce entered the room.
"Come here princess" he said as he bent down and picked up Rosalie "Oh you're too beautiful to be crying" he said as he wiped her tears "You want to see you mother tomorrow morning? She can take you to school"
Rosalie nodded "Can I call her?" she sniffed
"You have to stop crying. You sound too sad" Royce said as he rubbed her back before taking her out the room
"I hate how she's so easy to please when she's upset" Alice said "When he used to spank me I wouldn't talk to him for weeks"
"I know. But he wasn't bribing us with our Mom because he banned us from talking to her and she had to sneak"
"Yep because that's how bastards like Royce King work"