American Girl

Washington, DC

Olivia Hastings stretched her body across her new bed. The housekeeper who showed her the bedroom stated that the four-poster was an antique. Thomas Jefferson may have slept on it. Olivia rolled her eyes. It wouldn't have phased her if Jefferson, Washington, and Franklin had an orgy on it. She couldn't care less.

The last few years proved confusing for the teen girl. At one moment, she felt ecstatic, then she plunged into a great depression. Her fragile emotions went up and down. Olivia remembered the good times before her parents' divorce. When she was a little girl, her father worked at the corner car lot selling used Fords, Chevys, and Toyotas.

"I could sell snow to Santa Claus," Wade Hastings stated, grinning from ear to ear. He lifted his daughter onto his shoulder and paraded her around the room.

Olivia loved him. Her father made her laugh. On the other hand, her mother became less and less amused by her husband's antics. Channing Hastings wanted more from life than a used car salesman could provide. She urged Wade to find a better job so they could move from their two-bedroom Memphis apartment.

"Sell snow in a real dealership, Wade," Channing urged, plunking the meatloaf onto the dining room table with a thump. "You're barely treading water in that corner lot."

"You know Ralph needs me," Olivia's father argued. "I can't leave him stranded."

"Your cousin can put that no good son of his to work," her mother responded hotly.

"Jonathan?" Wade practically cackled. "Jon can't get out of his own way."

"Perhaps he should learn how," Channing remarked cuttingly. "That boy was coddled through life. It's time he faced reality."

"Jon's special," Wade made an excuse. "You know he's got ADHD. He can't concentrate for more than ten minutes at a time."

"That's his problem."

Olivia stared at her mother and father in turn. She liked her cousin Jonathan. Unlike other adults she knew, he crawled around the floor with her, playing Fort and Barbie dolls. Jon was just like a bigger kid. Sometimes, he stared into space for long periods of time, and sometimes, he talked too much. Still, she loved it when he babysat her.

Channing finally won her arguments. Wade went to work for Ford and began selling new cars. His popularity grew along with his sales record. The promotion to manager came a scarce two years after he began working for the dealership.

Olivia was sad when they moved from their small apartment. She had lived there her entire life. It was the only home she knew. It also meant she didn't see Jonathan so much anymore. The Hastings' new home was spacious, with a backyard pool. After a while, Olivia didn't miss the old neighborhood quite so much.

Wade worked long hours. He bought a cabin in the mountains for the weekends. Channing continued to urge Wade to do better. When the opportunity arose, he gathered all his funds and bought the dealership. The Hastings moved again—to a huge house with a wall around it and a gate blocking the driveway. Olivia began attending an exclusive private boarding school.

When Olivia returned home for summer break, she found the house full of people. Her father was running to become a local schoolboard member. Channing took charge of the campaign while Wade addressed the community with long-winded speeches.

During the following years, Wade became more involved in local politics. The family suddenly moved into the mountain cabin, and her father became Mayor of the small town. Then, he became a State Representative. Olivia was frequently taken out of school to join Wade's campaigns. All the media attention embarrassed her.