The Game Of Life

Ginger

"Quiet! Settle down, children." Ms.Ambrosia, my math teacher said on the mic in the auditorium, addressing the students of Bellmont Academy, the private school I was unfortunate enough to attend. "As you all know, we have a special guest here to talk to us all today, please welcome MR.PRESIDENT!"

A round of polite claps went around the room as I tried to hide my face behind my ginger-brown hair. That's how I got my name, you know. Because of my hair. I had a whole head full of it coming out of my mum. Yes I just said that. No. I'm not sorry.

Mr.President cleared his throat and smiled a fake, plastic smile to the audience. I knew that smile very well. It was the same smile he have me when I got an A- in Grammar last year. And when I got a B in German.

"Good morning, students." He said. "As you all know, I am here today to talk to you about a new addition in your education system that we, the Council, are going to commence starting next term..." His solid blue eyes met my steel grey ones. "Ginger, darling, everyone knows I am your dad, there's no need to hide behind that hair."

The class began to stare at me, and a few giggles escapes a few mouths. I looked over at Chrome, my best friend, who was all the way over on the other side of the auditorium on account of us being in different classes.

"Now, moving on..." Mr.President said, and

"Sorry" Chrome mouthed to me, a genuinely sad look on his face. I shrugged. "Used to it." I mouthed back.

***

"How dare you, young lady!" Dad-Mr.McPharson-Mr.President said, the minute we enter the door.

"Daaad!" I whined.

"Don't dad me. How dare you be embarrassed of your own father?! Not a shred of respect you have for me or your family. This is not how I raised you."

Oh really? Says who?
"Dad, you pulled me out in front of all my friends I was just-"

"I don't care what you were, I am utterly disgusted by your behaviour. This is all because of your hormones."

"You're mad at me because I'm a girl..."

What a surprise, it came to this.

"Ginger, you are 14 years old, you're body is confused right now, give it some time."

Ummm okay... Why are we talking about this?

"Look at your friend Chrome, now. A perfectly respectable boy. His father works right under me, you know. I know everything about him."

Good lord, are we back to comparing me with Crome? Typical. Why am I not surprised?

"Even after his mum got arrested..."

Ughhhh not the mum getting arrested thing again!

"Even though we are a happy family and they are not..."

Are we a happy family though? Really?

"After all he's been through. Why can't you be more like him?"

"Sorry." I mumbled and scurried off to my room upstairs.

"Ginger Chloe McPharson, I'm not done talking to you, young lady!" Dad called but I escaped just in time.

"Why hello there!" Mum said. She was standing over my bed, folding clothes.

I sucked in a breath and tried to escape to the bathroom but he would not have it.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Dad is yelling again-"

"Well you've gotta listen to him, honey, he's your dad, not to mention the president..."

I blocked her out. She never listens. She doesn't. She only cares about his side, never mine. She wants his money, that's all. My mum? She's an attention seeker. Sorry to say it but she would leave her whole life for 15 seconds of fame in the drop of a hat. Or a feather boa, for that matter. I hate this about her. I hate everything about him, but the fact that she would choose him over me, no. His money over me, makes me want to rip my face off. It's not fair, it really isn't. I never asked to be in this family. I wish I was just some humble beggars daughter, that would be better than living a privileged life with no love whatsoever.

I'm sure my parents would trade me for money. That's just the kind of people thy are. But I'm okay with it. I'm used to it. After all, it could be worse.

____

by Codi