Adapting and Conquering (The story of Bertha's rise and fall)

Chapter One

I woke up to the sound of Billy screeching the lyrics to "It's a wonderful world" riding around my room on Big Sam, his ginormous stuffed dog.

"Shut up!" I muttered. "Why are you even in here?"

"I'm waking you up!"

"Oh my God! Just go!" I shoved off my covers and pushed Billy out the door. Billy is so annoying. He's my little brother and he never gets in trouble, even though he's secretly the devil.

I hear a whimper coming from outside the door.

" Bil-ly!" I called "Stop with the pity party already! No one's falling for it."

I started making my bed, but stopped short when I heard my mom stop and console him.

"Billy, what's wrong?" She said softly.

"B-b-ber-ber" he stuttered, starting to cry.

"Was it Bertha?" She uttered my name like it was poison in her mouth.

I'm guessing Billy nodded, because next thing you know, my mom bursts through the door- despite my sign that says to knock first -which nobody even reads anyways- with a look of pure fury on her face.

"Bertha! For the last time, stop picking on your brother!"

"Mom, there is so many things wrong with that statement. First of all, I didn't-"

"Bertha! I did not ask for you to talk back to me! Just apologize to your brother!" She left the room with a look of disgust thrown over her shoulder at me.

"Not doing that" I muttered under my breath as I finished making my bed.

I turned to my closet, which had a hole in it from when Billy got angry at me and he butt his head into the closet door. Then, of course, he started crying and blamed me.

I looked in my closet. What to wear...

I picked out a T-shirt and some basketball shorts from the boys' section of Old Navy. I don't really wear anything cute or pretty. It makes me uncomfortable, and my friends tell me I look awkward when I do.

I mean, at least they're honest.

As I'm packing my backpack for school, (and a few hundred books too) Billy peers into my room, looking for something to get me in trouble with.

"Yes?" I sigh.

He silently walks away.

I finish struggling to zip up my backpack when I hear "Mommmmm! Bertha kicked me!"

I run into the kitchen and see him pointing to a week-old scab on his elbow.

"Billy, what are you talking about? That was from when you fell off of your bike last week, remember?"

He sniffed. "No."

My mom shakes her head at me. "Come on Bertha. You know better than to kick your brother and then lie about it."

"But mom-"

She raises her palm in front of my face. "I don't want to hear it Bertha. Get ready for school."

My mom always sides with Billy. It's been that way since a year ago when I was still at Garvey (that's my old school) with my brother. We used to get along pretty well, for most brothers and sisters, but then one day he was just... different.

I go back to my room and pull on my backpack. There's still a while before school ends, and I don't really clean out my backpack until the last day of school, so everything just piles up, and I shuffle around between classes, trying to support a backpack that's probably twice my weight.

When I go to the car, Billy's sitting shotgun, which is my seat, and I'm about to say something until I notice my mom giving me a death stare from the driver's seat. Billy sticks his tongue out at me.

I sigh and climb into the backseat.

Sometimes I hate Billy. I snort. Not just sometimes. Always.

My mom, who heard me snort, says "Do you have something to say, Bertha?"

I shake my head. I hate my mom sometimes too.

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Aaaaah! Do you guys like it? This is my first story on Wattpad, and it's about one of my friends who shall remain unnamed... I hope you guys enjoy this as much as i enjoy writing it! Sorry the chapters are so short, They should get longer as the story progresses.

This is not written by just me! My best friend helped me write it so a BIG thanks to her too. She's freaking amazing.

Here comes the shameless self-promo. I'm going to say this a lot, but comments, and opinions are always welcome! Be sure to add this to your reading list, or follow/fav me for more future stories.