"Give it back!" Little Alice was close to tears. The twins had just turned 13. Jerry had snatched her favorite doll and was holding it over her head. He lowered it just enough so she could reach it, but when she tried, he jerked it out of reach.
“You’re mean! I’ll tell Mom!” she wailed.
“You tattletale. You’re Mom’s pet, we know. Just ‘cause you’re so purrrty!”
“And you’re ugly! She loves me! Know why? I know. I know...I know why … why you’re ugly!”
Jerry dropped the doll and grabbed Alice’s arm, hard. He twisted it until she screamed. His face hard and grim, his voice choked with rage, he shouted, “What do you know? You better tell us!”
Alice’s mouth contorted to a smug frown. “She hates you! She tried to kill you! Tried to kill you! But it didn’t work! That’s why you’re ugly!”
Jerry gripped Alice’s arm even tighter. “What do you mean?” he roared. “You’re lying! How do you know?”
“Let me go!” Alice wailed.
“You’re lying!”
“Am not!”
“Prove it. How do you know?”
“I heard them. Mom and Dad talking. Some word I didn’t understand. They went to a doctor; tried to stop you; kill you.”
Jerry let Alice’s arm fall. Joey started to sniffle. “Stop it!” Jerry said. He punched Joey’s arm.
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