I Reported My Own Family

Chapter 2

The next day, I cooked myself a meal, tender garden greens sautéed with garlic.

My sister picked up a bright, crisp leaf and took a bite.

Her eyes lit up. "Veda, you really should be a grower. I'm nothing like you. I just sit at my computer looking at market numbers all day."

She studies finance, always neat and sharp, unlike me, who spends all my time in the dirt.

"Is it good?" I watched her hand reach toward the dish again.

"What's wrong?"

"Greens that had dog pee on them should taste even better than usual, right?" I said calmly.

Her fork froze in midair.

I added, "Oh, and to keep it totally natural, I didn't wash them."

She let out a cry and ran to the bathroom, retching. I gave a cold smile.

People never know how something hurts until it happens to them.

She ran to Mom, who had just woken up.

"Mom! She's still upset about yesterday. She made me eat greens that had dog pee on them!"

Dad stepped out, voice firm. "Veda, have you lost your mind? Doing that on purpose just to be cruel? Why are you so petty!"

I said, "Didn't Ann say it makes plants full of life and beauty? That's why I served them."

Ann cried even harder. Dad grabbed the plate and the pan, and dumped everything into the trash.

No one remembered these were test plants I had nurtured for months, tending them with great care.

"Apologize to her right now!"

I spoke clearly, "Ann, I'm truly sorry. I didn't know you wouldn't like something so beautiful and natural."

Ann's eyes flicked. "I really was only trying to help you. You should give me the garden key," she went on. "Then all of us can help you whenever we want."

I shook my head. "I can take care of it myself."

Mom snatched the key from my hand. "Where is your pride? You're supposed to be the responsible one! Keeping things from your own family! Ann only wants to help."

Once she had the key, Ann stopped crying and smiled. She held the key up high.

"I'll take such wonderful care of your garden, you'll see."

She stressed the words "wonderful care."

My chest felt tight. After that, I checked the garden constantly. Luckily, our class schedules were almost the same, I usually got home before her.

She behaved herself for a few days. Then during class, a classmate sent me a link.

"Look at this, someone's garden where you can pick fresh produce for free."

I clicked and my heart sank. There on screen was Ann, plucking a ripe tomato and taking a bite.

She beamed, "Everything here is home-grown and chemical-free! Join our fun little quiz and you can pick your own vegetables!"

Beside her, Lyndon had cleared a whole bed of young greens and set up tables and chairs.

A crowd of older folks had gathered, holding bags, ready to pick.

The viewer count kept climbing. Many were asking for the address.

I left right away and raced home. Ann looked surprised for only a second, then she skipped over.

"I knew we couldn't eat all this ourselves," she said. "So I invited people to come share. Isn't it lovely?"

I looked around. In a space of barely 20 square meters, more than ten people were crowded in.

Plants were crushed underfoot. The soil was packed hard. Many stems stood bare, stripped clean.

I ended the live stream and told everyone firmly to leave.