“What did you do?” I shouted.
I was already on the floor before she answered.
Olivia’s little body shook when I lifted her.
Her stuffed bear came with her because she would not let go of it.
Sarah did not look sorry.
She did not even look startled.
“She grabbed Tyler’s hot dog,” she said, like she was reporting that a light bulb had burned out. “I taught her a lesson.”
I stared at her.
“She’s two.”
Sarah rolled her eyes.
“She is old enough to learn not to take things that belong to a boy.”
I pressed my palm lightly behind Olivia’s head and looked down at the blood on her nose.
My daughter was sobbing into my shirt.
My blouse was already marked red where her face pressed against me.
Sarah kept talking.
“If you don’t correct her now, tomorrow she’ll be stealing out of people’s purses.”
