From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea )

Karen's voice was loud and piercing.

Several feet ahead, Rebecca's eyebrows knitted together in disdain at hearing the term "trailer trash" thrown her way.

That old witch!

How dare she?

Had Karen shown a shred of humility, perhaps Rebecca might have tossed a few crumbs of kindness her way.

But now?

Forget it!

She wouldn't waste her charity on someone so beneath her.

A family fallen from grace, deserving of their bankruptcy and destined for a life at the bottom of the social ladder.

This was the first time Anthea had heard Karen let loose with such language in all the days she'd known her, sparking a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Mrs. Christensen, do you know her?"

At the sound of Anthea's voice, Karen's demeanor flipped like a switch, her face blooming into a smile, "Oh, Ann, there you are! Who would want to know such a vile person? Let's not talk about her. By the way, Ann, aren't you about to take your SATS? I got you this lucky charm from the church, keep it with you, and you're sure to ace them!"

With that, Karen handed over a yellow charm, its symbols drawn in vibrant ink.

"Thank you, Mrs. Christensen." Anthea took the charm, tucking it carefully into her blazer pocket.

Seeing Anthea cherish the charm so, Karen beamed with pride.

She had worried that Anthea might find her too superstitious for gifting her the charm. After all, the younger generation often dismissed the old ways. But Anthea's acceptance proved her wrong.

Truly, she was the ideal granddaughter-in-law, worlds apart from that no-good Rebecca.

As Anthea showed appreciation for

Karen's gift, Adah, not to be outdone, pulled out a thermos, "Annie, you must be hungry after school, right? I had this special dessert soup made just for you!"

Anthea's eyes sparkled at the mention of dessert soup, "Really? Thank you, Adah!"

"Annie, you don't have to be so formal with me!" Adah laughed, linking arms with Anthea, "There's a fried chicken joint up ahead. Let's go sit and eat." "Sounds good."

Karen quickly took Anthea's other arm, and together they entered the bustling diner filled with students.

Anthea ordered for the group using her phone.

Adah served the dessert soup, passing it to Anthea, "Annie, give it a try. This dessert chef is a genius, it's a secret family recipe you can't find anywhere else."

Taking a sip, Anthea savored the sweetness, tinged with a hint of mint, and the soft dumplings that burst with flavor at the slightest pressure.

"How is it, Annie? Good?" Adah asked eagerly.

"Delicious!" Anthea nodded, her approval evident.

Adah filled another bowl, "I'm glad you like it, have some more, we've got plenty!"

Karen watched over Anthea with a fond look, "Yes, yes, eat up! If it's not enough, I'll have more sent over. Oh, Ann, you've gotten so thin. Are you stressed about the SATS?"

Then, Karen continued, "It's just an

exam, after all. You're aiming for Harvard, right? If your scores fall short, I'll just donate a couple of buildings to Harvard. Two's not enough? We'll make it three, or ten, until they agree to take you!"

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Adah nodded in agreement, "Exactly, Annie. Mrs. Christensen is right. It's just a few buildings; don't stress yourself out. We can afford it!"

Karen and Adah spoke with such sincerity, their faces devoid of any jest, as if donating buildings to an Ivy League school was as casual as picking up apples from the O supermarket.

Anthea, taken aback by their display of wealth, choked on her dessert soup, coughing as she tried to process their outrageous offer.