Member-only story
The Red Car
How They Frightened My Little Sister into Eating
My parents had to travel urgently to Germany with my younger brother, who was ill. They had very little time to make arrangements.
I was old enough to remember my grandma saying:
“I can look after one, but not both!”
My mother had to find a quick solution. She asked her aunt for a favor, and my younger sister went to stay with her.
My own life continued almost as usual. I went to school, came home for lunch and felt at home. But my grandma did not have the energy to take me into the city center for my ballet classes.
I suppose I was growing more and more bored and restless. Sitting still was not my thing. So one day, my grandma decided to make the effort and take me to visit my younger sister.
I was so happy to see her. I think we had been apart for several weeks, and I had almost forgotten her golden curls and mischievous smile. She showed me her new kingdom under the grand piano.
She had been given a Barbie doll, something very special and new then. Our aunt had sewn her an entire wardrobe, from an evening gown to a fur coat. The doll was dressed just like our aunt’s daughter,, who was a successful film star in Rome.
