The eve of the school’s summer vacation is also the day when the monthly test results are announced.
Susan was carrying a backpack and walking home, with a ponytail tied behind her head gently swinging from side to side with her pace.
In the fifth grade of elementary school, she already has the concept of money. She knows that her family is not very rich. To put it bluntly, her family belongs to low- and middle-income households.
Her father was a security guard for a small company, and her mother was weak due to neglect after giving birth and was unable to go out to work, so Susan could only do some homework and earn some pocket money.
Usually, after Susan goes home from school and finishes her homework, she will help her mother to do homework together, but today Susan has some other expectations because it is her birthday.
Every birthday, her mother would make a cute and delicious cake for her. She guessed that this year her mother might make a chocolate cake. She was greedy when she thought of delicious cakes and she also has a gift to give to her parents.
Thinking of the monthly test papers in her schoolbag, the smile on her small face is sweeter. This time she took the third place in the class in the monthly test, which is one step better than last time. Next, she will be the second target, and then she will get the first place in the class, and her parents will definitely be proud of her.
With the excitement and anticipation that filled her chest, Susan’s footsteps also appeared brisk and cheerful.
When she returned home, she cleverly finished her homework in the living room, and then began to help her mother do housework.
"Mom, guess which place I ranked in this monthly exam." Susan asked with a triumphant smile.
"Well...I was fourth last time, so I won't regress this time?" Rose pretended to hesitate.
"Not at all!" Susan couldn't help but pursed her lips, annoying, her mother underestimated her too much.
"Is that progress?"
"Of course! Mom, I got third place this time!"
Rose smiled lovingly and rubbed her daughter's head, "Wow, our Susan is so good, she actually got the third place in the exam!"
Susan was praised, and her laughter couldn't be more tolerated. She continued to ask, "Then guess what day it is today."
"Of course I know that today is our Susan’s birthday. Mom has already prepared the cake. Let's wait until Dad comes back for dinner and then blow the candles and eat the cake, okay?" Rose looked at her daughter with pity.
The family's financial situation is not good, and she can only buy some cheap gadgets in the market as gifts for her daughter's birthday. She really feels very sorry for her daughter.
"Yeah! Long live! I knew my mother would remember my birthday. It's great, there is cake to eat in the evening!" Susan cheered happily.
What she looks forward to most every year is her birthday. Not only can she eat cakes made by her mother, but she may also have small gifts, because she knows that her family's income is not high, and she doesn't dare to ask her parents to buy toys for her.
Rose looked at her daughter's innocent smile with satisfaction.
At this time, there was the sound of the door being opened and closed. Rose stood up and said with a smile: "your father is back home." Susan nodded and followed her mother to the hallway to welcome her father.
"Wash your face and you will be able to eat later." Rose said warmly, taking the coat off her husband.
"Dad." Susan called out flatteringly.
Jim had a stinky face and snorted, "Eat, eat, you prodigal mother and daughter, you only know how to eat all day long, what else can you do besides eating!"
Rose's smile froze, guessing that her husband was scolded by the boss again, or else he was in a bad mood because he lost the bet, "Jim, today is Susan’s birthday..."
Jim frowned and screamed: "Birthday? What birthday does the kid have, oh...and you want money? How easy is it for you women to think about raising a family, a birthday, a New Year, a household, and you won’t earn enough money!"
"Don't say that, Susan understands it." Rose glanced at her daughter with her small head down, and softly persuaded her.
"Why, can't I say something when I am her father?"
"I'll put in the hot water first, and I can take a bath soon." Rose reluctantly tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Huh." Jim still walked into the room with a stinking face.
Rose touched her daughter’s little head and saw the strong smile on her raised little face. She sighed in her heart that she did not marry well, but she did not have the ability and courage to change. After all, if she loses her weak body With her husband's dependence, she has problems even supporting herself. Although sometimes she is afraid of her husband's uncertain temperament, she will try to resist it for the sake of her daughter.
Susan watched her mother go to the kitchen to be busy, she sat back at the coffee table and continued to help her mother complete today's homework.
In fact, she has always had a dislike and fear for her father that she does not want to get close to. Her father is very angry, and every time he gets angry, he will beat people, which makes Susan and her mother miserable.
Oh, is she too greedy? I thought my father would at least remember her birthday, and maybe even bring a small gift back. Even if it was just a pen and a notebook, she would be very happy, and then they would have a cake together happily...but this will not happen. Her dreams can only be dreams.
After dinner, Rose saw her husband's expression look better, and she was sitting on the sofa in the living room watching TV, and she took out a small and delicate cake from the refrigerator.
"Susan, guess what cake is today?" Rose asked with a smile while holding the cake.
"Is it pudding?" Seeing her mother shook her head, Susan asked again, "Chocolate?" She loves chocolate the most.
"That's right! Susan is eleven years old this year. Let's put in candles and sing a happy birthday song together." Rose smiled and put the candles on the cake, got up and turned off the lights, and the family of three gathered around the coffee table.
"Happy birthday to you-"
"Wish me a happy birthday-"
Rose looked at her indifferent husband and whispered: "Today is my daughter's birthday, so just..."
"It's boring, how old is it to have a birthday!"
"Jim, this is a rare day in a year, you just..."
"Are you annoying!" Jim drank the wine, seeing the mother and daughter become more obtrusive, and swept the cake off with a big wave.
In the last second, Susan clapped her hands happily, expecting her father to sing a happy birthday song, and the next second she stared at the cake on the ground, stupidly speechless.
"This is Susan’s birthday cake, how can you..."
Before Rose finished speaking, Jim slapped it over.
"Dare to talk back! Damn, I'm so annoyed to raise your prodigal mother and daughter. I don't know how much money is spent on this cake. Is it easy for me to make money?!"
Susan heard his mother's crying back to her senses, ran to hug her tightly, and cried loudly, "Mom...oooo..."
The tears of two women, one big and one small, didn't make Jim feel distressed and stopped, but instead angered him even more.
"Don't fight...please don't hit Susan...she is still so young..." Rose begged, trying to protect her daughter.
"Cry and cry! I'm fucking damned by you!"
Susan bit her bleeding lips, she hates her father! She didn’t know how many times she had been beaten by her father. She felt piercing pains in her hands, feet and back. She raised her eyes and stared at her father bitterly. Suddenly she broke away from her mother’s embrace and grabbed the hand that father waved over. Bite it with all his strength.
"Damn it! You bitch dared to bite me!" Jim pulled her daughter's hair in pain to let her relax, and slapped her again.
"Hmm..." Susan hit the palm, and her petite body fell out, hitting the coffee table with her forehead, and marked a wound with blood.
"Susan!" Rose exclaimed, and hurriedly drew some toilet paper to press her daughter's wound.
Jim glanced at them, then snorted and slammed the door and left.
Susan's eyes were stained with blood red, she did not cry or utter a word, let her mother give her medicine, her big eyes stared at the door for a long time, and then she looked at her mother who was crying constantly.
The head hurts very much, but she feels more pain in her chest.
Every time I heard classmates mention their father, his image was always kind and gentle. Why did her father have such a bad temper and would beat others? She is obviously very well-behaved and working hard. Today is her birthday. Shouldn't it be a happy celebration? But my father even ruined the cake that my mother made so hard. My father really hated her. She didn't want this father anymore...
Susan secretly made up her mind that she must grow up quickly, so as to protect her mother, and the teacher said that as long as she studies hard, she can find a good job in the future. She wants to make a lot of money for her mother to live a good life. Nor will the father have the opportunity to hurt her and mother!
