My Family, My Monsters: The Stanford Betrayal

ing of my phone, every announcemen

tter forever. The schoo

"You okay? You look li

said, trying for a

?" he asked,

. The letter was a h

, Mr. Henderson' s voice

lty, I have a wond

od ran

Ava Miller has been awarded the prestigious National In

se in my classroom. My

ns, Ava! That'

. It was hap

om, gave me a thumbs-up,

to smi

a blur. Congratulations.

rently, to arrange a "small celebrator

ull of pride. "Your parents are so thr

led.

me, dreadin

ked normal. S

ady parked. Some neighbors,

talking to my father.

the star

agne flute in her hand. "Av

t same chilling glint I rem

"Our brilliant daughter." Hi

d from an armchair, a p

minutes later. "Ava! Wonde

of the small crowd was ga

ss. "A toast. To Ava. A

vement" sounded

p. Then, her

sharp, cutting through the polite murmur

looked confu

cholarship letter – the one I hadn' t hidden well enough, o

icked

voice dripping with co

in half. Then

illed t

nderson stepped forward. "E

or Ava," Father said, his voice low

other screamed, her fa

e, nails out. I

s. "You selfish, deceitful

snappe

t watched, her expre

amed, terror floo

of Father' s

t door, into

elp me! They' re

red out from

Just like before, but not. Thi