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Reality Means There Are No Fairy Godmothers

The rocks, sand, and dirt of the road's shoulder crunched under Abby Hill's feet. The wind whipped the sand around her face as she tightly held her small suitcase in one hand and with the other clutched her skirt. No, she wasn't dressed to be marching in this heat. No, but when it's time to go you just do it.

"Miss, miss," a truck stopped next to her. The driver yelled out the door, "Do you need a ride?"

Abby could see the dust whip around the driver's head.

"Are you going to town?"

"Yea." He said slowly.

She walked to the truck, opened the door, and got in next to the driver. He put the truck in first and they were gone.

*

When Earl held Abby, head in his hand with her butt tucked into his elbow and against his body, he felt the soft-warm flush of a father's pride in his firstborn child. Never mind that his first-born was female, she was a miracle. Perfect. He traced the top of her head, feeling the soft spot at the crown, and down to the earsmall, delicate, and beautiful. "Beautiful," he breathed into her ear.

As Abby grew, feeling his support, she was confident that he would catch her when she jumped, he would wipe her tears if she cried, and he would love her, only her. In this world of father and daughter, a mother lived, breathed, and birthed. More children were born, one after anothereach femaleuntil after the fifth try, a boy was born.
As long as only girls made their appearance into her little family, Abby knew that she had no rival, no rival until the appearance of Daniel, the first-born son. Now Daniel rode in Earl's arms, head in hand and butt flush to the elbow. Earl had not held any of the other children. Yes, she knew then, knew that Daniel had usurped her throne. Earl's boy had been born.

Soon, Earl began anticipating the time when Daniel would walk, run, and play ball. Yes, everyone knew that a girl was no fun to play ball with. A girl would cry when she was hit and expect Earl to pick her up. It was time to quit coddling seven-year-old Abby: by God, time for Abby to learn her place as a girl, which was beside her mother. He had a boy.

Oh, Abby was quick. She had only to feel the hurt when Earl picked up Daniel. When she wanted to be picked up, he complained and groaned at how heavy she was getting. She could see the signs.

Many days she would sit next to the rocking-bassinet, staring at this hateful-red thing, this boy. Mother thought she was just being helpful, rocking the baby, while Mother washed the clothes

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