The Intouchables

My sister and I were reborn back to the day we were adopted.

My sister, right away, grabbed the arm of the butcher, the guy who adopted me last time, and said, Mister, please, can I be your daughter?

She knew, you see, that in a year, this butcher would become incredibly rich, while the millionaire who adopted her would go bankrupt.

I just laughed.

It was obvious she was trying to steal the successful life Id had before.

What she didn't know was that the butcher's success was because he'd adopted me. Without me, he'd have stayed a butcher his whole life.

So, her little fantasy was busted from day one.

...

Last time around, my sister, Tiffany, and I grew up in the same foster home, pretty much attached at the hip. When we turned seventeen, two couples showed up at the home.

One was a guy named Earl, who ran a butcher shop, and the other was a well-known entrepreneur and his wife, the Caldwells.

Tiffany put on the charm, totally laying it on thick, and got the Caldwells to agree to take her.

When it was my turn, she pushed me out of the way, acting all sweet for the Caldwells, saying, "Daddy, can't you just adopt me? I don't want anyone else taking away my love." Even though I was her older sister.

So, I ended up with Earl the butcher.

But nobody saw what was coming. In two short years, everything flipped. The Caldwells went bust, lost everything, and Tiffany was out on the street.

Meanwhile, Earl, the butcher who I'd gone with, was shooting straight up, and became this major power player in town.

And thanks to his influence, I became a corporate manager, a city council member. People were scared of me.

But Tiffany, being the sneaky type she was, stole company data from me, and when I caught her and she was being hauled off to jail, she just lunged for the steering wheel, kicking and punching the poor driver.

She was yelling, "Lana, you little witch! You just got lucky with a good dad! Why do you have to have everything, I'm not going to let you!" and, "If you're sending me to prison, we're going down together!"

Boom, we crashed through the guardrail, straight into the river. Me and a whole carload of cops. Just like that. Gone.

Then I woke up, and there was Tiffany, grabbing this dude's hand, all cutesy, Oh, please, mister, take me, please! I eat like a bird and Ill be so good, I won't be any trouble at all."

And this dude? That was Earl, the butcher, the guy who'd adopted me.

I couldn't help but laugh. It was so transparent. She was back, all right, and wanted to get to my dad first, to steal the great life I'd had!

Standing next to him was this woman, all designer clothes, looking embarrassed. She said, Honey, we have a lot of money, Ill be really good to you, wouldnt you be happier at our place?

Tiffany reacted like she'd seen a ghost, spitting on the ground. Ugh, you're about to lose it all, what kind of life would that be?

Then she looked up all smiley, putting her hand on Earl's arm. "Mr. Earl, there's something so comfortable about you. You've got this big personality, you're going to be a huge success someday. Please, take me, I'll be a good girl.

I swear, I just wanted to howl. Last time, she was too good for a butcher. Spat in his face, practically. Now she knew he was going to get rich, she's all "Yes sir, whatever you say."

Well, this confirmed to me, I saw Tiffany for who she really was.

Earl, probably never had someone treat him so good. He grabbed her hand with his meaty paw, laughing, Alright! From today on, youre my daughter, Tiffany!

The ladys husband was furious. Shes wishing us bankruptcy? A kid this little with a heart this black? He grabbed his wife, Lets go. We're not adopting anyone!

Tiffany, being clever, suddenly cried, her voice all wobbly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Caldwell, I said something stupid." She shoved me towards him, adding, "Please adopt my sister. She'll make up for it later."

The man was fuming, but his wife had a soft heart. The foster mom, seeing a chance, kept pushing them.

So, they adopted me. They took me home and, after I devoured a big bowl of soup, I called them Mom and Dad.

After dinner, I texted Tiffany: Think youre going to have a good life with my dad, huh?

Her reply popped up immediately: Lana, youre back too? Doesnt matter, Earl adopted me. The Caldwells are going to be begging on the street in a year. You'll be right there with them, hahahaha.

I just chuckled. She has no clue. Earl's success happened because of me. Without me, he's just a butcher till he dies.

Her fantasy was busted from day one.

But Im not going to tell her that. Let her stew for a bit.

The next morning, I told Mr. Caldwell, "Dad, I've admired you for a long time, and I'm really interested in Caldwell Enterprises." "Could I visit the company?"

He just frowned, like he hadnt even heard me, and left for work.

I wasnt worried. If Caldwell Enterprises was going down in three years, there must be issues right now. If I could earn his trust, with my abilities, I could save the company.

For days, I was the perfect daughter, reading finance books, sharing what I learned with Mr. Caldwell.

And with my mom, I gave it my all. Getting her milk in the morning, learning her favorite recipes. I guess, because I never had family, I was desperate to be loved. Even when they didn't really respond to me, I didn't lose hope.

But then Tiffany showed up with a recording, and it destroyed my little dream.

It had Mr. Caldwells voice, sounding cold: "I feel like we adopted a viper. I'm not even dead, and shes thinking about running Caldwell Enterprises. She just goes on and on about Warren Buffet. I don't even understand half of those finance books, and she's acting like she knows everything.

"Lets look at terminating her adoption in a few years. We just adopted her to look good to the public.

Then there was static, and then Mrs. Caldwells voice, talking to Tiffany.

"Sweetie, your sister's so gloomy, while you're like a little ray of sunshine. I wish we adopted you. When she makes me food, I have the maid toss it, I'm scared shes going to poison me.

After the recording, Tiffany looked at me, all smug. "Lana, your parents don't like you. Last time, they loved me. They were working to earn tuition, even when they were broke. Youre just not very likable.

So that's why Tiffany had been so calm lately. She had been sucking up to my folks.

I could see she was wearing fancy new clothes. Earl was just a butcher, so there was no way he could pay for that.

She was getting money from Mrs. Caldwell.

I quietly hit record on my phone, playing it cool. You like my parents so much? We could trade.

Tiffany screeched, "That old bag? She's got such a sour face. Id never be her daughter. And her husband? He thinks he's a big deal with his big money, but last time, he was sucking up to Earl all the time."

Tiffany went on a rant, insulting everyone. Once she was done, I waved my phone around, showing her it was recording. I sent it to Mrs. Caldwell, as Tiffany watched in horror.

Tiffany tried to grab my phone, but her phone suddenly buzzed. She looked like shed seen a ghost. She glared at me, but hung up.

She can hang up her phone, but she couldnt stop me from calling Mrs. Caldwell.

Hi, Mom, I said. Tiffanys here with me. Ill put her on.

I shoved the phone at her, with Tiffany looking pale. Mrs. Caldwells voice was as cold as a judges verdict: "Tiffany, I thought you were just making jokes at the foster home, so I let it go. I even felt sorry for you with that butcher, so I bought you clothes and treats.

But youre just a mean kid. Don't contact me again.

She hung up. Tiffany started frantically texting Mrs. Caldwell, her face turning green as she stared at her screen. She was blocked.

When I got home, Mrs. Caldwell was there, and she had a bowl of hot soup for me. Mr. Caldwell was reading on the couch, looking at me like he actually cared.

After I finished my soup, he said, Lana, you can visit my company next weekend. You always wanted to, right? When you graduate, Ill get you a job, a manager position or something, whatever you want."

I looked up from my bowl, and gave him a real smile for the first time.

Oh, no need Dad, Im busy this weekend.

Whether they go bankrupt or not? Not my problem.

Back at school, Tiffany looked like she wanted to murder me. She could glare at me all she wanted, but I kept my head up and studied.

When Earl adopted me, he made me quit school to help him. I resisted, but he slapped me so hard, I never resisted again.

I had to work at the slaughterhouse, hauling meat and walking through pig manure. I came home smelling like, well, you can imagine. I was exhausted.

At night, I'd see Tiffany's posts, her designer bags, fancy dinners, trips abroad. I always wondered how it was like, to have a life like hers.

The first time I touched a book again, the pages smelled so good it brought tears to my eyes.

After class, Tiffany was surrounded by a group of her friends, all with dyed hair. She made friends with these lowlifes last time, and shed already gotten in with them again.

Whatever. Not my problem.

I had a massive headache after class, so I went to the restroom.

I was in a stall for a while. Then it got quiet outside. When I opened the door to wash my hands, there were Tiffanys little friends, standing there, arms crossed, looking hostile.

Before I could register what was happening, I got shoved against the wall. They started punching and kicking me.

Finally, I heard Tiffany yell, "Stop!"

She grabbed my hair, forcing me to look up at her. "How did Earl get rich? What happened? Tell me!"

"If you don't, theyll start up again!"

I looked at Tiffany, so stressed out, with all my bruises, and I suddenly felt calm.

Shed only been with Earl for a month, and she couldnt handle the bad life. Thats why she was trying to force me.

Fine. Ill tell you. I said.

On the fifteenth of next month, at midnight, Earl will be walking down the street behind the school.

If you follow him, youll find out how he got rich."

Tiffany frowned. "Does Earl drink? He never drinks when hes with me."

Really? I asked.

Yeah. He comes home from work at nine and makes me a snack, warms up my milk, and tells me to go to bed early."

Really? Last time, Earl was a raging drunk. He beat me, and he made me work for him. My life with him was hell.

I looked at her beautiful face, and said, He treats you so well, and youre still not happy?

She slapped me, hard. "Shut up.

What if he doesnt go out?

My last bit of compassion was gone. Then, get him drunk and take him there yourself. Then you'll get rich.