Victoria soon found out that Annie was right. They both had to share Annie's room. Annie was furious; she had cried, screamed, and threw the most outrageous of tantrums. Her parents gave her a timeout, but that seemed to make Annie's behaviour worse.

Victoria didn't really mind sharing a room. She had shared a dormitory with a dozen girls in the orphanage. But she didn't blame Annie for her behaviour. Mr and Mrs Franklin were very well off, so Annie probably had had her own room all her life.

Betty explained to Victoria that Annie had a jealous nature. 'When Josh was born, Annie resented him because she had been the youngest until then.'

'How old is Josh?' asked Victoria.

'He's almost three,' said Betty.

Victoria was looking forward to her first dinner with her new family. She was seated between Annie and Josh.

Dinner was roasted chicken with fried potatoes and gravy. A bow of salad was sitting at the corner.

'No fair,' complained Annie. 'We usually have nice dinners like this on holidays and birthdays.'

'Today we're celebrating Victoria's first day here,' said her mother.

Annie scowled. 'I don't like her,' she said.

'Annie, don't be rude,' said Betty.

'Easy for you to say! You're not the one who has to share her room.'

'Annie, Betty's a big girl and needs her space,' said Mr Franklin. 'Besides, your room is bigger.'

'I'll be going to college in a few years,' said Betty. You can move into my room then.'

George hadn't said anything so far. His mother nudged at him. 'Are you going to say anything to your sister?'

'Mom, will she be attending my school?'

'Yes, she will,' said Mrs Franklin.

'I don't want her at my school. Everyone will make fun of me.'

Victoria felt a little upset. She hated feeling unwanted. When she was little, she had always feared that she would never get adopted. But as she grew older, she had slowly accepted her fate. That is, until the Franklin parents decided to adopt her.

Victoria tried to put a spoonful of potatoes into her mouth, but the spoon got slapped out of her hand. She saw Annie fuming at her.

'You don't belong here!' said Annie. 'Get out!' She pinched Victoria on her arm.

'Annie, behave yourself!' said Betty.

Josh hated the commotion. He started to fuss. 'Oh, don't cry,' said Mrs Franklin.

Victoria couldn't take this anymore. She ran out of the dining room in tears.