Carol, a girl from Austria, was never registered at birth by her parents who were more interested in free hospital supplies than her. She grew up in a household with two older brothers who were spoiled and mean. Her parents were also cruel and selfish, prioritizing material possessions over their daughter's well-being.
Carol's life changed when a rich man, who she had saved from dying on the street, adopted her and provided her with a better life. However, her biological parents eventually showed up, pretending to be poor and in need of her help. Carol, feeling sorry for them, let them stay with her, but soon discovered that they were taking advantage of her kindness and trying to steal from her adoptive father.
In the end, Carol's adoptive father returned and threw her biological parents out, and Carol finally found the happiness and family she deserved. Her biological parents were later imprisoned, and Carol was left to live a better life with her adoptive father.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The narrator, Carol, was born in Austria.
2. Carol's parents never registered her birth.
3. When Carol was three, her brothers took her to the park and made her sit on a bench with a "for sale" sign.
4. A cop intervened and took Carol home, but her parents slammed the door in his face.
5. Carol's parents were mean to her and favored her brothers.
6. Carol would often sneak into her brothers' room to read their books.
7. An old homeless woman taught Carol how to read.
8. Carol gave a hungry beggar girl a cake that her dad had brought home.
9. Carol's dad was angry with her for giving away the cake.
10. Carol's parents were poor and couldn't afford to send her to school.
11. A rich man adopted Carol and provided her with a better education.
12. Carol's biological parents were mean to her and only cared about money.
13. Carol's biological parents tried to take advantage of her and the rich man's wealth.
14. The rich man caught Carol's biological parents trying to break into his safe.
15. Carol told her biological parents to leave the house and never come back.
16. The rich man called security and had Carol's biological parents thrown out of the house.
17. Carol's biological parents were later serving time in jail.
18. Carol considered the rich man to be her family.