The narrative describes the author's life as a child, living in a dysfunctional family with parents who neglected their children and spent their time on self-destructive behaviors. The parents' actions led to their home becoming a dump, and the children were often left to fend for themselves.
The author, who is 16 at the time, has to take on the role of a mother figure for her two younger sisters, Alex and Katie. Despite being a minor, she is forced to get food and money to feed her family, eventually resorting to stealing.
One day, she decides to steal from a woman's handbag, which she finds in a busy street. She is caught by the woman and the police, leading to her arrest and imprisonment. While in jail, the author is visited by a social worker, Pam, who helps her understand the legal process and eventually files a lawsuit against her parents.
The author's parents are found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The author, who is now 18, is able to take care of her sisters, Alex and Katie. They move back to their old house, which has been repaired with secondhand furniture. Despite the challenges they faced, the author feels hopeful for her future and the future of her sisters.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator is a 16-year-old girl who has to take care of her two younger sisters, Katie and Alex, because their parents are neglectful and abusive.
2. The narrator resorts to stealing food and money to feed her sisters, and eventually joins a gang of pickpockets led by Raymond.
3. The narrator gets caught by the police when she participates in a robbery of an electronic store with Raymond and his friends.
4. The narrator is sent to juvenile detention, where she suffers from bullying and violence, but also attends school.
5. The narrator decides to sue her parents for giving birth to her, and gets the help of a social worker named Pam and a lawyer.
6. The narrator wins the case against her parents, who are sentenced to 10 years in prison, and gets custody of her sisters.
7. The narrator moves back to her house with her sisters and Pam's assistance, and feels hopeful for their future.