The narrator, Casey, shares a glimpse into her past and the reasons behind her complicated feelings towards her birth mom and stepmom. Casey's parents got divorced when she was five, and she lived with her stepmom, Polly, and her dad in a mansion. Polly was a successful fashion designer, and Casey loved spending time with her. However, her relationship with her birth mom was strained due to her mom's eccentric and dramatic behavior.
One particular incident at a school talent show highlighted their differences. Casey's mom burst in wearing a ridiculous peacock dress and started singing, only to trip and rip her costume apart. This led to a series of embarrassing and chaotic events.
As Casey grew older, she started to distance herself from her mom's behavior, even making excuses to visit her less often. However, things took a turn when Casey's mom gained custody of her after a dispute over a burn injury. Living with her mom was tough, but the arrival of her half-brother, Ethan, brought some joy into their home.
Despite the challenges, Casey and Ethan bonded, and their relationship grew stronger. They even started to form a sense of family with their mom, but her attention-seeking behavior continued to cause tension.
A turning point came when Casey received a mysterious message from a long-lost sibling, Alex, who had been kept a secret by their mom. The siblings decided to confront their mom, who revealed that she had been struggling with her own issues and didn't want her kids to grow up with an "embarrassing psycho mom."
In the end, the family decided to put their differences aside and give their mom a chance to make amends. With the support of their loved ones, they hoped for a better future together.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator's parents got divorced when they were five years old.
2. The narrator lived with their stepmom Polly and dad in a huge mansion.
3. Polly was a successful fashion designer.
4. The narrator's mom was an opera singer before her marriage.
5. The narrator's mom had an incredible voice but could be embarrassing and attention-seeking.
6. The narrator's mom burst into their school talent show and started singing, causing a scene.
7. The narrator got into a fight at school after the incident and was sent to the principal's office.
8. The narrator's mom picked a fight with the principal and was escorted out by security.
9. The narrator started making excuses to visit their mom less often.
10. The narrator's mom filed a custody case and won, forcing the narrator to live with her.
11. The narrator's mom kept their half-brother Ethan a secret from them.
12. Ethan's dad had custody, but Ethan was sent to live with the narrator's mom due to his dad's illness.
13. The narrator and Ethan bonded over games and movies while their mom recovered from a mild concussion.
14. The narrator's mom planned a family bonding trip to the beach, but it ended in a fight.
15. The narrator and Ethan left their mom on the beach and spent the day with their dad and Polly.
16. The narrator received a mysterious Instagram message from a long-lost sibling named Alex.
17. Alex revealed that she was the narrator's sister and had been searching for them.
18. The narrator, Alex, and Ethan confronted their mom about keeping them apart.
19. The mom explained that she didn't want her kids growing up with an "embarrassing psycho mom" and thought they had better lives with their other families.
20. The family decided to put their differences aside and give their mom a chance to make things right.