The female doctor smiled. "Your leg is not broken."

Li Jing was lying on the examination table with a hand on her belly and the other squeezing Li Na's. Her pants leg was rolled up to her knee. Covering her leg were big and small, nasty bruises. The important thing was that it had not been broken. You probably can imagine how relieved my family and I were. During the short ride to the Forlot hospital, Li Jing kept repeating how she was too young and too cute to get a broken bone and die.

Li Jing's worried expression instantly changed to utter shock. Then her face brightened. "It is not?"

The doctor examined the bruises. "Nope. But too many bruises. How did you injure your leg again?"

"Li Jing defied gravity," Li Na explained. She stayed by our sister's side since the severe fall. "Sadly, gravity did not like that and almost broke her leg."

"Gravity injured her because she defied it?"

"Yeah!" Li Na gazed up at our parents. "We gotta sue it so it does not try breaking someone else's sister's leg."

This was not a good time to laugh, but I could not keep it in. My hand hovered over my mouth as I snickered. I am blessed being part of this family despite that I carry Mexican genes, and they carry Asian genes. When that feeling of not belonging suddenly washes over me, I try reminding myself that my large family truly loves me. I am treated like an Asian whose family honors Mexican holidays too. My parents and sisters could have chosen a normal child similar to them. They were never forced to adopt me, a Mexican confined to a wheelchair. They did not have to face the difficulties of raising a disabled child.

I have read headlines on the web of so-called "parents" exploiting their ill or disabled kid for fame and fortune while neglecting or abusing the poor kid. Once they are through with this child, they abandon him or her at the orphanage or at a friend's or relative's place. Scumbags like these should be locked away, and the prison guard should throw away the key.

I never thought that my parents would exploit me. I do not have to think about it, thank gosh. I thank the Lord that they took me in and accepted what and who I am.

Li Jing was sitting up and glaring down at me. "Hey."

I immediately stopped snickering. I covered my mouth with my fist and quickly cleared my throat.

"Were you laughing?"

"Snickering. It did not want to stay in."

"Were you laughing at my leg?"

"Absolutely not. I was laughing at Li Na."

Li Na pointed to her leg. "You were laughing at my leg, Theresa?"

"You do not have a bruised leg."

"Oh. Were you laughing at my outfit?"

"What you said about gravity was pretty funny."

"Gravity almost murdering our sister is funny?"

I snickered louder. Mom, Dad, and the doctor joined.

"I never want to be a teen or an adult," Li Jing said.

"Why not?"

"They are weird."

On the way home, we swung by the grocery store to get a specific cream that the doctor had prescribed. Once a day, Mom or Dad had to put the cream on Li Jing's leg. The process would end once all the bruises were totally gone. Until then, Li Jing had to be careful walking.

"This is the worst day ever!" Li Jing declared once Dad pulled up in the driveway. "Not only did useless gravity throw me on that table and bruise my leg, but it ruined my and Li Na's chance to finally talk to Jamie and have her autographs also! And it embarrassed me in front of her. Jamie will never give me her autograph now."

Li Na held her hand in both of hers and patted the top. "We know Jamie. She is the coolest and most hilarious person."

I waited for Dad to fetch me my wheelchair. "Ahem."

The twins faced me.

"Alright, one of the coolest and most hilarious people," Li Na corrected. They faced each other again. "Jamie is a bit clumsy too. She would never turn away one of her biggest fans, especially if the fan is cute like you!"

"There are no Black Hills fans as cute as us."

"Jamie is staying in town for the next two days," I said. "You can get her autographs tomorrow."

Their hands shot up. "Yay!"

"Wait," Li Jing said. "How do you know that?"

"A flyer on the bookshop's front door read that she will be talking with her fans until two days after tomorrow. You still have your chance."

"Yay!"

Mom opened Li Jing's door. "Come on, troublemaker." She scooped her up and raised her hand to Li Na.

Li Na leaned towards me and hugged me. "I want to go with Theresa. I want to ride in her lap."

"Did you ask her?"

She gazed up at me with her irresistible grin. "Theresa, may I ride with you?"

"Use the magic word."

"Please?"

"Sure," I answered. "But you have to climb off when we reach the steps."

"I can climb back on after you are on the porch, right?"

"Sure. Where do you want to ride to?"

"To the backyard!"

We entered the house first and sped to the glass doors. Li Jing remarked that she wanted to join us. Mom said that she could after she and Dad applied on the cream. Li Na and I slid open the door and rolled onto the back porch. I stopped by its steps and locked my wheelchair to prevent it from moving.

"You have arrived at your destination," I announced as Li Na crawled off me. "Thanks for riding the Theresa."

She stood in front of said steps leading to the grass and stared down at them. "Now how do we get you down to the grass?"

"Very carefully."