The Perfect Child

by Lucinda Berry

women. “He only hit her that one time.” “Let me guess—he’d never hit a woman before?” He couldn’t keep the disgust off his face.

His chest wasn’t moving. I set him on the floor, felt for a pulse. No heartbeat. I pushed on his small chest with my two fingers.

The baby us dead??? Did janie kill him

“Child abuse? Are you serious?” The anger radiated off him. Holly didn’t skip a beat. “Weren’t you questioned the last time Janie was in the emergency room?” “Yes, but that was different.”

She told me she hated me today. It’s not the first time. It used to hurt. Not anymore.

“She drove Hannah over the edge. I know my sister, and that girl is what drove her crazy, and I’m not going to have the same thing happen to me. I was horrified when I found out what Hannah did. I couldn’t even imagine it. But you know what? Now I can. I’ve only had Janie in my house for a short

FInaly jaaie being expozed foe her behvaior

“I have to protect my family,” she said. “But she’s your family.” “No, Christopher. She’s not. I didn’t adopt her—you did.”

“It’s Allison. You have to come. It’s Allison.” He’d let out a sob. “She’s dead.”

Whattt

this. Becky goes on to record all the things she did to try and control Janie. She started with starving her and using food as a reward for good behavior. She gives her plenty of old-fashioned spankings that escalate into beatings before she moves on to