I gave my sister Tina the nickname of 'Sister Bully.' She was the difficult child who was down right mean to everyone, including our neighbor's dog, Fluffy who wouldn't hurt a fly. One day while raking our back yard, I saw her throw stones at Fluffy who was on the other side of the fence whimpering from pain. I yelled at her to stop but she ignored me. Enough is enough, I said to myself as I ran into the house to tell mother what Tina was doing to the poor dog. Immediately, mother stomped out to the backyard and grabbed Tina by the arm and told her to stop and get into the house right away.

Tina was in trouble. She knew it and pouted for rest of the day. When we sat down together at dinner time, she gave me her 'evil eye' look. It meant she would get even with me somehow. Tina was a tall girl for being twelve tears old and a heavy weight. She towered over me by several inches and outweighed me by forty pounds. I was sixteen and her older sister. That didn't bother her because she acted the part of a bully. Whenever she could be mean and devious, Sister Bully was in her glory. Our parents knew she was a problem child and seeked counseling for her but all it did was make Tina a good girl as long as she got her way. Her model child behavior would last for a few days until she got into trouble again.

My school days were filled with friends who I had known since kindergarten. We hung around whenever we could at school and at our homes. This was a special year for me because of the junior prom. I picked out a pretty pink gown from the Penny's Catalog and showed it to mother, hoping she would order it for me in time for the prom which would be held several months away. I was looking forward to having satin shoes dyed pink to match my gown.

As the school days of fall passed quickly, Bobby Smith, a senior and I decided to go 'steady.' He gave me his class ring to wear around my neck. I was allowed to date him as long as he returned me home by my parents' strict curfew of 11:00 P.M. Tina became jealous that I had a steady boyfriend and was allowed to date. Whenever I came home after dating Bobby, she would give me her evil eye look from her bed, pretending to read a book. This was one of her intimidation techniques. I refused to acknowledge her and her bully ways.

There is an adage about a leopard never changing its spots. This was true about Sister Bully. One evening I had a headache which refused to leave after hours of studying for finals. Quickly, I changed into my pajamas and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, I discovered something hard underneath my pillow. It was Grandma Thompson's diamond engagement ring which mother no longer could wear because of her weight gain over the years. On occasion, she would take it out and proudly show Tina and me the ring Grandma bestowed her within her will. What was this ring doing underneath my pillow? I figured it was Tina trying to get even with me when I snitched on her when she hurt Fluffy. And, simply being jealous of me because of having Bobby as a boyfriend.

The next morning I put my bathrobe on and went downstairs with the precious heirloom. Mother and Tina were in the kitchen when I came in. Without a word from both of them, I felt they were ganging up on me. Mother's face was red with anger. Yelling at me she said, "How long have you had Grandma Thompson's diamond ring without my permission?" I placed the ring on the kitchen table and looked directly at Sister Bully who had a smirk on her face which I wanted to slap as hard as I could.

Mother in a quivering voice said, "Tina told me you stole the ring and have been wearing it to school, pretending you are engaged to Bobby Smith. I will not have you get away with this deception. Young lady, you will be grounded and not date Bobby for the next two weeks."

Tina lied to mother to get even to me because of the dog situation. Her evil eye look was real and made me feel guilty when I was not. I blurted to mother that it was a lie and that Tina must have placed the ring under my pillow. Feeling sorry for myself, I ran upstairs and sobbed on my pillow, not knowing what to do next. While I was grounded from dating Bobby, one of my closest friends told me he was seen dating someone else. I cried myself to sleep each night knowing that Sister Bully was the cause of my boyfriend dropping me for another girl.

The years have passed since that eventful day. I got married to Gene Watkins who lived down the street from us and was a friend from high school days. While he was on furlough from the Army we married and later on, we became the proud parents of twin boys much to my parents' delight. Mother gave me Grandma Thompson's ring as a wedding present which I wore proudly. She realized I was telling her the truth and that Tina was lying about me stealing it.

Whenever Gene and I get a chance, we visit Tina at the state hospital for the mentally ill. Tina always insists on wearing the diamond ring and staring at it for some time. Her evil eye is long gone because of the drugs she is taking. Sister Bully is no more.