The bright sun shone down on the stone patio of the huge estate.
Ten-year-old Lily stood near the edge of the courtyard in a dark navy blue dress.
She held a plain white plate loaded with small sandwiches and fruit.
Lily had waited hours for someone to offer her a proper meal.
Her stomach rumbled loudly as she took a small step toward the shade.
Nobody inside the big house had offered her a seat or a glass of water.
She kept her eyes lowered to avoid making direct contact with the guests.
The family was celebrating an important business victory out in the yard.
A giant American flag hung proudly from the stone balcony right behind them.
Lily felt completely out of place among the rich relatives who ignored her.
She tried to find a quiet corner where she could eat in peace.
Suddenly, a heavy shadow fell across her small shoes.
Her grandmother, Evelyn, walked over with a severe look on her face.
Evelyn wore an elegant lace outfit that looked extremely expensive.
She stared at Lily like the young girl did not belong on the property.
Evelyn: Who said you could take food from the main table?
Lily: I was just really hungry, Grandma.
Evelyn: You do not call me that in front of our guests.
Lily clutched the plate tighter with her small hands.
Evelyn lifted her foot and kicked the ceramic plate right out of Lily's hands.
satisfied sound broke the silence as the plate smashed onto the stone ground.
Food scattered across the dirty patio stones in every direction.
Bright red sauce splashed across the bottom of Lily's navy blue dress.
The young girl gasped and pulled her hands back toward her chest.
Evelyn: Clean up your mess and get out of my sight.
Lily looked down at the ruined lunch with heavy tears filling her eyes.
She let out a soft whimpering sound that nobody bothered to care about.
Several family members watched the scene unfold from a nearby table.
A woman in a sparkling silver gown leaned back and chuckled softly.
Nobody moved forward to help the little girl standing alone in the dirt.
Lily crouched down on her knees to pick up a clean piece of bread.
She was so hungry that she raised the piece toward her mouth.
Her knees rested right on the cold stone surface of the patio.
The humiliating moment felt like it would last forever in her mind.
She had never felt so alone in her entire short life.