8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
1/22
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
2/22
t`m twostmn
sostmr`ccn]hrfvmaohe t`m Nfrj Amefgy
cl Lmifam Lromhns`ops
JMAA_ \FAMH
B F A A F H ^ O H M B C C J W ^ H M U _ C R J
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
3/22
Gcpyroe`t 2464 by Jmaay \famh
Faa roe`ts rmsmrvmn.
Tubaos`mn oh t`m ]hotmn Wtftms by Bfaafhtohm Bccjs,fh oiproht cl ^`m Rfhnci @cusm Tubaos`ohe Ercup,
f novosoch cl Rfhnci @cusm, Ohg., Hmw _crj.
BFAAFH^OHM fhn gcacp`ch frm rmeostmrmn trfnmifrjs cl Rfhnci @cusm, Ohg.
Aobrfry cl Gchermss Gftfaceohe-oh-Tubaogftoch Nftf\famh, Jmaay.
^`m twostmn sostmr`ccn ; uhrfvmaohe t`m nfrj amefgy cl lmifam lromhns`ops /Jmaay \famh.
p. gi.Ohgaunms bobaocerfp`ogfa rmlmrmhgms.
OWBH ?50-4-7>=-=24=6-5 (`bj. ; faj. pfpmr) OWBH ?50-4-7>=-=24=7-6 (mbccj)
6. Lmifam lromhns`op. 2. Ohtmrpmrschfa gchflogt.7. UcimhTsyg`cacey. O. ^otam.
BL=5=.L
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
4/22
Wc os pohohe lcr f icrm cpmh fhn gcaafbcrftovm sporot fiche wcimh
uhrmfaostog cr `cjmy3 Fh cutnftmn pom-oh-t`m-sjy nrmfi3 Wfnay, ifhy
wcimh smmi tc t`ohj sc. Wcim cl iy cwh lromhns `fvm eovmh im t`m
can mym rcaa w`mh Ovm echm ohtc iy sostmr`ccn spoma: t`my sthn t`m
imrm uttmrfhgm cl t`m wcrn grohem-ohnugohe. Ots pcafrozohe, t`myaa
sfy, cr Ot ifjms im t`ohj cl scim ioaotfht, lrohem grusfnm. But O
t`ohj ot nmpmhns ch `cw ycu nmsthm ot. ^`m wcrnsostmr`ccnimfhs nol-lmrmht t`ohes tc nollmrmht pmcpam, `fs bmmh gc-cptmn lcr faa scrts cl
purpcsms, fhn `fs uhqumstochfbay gcim tc turh cll cr ohtoionftm
ifhyiug` aojmlmiohosi fhnscaonfroty `fvm, O suppcsm. Wurm, rfaay-
ohe eoras fhn wcimh tc bm`fvm oh icrm sostmray lfs`och os f hcbam ecfa,
t`m cancuts fniot. But fs chm wcifh mxpafohmn, Ots scim`cw icrm
rmfa w`mh hc chm gfaas ot t`ft. Fhn fhywfy, ots fbcut fgtochs, hct
wcrns.
Mxfgtay. Gfaa ot w`ftmvmr ycun aojm cr hct`ohe ft faa. Kust pamfsmwcrj wot` im `mrm. Bmgfusm, tc im, ots fgtufaay prmtty mamimhtfry:
mvmh bfsog nogtochfry nmsthotochs hfoa w`ft Oi emttohe ft. Imrrofi-
G@FT^MR 62
BM^^OHE CH ^@M TCUMR CL
LMIFAMW FHN WOW^MR@CCN
Emt t`ft gmfsm-strm oh pafgm, fhn ct`mr t`ohes gfh stfrt tc
`fppmh. Uot`cut t`ft gmfsm-strm, wm frm stoaa trfppmn oh
t`m quogjsfhn.
Gcaoh Tcwmaa
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
5/22
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 657
Umbstmr, lcr ohstfhgm, gfaas sostmr`ccn t`m scaonfroty cl wcimh bfsmn
ch s`frmn gchnotochs, mxpmromhgms, cr gchgmrhs. ^`fts hct sc ohtoi-
onftohe cr cbkmgtochfbam, os ot3 Ucimh `fvm faa scrts cl s`frmn gchno-
tochs fhn mxpmromhgms, fltmr faa, pfrtoguafray w`mh ot gcims tc cur
rmaftochs`ops wot` chm fhct`mr. Lrci w`ft Oi `mfrohe, icst cl usnc, oh lfgt, lmma gchflogtmn fhn s`frm gchgmrh fbcut t`m wfy wmrm
vomwohe fhn bm`fvohe tcwfrn chm fhct`mr. Icst cl us frm gchgmrhmn
fbcut fh uhnmrgurrmht cl hmeftovoty fhn ohgovoaoty. Icst cl us frm mx-
pmromhgohe scim fibovfamhgm fhn rmfaay wcuan aojm tc gcmxost oh f
icrm pmfgmlua fhn wmagciohe scgomty cl wcimh. Wcim tcan im t`my
wos`mn wm gcuan bm`fvm, aotmrfaay, icrm aojm sostmrs oh t`m trumst, bmst
smhsm cl t`m wcrnaojm pfrthmrs rft`mr t`fh rovfas. ^`my wfht tc
trfnm t`m kuneohe fhn gcipmtotoch fhn sjmptogosi lcr bfsogs aojm rm-
spmgt, suppcrt, fhn johnhmss. U`c wcuanht3
But wcimh frm wchnrcusay gcipamx bmohes, tc stftm t`m cbvocus.
Icst cl us frm ncohe cur bmst ch faa lrchts, luaa t`rcttam, mvmry nfy,
fion gcipmtohe nmifhns lrci iuatopam smgtcrs. O jhcw t`os bmgfusm
O aovm ot. Urotohe f bccj fbcut cur nfrjmr sonm os oh`mrmhtay gchtrc-
vmrsofa wcrj hc ifttmr `cw ycu ec fbcut ot. Ots mictochfa tmrrfoh,
t`mrm frmht fhy fgrcss-t`m-bcfrn trut`s, fhn Oi bcuhn tc upsmt pmc-pam hc ifttmr w`ft O sfy. Fefoh, t`cue`, t`os osht fbcut nwmaaohe ch
t`m pfst cr fnvfhgohe bafim wot` f sonm cl bottmrhmss, ots fbcut mxfi-
ohohe t`msm ossums oh f nollmrmht aoe`t, cwhohe cur gchnugt, fhn tfjohe
t`m rmohs tc oiprcvm gchnotochs lcr eoras fhn wcimh lrci t`m ohsonm
cut. Ots f hfjmn fppmfa tc gchsgomhgm fhn gcipfssoch fhn, oh t`m
purmst smhsm, f qumst lcr emhuohm sostmr`ccn. ]tcpofh, yms, but O t`ohj
icst cl us stoaa bmaomvm oh bfsog `uifh eccnhmss, mspmgofaay oh t`m
rmfai cl t`m lmifam. Ots t`mrm, wot`oh us faa. ^`m amvmrs lcr g`fhem frmt`mrm tcc. Uot` f bmttmr uhnmrstfhnohe cl t`m lfaacut, ifybmkust
ifybmwmn lmma icrm ohgaohmn tc pfusm, t`ohj twogm, rmstrfoh cur-
smavms fhn, yms, bm`fvm icrm sostmray tcwfrn chm fhct`mr. Fhn ol wm
`fppmh tc stcjm scim eccn can-lfs`ochmn euoat fhn s`fim fache cur
rcfn tc prcermss, O `fvm hc prcbami wot` t`ft. Oi f prcnugt cl t`m
Wg`cca Wostmrs cl Hctrm Nfim huhs. U`ftmvmr emts us t`mrm.
O gfh bm fs gyhogfa fs t`m icst fggcipaos`mn gyhogs cut t`mrm. But,
rmfaay, w`fts sc g`mmsy cr sohostmr fbcut rmhmwohe cur fttmhtochs tc lm-ifam rmaftochs`ops, w`mrm t`m `oe`s frm sc wchnmrluaay wchnmrlua but
t`m `urts fhn rmsuatohe lfaacut frm cltmh sc `crrobay `crrobam. Fs Wfrf`
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
6/22
Wmatzmr wrctm oh t`m Kmwos` Nfoay Lcrwfrnfifzoheay mhcue`, t`m
vmry wmmj O fi sthos`ohe t`os ifhusgropthcw os fbscautmay t`m toim
lcr us tc bm rmgchsonmrohe hctochs cl sostmr`ccn;
ZUcimhY ify nosioss t`m onmf cl f eofht sostmr`ccn cr t`m hc-toch wmrm faa oh ot tcemt`mr bmgfusm ot scuhns tcc `oppy-
noppy, mfrt`-ict`mry cr emhnmr-mssmhtofaostfhn ot ncmsht
tfjm ohtc fggcuht oipcrtfht nollmrmhgms oh t`m wfy gafss, rfgm,
guaturm, fhn rmaoeoch ohlcri lmiohost ecfas. Wtoaa . . . t`mrm ify
bm rmfa vfaum oh prcictohe scim icnostmn vosoch cl sostmr`ccn
fhn f gchhmgtoch bmtwmmh faa wcimh (ohgaunohe t`csm w`c
onmhtoly fs wcimh), bmgfusm gamfray wm ncht oifeohm cursmavms
oh mfg` ct`mrs s`cms roe`t hcw. Chgm wm nc, wm ify bm icrm
mllmgtovm ft g`fheohe t`m afw fhn scgomty lcr t`m bmttmr.
O gcuanht fermm icrm. ^cc ifhy wcimh, tc iy iohn, smmi tc bm
t`rcwohe oh t`m tcwma, turhohe ohwfrn fhn fwfy lrci chm fhct`mr,
buhjmrohe ncwh oh sifaamr, sflmr, icrm mxgausovm gaustmrs cl jhcwh-
gciicnoty eoralromhns, fhn grmftohe bullmrs cl nostfhgm fwfy lrci t`m
rmst cl us. W`moaf, f ift` tmfg`mr oh `mr t`ortoms, smms ot t`os wfy. W`msfys s`ms rmfn mvmry bccj t`ft `fs mvmr gcim cut ch lmifam rmaftoch-
s`ops bmgfusm s`m sthns t`m gchtohumn afgj cl gcaafbcrftoch fhn sup-
pcrt sc nmmpay nmicrfaozohe. Aojm f act cl us, s`m wfhts scimt`ohe
bmttmr lcr `mr nfue`tmr; Ots ifnm im vomw wcimh fs ifg`ohms t`ft
wcrj fefohst mfg` ct`mr, w`mh wm s`cuan bm wcrjohe tcemt`mr. Ots fs-
tchos`ohe t`ft lmifams sc cltmh wcht cllmr suppcrt fhn nc t`msm hme-
ftovm t`ohes tc mfg` ct`mr sc rmeuafray.
Gft`y, f gcaamem kuhocr, sfys prmtty iug` t`m sfim fltmr cbsmrvohet`m uhpamfsfht rovfaroms fhn ct`mr quomt-ueay nyhfiogs ft `mr sg`cca,
f pafgm w`mrm s`m wrcheay fssuimn wcimh wcuan `fvm cutercwh
ot faa;
O nc `fvm ermft lromhns but tc t`os nfy O rmifoh s`cgjmn by t`m
uttmr afgj cl lmifam scaonfroty. O fvm f grfzy-nolstguat toim ifj-
ohe fhn trustohe lmifam lromhns. Eacrof Wtmohmi fawfys sfon
t`ft wm s`cuanht foi tc rfosm cur nfue`tmrs aojm cur schs buttc rfosm cur schs aojm cur nfue`tmrs. Oi hct sc surm.
65> ; ; ^@M ^UOW^MN WOW^MR@CCN
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
7/22
O ncht wfht tc emt bfgj ohtc t`m gchtrcvmrsofa ossums cl pftrofrg`fa
ohflumhgm `mrm but, gftste`t-spmgtftcr kcjms fsonm, icst imh O jhcw
rmfaay ncht uhnmrstfhn cr mhkcy t`m nosgcrn. ^`myn aojm tc smm t`m
wcimh oh t`mor aovms lmmaohe strchemr fhn icrm smgurm oh t`mismavms,
tc stcp wot` t`m grotogozohe fhn bfgjbotohe fhn gcipfrohe t`mismavmstc ct`mr wcimh. O jhcw t`os osht trum lcr faa ifams, but O rfh ohtc f
ifhs chaohm gciimht rmgmhtay t`ft ioiogs prmgosmay w`ft O t`ohj f
act cl tcnfys imhcur brct`mrs, `usbfhns, bcssms, fhn lft`mrs cl
eorasfrm lmmaohe fbcut t`m lmifams oh t`mor aovms;
F wcifh w`c bmaomvms oh `mrsmal fhn `fs sulstgomht gchstnmhgm
ncmsht lmma t`rmftmhmn by ct`mr wcimh, mvmh t`csm wot`
ermftmr gchstnmhgm. F wcifh cl trum strmhet` fhn g`frfgtmr
ncmsht fttfgj fhct`mr cut cl spotm cr kmfacusy tc buoan up `mr
cwh smal-mstmmi. Gcipmtotoch, kmfacusy, fhn nosrmspmgt frm faa
soehs cl ohsmguroty fhn wmfjhmss. Mvmh imh ncht emt ot;
Ucimh frm imfh tc mfg` ct`mr bmgfusm t`myrm safvms tc t`mor
cwh cvmrbacwh ohsmgurotoms. Ots oh ycur hfturm fhn ots ycur
ermftmst wmfjhmss.
^`os john cl oh-ycur-lfgm nofehcsos cl cur lmifam guaturm ioe`t
rub ycu t`m wrche wfy but ots `frn tc nosfermm wot` t`os lmaacw, rmfaay,
eovmh w`ft Oi `mfrohe lrci wcimh t`mismavms. Oh fhy gfsm, On
`frnay put `oi oh t`m sfim amfeum fs, sfy, t`m wrotmr @. A. Imhgjmh,
w`c chgm nmsthmn iosceyhostfs f ifh w`c `ftms wcimh fs iug` fs
wcimh `ftm chm fhct`mr. c im, t`m euy scuhns icrm gchgmrhmn
fhn lrustrftmn t`fh `ftmlua cr pruromhtay mhtmrtfohmn.
Wc `mrms t`m t`ohe; Um gfht rmfaay oiprcvm gchnotochsfs ifhycl ycu sfy ycun aojm tccr strm up t`m luaa spmgtrui cl lmifam-bfsmn
rmscurgmluahmss oh t`os scgomty ol icrm eoras fhn wcimh, ohgaunohe ycu
fhn im, ncht rmscavm tc kcoh t`m pfrty. U`ft wmrm afgjohe, ot smmis,
os scim lcri cl gcaafbcrftoch ch f hmw scgofa gchtrfgt, f prcfgtovm,
iohnlua gciiotimht tc govoaoty sc t`ft wm gfh ft amfst try tc ioho-
iozm t`m fhtfechosis, fs Amcrf ^fhmhbfui puts ot. Tamfsm ncht bm
fafrimn; O ncht mhvosoch us kcohohe `fhns, eft`mrohe oh f gorgam wot`
gfhnams, fhn soheohe rcuhns cl Juibfyf tc t`m `mfvmhs. O ncht smmus nchhohe pcajf-nct Rcsom t`m Rovmtmr bfhnfhhfs fhn g`fhtohe Um
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 65=
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
8/22
65
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
9/22
ncht `fvm tc fncrm chm fhct`mr bmgfusm wm s`frm t`m sfim pfor cl
g`rcicscims but, fs f ifttmr cl nmgmhgy fhn `uifh noehoty, wm
s`cuanht bm ecohe cut cl cur wfy tc fnkunogftm chm fhct`mrs g`cogms,
rop mfg` ct`mr fpfrt, sfbctfem chm fhct`mrs fsgmht, cr nosioss mfg`
ct`mr cut cl `fhn, mot`mr. O sthn ot uttmray nmicrfaozohe tc t`ohj t`ftwm ioe t farmfny bm sc nosgchhmgtmn, sc busy, cr sc gcipafgmht oh cur
gcilcrtfbam gaustmrs t`ft wmaa gfsufaay swfaacw fs cur lftm t`m
brcfnmr eora-ch-eora grumaty, wcrjpafgm nos`frichy, scgofa shopohe,
fhn faa t`csm ct`mr cll-rfnfr saoe`ts fhn ifhopuaftochs t`ft wm gci-
pafoh fbcut but mvmhtufaay bacw cllfs ol t`mrm frmht fhy rmfa gchsm-
qumhgms cr fatmrhftovms tc t`msm bm`fvocrs. O `fvm ermftmr lfot` oh us
t`fh t`ft, fhn Oaa bmt ycu nc tcc.
^@OHJOHE BM_CHN C]R TMRWCHFA TAC^W
OH ^@M LMIFAM EFRNMH
Lmifam nosuhoty `fs brcfnmr oipaogftochs t`fh wm ioe`t bm fpprmgo-
ftohe. Ol wm tfjm f accj bmychn cur cwh aottam pacts oh t`m efrnmh, wm
gfh smm t`ft eoras fhn wcimh bct` `mrm fhn frcuhn t`m eacbm gch-
tohum tc bm smmhcltmh t`rcue` t`mor cwh mymsfs orrmamvfht fhn oh-vfaufbam amss-t`fhs, `uifh bmohes wcrt` pmr`fps hc icrm t`fh t`m
ifrjmt progm cl twc boaay ecfts. `m mvoa t`ft gchtohums tc vosot cur lma-
acw lmifams soipay bmgfusm t`my `fn t`m bfn augj cl bmohe bcrh lm-
ifam erops iy gchsgomhgm, fs ot s`cuan ycurs. ^`myrm bmohe bmftmh,
scan, mhsafvmn, iutoaftmn, rfpmn, ifreohfaozmn, oehcrmn, nmhomn mnu-
gftoch fhn imnogfa gfrm, cr soipay amlt tc nom. Mvmh ol ycu frmht ch
bcfrn wot` tryohe tc oiprcvm t`m stftus quc fiche t`csm oh ycur oi-
imnoftm crbot, gchsonmr t`os; U`oam wm gchtohum tc bmt fefohstcur-smavms, lmma siue cr gchtmht wot` cur pmrschfa sotuftochs, cr wfstm chm
fhct`mrs toim fhn mhmrey wot` cur smal-nmlmftohe hchsmhsm, scim cl
t`m icst wmaa-rmspmgtmn, broaaofht, fhn pcwmrlua iohns oh t`m wcran
frm bmttohe ch lmifams fhn t`m brcfnmr `crsmpcwmr wm gcuan faa bm
broheohe tc t`m tfbam. ^`myrm sfyohe wm hmmn tc wfjm up fhn rmgfaa
t`ft w`mh ycu nosgcuht, cpprmss, iostrmft, fhn `can lmifams bfgjhc
ifttmr w`c `fppmhs tc bm ncohe t`m nosgcuhtohe, cpprmssohe, ios-
trmftohe, fhn `canohe bfgjycu squfhnmr f prmgocus wcran rmscurgm;us. Ots toim, t`msm pmcpam sfy, tc rmhmw fhn strmhet`mh cur gciiot-
imht tc lmifam wmalfrm, rmaftochs`ops, fhn mipcwmrimht ft faa amvmas
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 655
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
10/22
t`m wcran cvmr bmgfusm wm frm, quotm aotmrfaay, t`m icst prciosohe
img`fhosi lcr oiprcvohe eacbfa gchnotochs ch faa lrchts, bm t`my gua-
turfa, scgofa, cr pcaotogfa.
Ohnmmn, ol ycu jmmp fh cpmh iohn, ycuaa smm t`ft prciosohe t`ohes
frm brmwohe lcr t`m ermftmr sostmr`ccn bct` `mrm fhn fbrcfn. Nurohe`os strst twc icht`s oh clstgm, Trmsonmht Cbfif fppcohtmn f hmw
U`otm @cusm Gcuhgoa ch Ucimh fhn Eoras tc mhsurm t`ft cur lmnmrfa
pcaogoms fhn prcerfis prcictm mqufaoty fhn lforhmss. `os os uhprmgm-
nmhtmn. Wmgrmtfry cl Wtftm Gaohtch, hctohe t`m fbscautm aohj bm-
twmmh wcimhs ossums, lcrmoeh rmaftochs, fhn mvmh cur hftochfa
smguroty, afuhg`mn t`m hmw Wtftm Nmpfrtimht Clstgm cl Eacbfa
Ucimhs Ossums tc jmmp t`msm ifttmrs gmhtrfa tc `mr lcrmoeh pcaogy
femhnf. Gfaolcrhof smhftcr Bfrbfrf Bcxmr os amfnohe f hmw Wmhftm Lcr-
moeh Rmaftochs subgciiottmm ch wcimhs ossums, w`oam ct`mr mhtotoms
aojm t`m ]hotmn Hftochs, t`m Boaa & Imaohnf Eftms Lcuhnftoch, t`m
Gaohtch Eacbfa Ohotoftovm, fhn t`m \otfa \cogms Eacbfa Tfrthmrs`op frm
stmppohe up hchpfrtosfh mllcrts tc frhmss lmifam pcwmr oh faa scrts cl
wfys.
Fh oaauiohftohe rmpcrt lrci Ifrof W`rovmr fhn t`m Gmhtmr lcr
Fimrogfh Trcermss, imfhw`oam, mhtotamn F Ucifhs HftochG`fhems Mvmryt`ohe, os grmftohe hmw nofaceums fiche ecvmrhimht
mhtotoms, busohmssms, t`m imnof, fhn lfot` ohstotutochs tc emt pmcpam tc
fgjhcwamnem fhn fnkust tc t`m guaturfa up`mfvfas fhn ercwohe mgc-
hciog pcwmr cl wcimh. Fasc, `cw gfh ycu hct fpprmgoftm t`m tormamss
mllcrts cl pmcpam aojm Tuaotzmr Trozmwohhohe kcurhfaost-fut`crs
Hog`cafs N. Jrostcl fhn W`mrya UuNuhh, cr pafywroe`t-fut`cr-
fgtovost Mvm Mhsamr, w`c fvm nmvctmn t`mismavms tc fssostohe fhn mi-
pcwmrohe lmifams wcranwonm, w`c rmifoh gchvohgmn t`ft eoras fhnwcimh frm fiche cur ermftmst hfturfa rmscurgms, fhn w`c bmaomvm
t`ft uhacgjohe lmifam pcwmr fhn pctmhtofa os t`m vmry fhtonctm tc
eacbfa pcvmrty, pcaotogfa mxtrmiosi, fhn ct`mr scgomtfa oaas.
Gamfray, iy `cimspuh grusfnm os cl f nollmrmht scrt fhn sgfam. But
ot tcc nmrovms lrci f gcrm bmaoml oh t`m pcwmr, rmscurgmluahmss, fhn ms-
smhtofa eccnhmss cl lmifams, fhn t`m rmgcehotoch t`ft ycu gfht uhacgj
t`m bmst oh f eora cr wcifh w`c os lmmaohe p`ysogfaay cr mictochfaay
uhsflm fhn uhsuppcrtmn. Fs Amcrf ^fhmhbfui wrotms oh Gftste`t,scim wcimh ncht smm `cw f pccr bafgj ifrromn wcifh oh Wcifaof
650 ; ; ^@M ^UOW^MN WOW^MR@CCN
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
11/22
s`frmZsY fhy gciich ercuhn wot` f w`otm amsbofh Ohtmrhmt mnotcr oh
Wfh Lrfhgosgc. But ifhy mhaoe`tmhmn pmcpam wcuan freum t`ft, ft
scim amvma, faa cl ot os ohtmrgchhmgtmn fhn ohtmrnmpmhnmht: wmrm ohtmr-
gchhmgtmn fhn ohtmrnmpmhnmht. O fi gmrtfohay hct mquftohe oh`cspo-
tfaoty, emhmrfa hmeftovoty, cr t`m iohn efims t`ft ec ch ficheFimrogfh lmifams wot` t`m ftrcgotoms oh Wcifaof cr mfstmrh Gchec.
But ch scim amvma, ncmsht ot rohe kust f aottam bot gurocus t`ft fs wm
roe`tluaay nmpacrm w`fts ecohe ncwh masmw`mrm, ifhy cl us gchtohum
tc ruh rcue`s`cn cvmr mfg` ct`mr roe`t `mrm3 Ft t`m mhn cl t`m nfy, ot
faa bcoas ncwh tc ifttmrs cl `uifhoty, noehoty, fhn rmspmgt. Fhn ch
scim bfsog amvma, f ifams oh`uifhotycr f lmifams oh`uifhotytc
f lmifam rmifohs kust t`ft; oh`uifhoty. Fs wm wcrj tc oiprcvm ift-
tmrs lcr eoras fhn wcimh frcuhn t`m eacbm, amts ifjm surm wm frmht
fasc stoflohe t`m `crsmpcwmr, prcspmgts, fhn qufaoty cl aolm cl cur lma-
acw lmifams `mrm tcc. Bmgfusm lrci t`m scuhn cl ot, t`fts prmgosmay
w`ft f act cl us frm mxpmromhgohe.
Lmw wcuan tfjm im lcr f stfrry-mymn onmfaost, but Ovm gcim tc
grfvm f hmw nmlfuat icnm lcr iy nfue`tmrs fhn lcr im, chm oh w`og`
lmifams f procro tmhn tcwfrn cpmhhmss fhn prcppohe chm fhct`mr up
vmrsus nrmssohe mfg` ct`mr ncwh. Oifeohm t`m pcssoboaotoms wot` ficrm wmagciohe, gccpmrftovm, fhn ohtmerftmn scgomty cl lmifams ft
cur bfgjs. Ncmsht ot stfhn tc rmfsch t`ft icrm cl us wcuan bm cpmr-
ftohe lrci pcsotochs cl gchstnmhgm fhn strmhet`3 Uot`cut t`m emhnmr-
bfsmn nostrfgtochs fhn pmtty sonms`cws nrfeeohe us ncwh, wcuanht
wm lmma icrm gcilcrtfbam fhn bmttmr pcsotochmn tc put cursmavms cut
t`mrm, nop tcms oh rosjy wftmrs, s`cwgfsm cur tfamhts, rmfg` luaa pctmh-
tofa, mhkcy trum pfroty wot` t`m Ifh, fhn ifjm t`m luaa spmgtrui cl
gchtrobutochs tc t`m wcran frcuhn us3 Ucuanht ot bm bmttmr tc lmmasflmr, icrm suppcrtmn, icrm gchhmgtmnoh t`os wfy3 U`mh wm lmma eccn
fhn gchstnmht oh cursmavms, fhn frm surrcuhnmn by ct`mrs w`c frm rm-
spmgtlua fhn mhgcurfeohe, wm hmmnht wfstm toim accjohe cvmr cur
s`cuanmrs, jmmpohe cur `mfns ncwh, wfajohe ch mees`maas, cr cpmrft-
ohe lrci grcug`mn nmlmhsovm pcsturmsfaa t`m t`ohes wcimh sfy
t`myrm lmmaohe gcipmaamn tc nc. U`mh wmrm lmmaohe uhsuppcrtmn,
uhnmr somem, fhn ohsmgurm frcuhn chm fhct`mr, ots bcuhn tc ifholmst
oh amss t`fh cptoifa wfys. Fhn ol wm gchtohum tc lmma t`ft wfy bmgfusmcl `cw ct`mr lmifams `fvm trmftmn us oh t`m pfst, t`mh wmvm ecttmh
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 65?
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
12/22
604 ; ; ^@M ^UOW^MN WOW^MR@CCN
cursmavms ohtc f prmtty bfn gygam. Umrm hct ecohe tc rmfnoay eovm
ifhy wcimh f g`fhgm tc prcvm us wrche, woh us cvmr, cr rmsmt cur
trust-c-imtmrs.
Oifeohm fh mhvorchimht w`mrm wm vomw chm fhct`mr icrm cpmhay,
fs tmfiiftms cr ft amfst grmfturms cl t`m sfim spmgoms. U`mrm put-ncwhs, gcipfroschs, subtam bacwclls, fhn ct`mr nosgcurtmsoms t`ft
smmi tc gcim sc mfsoay tc scim cl us hc achemr lmma roe`t fhn wmagcim,
emt fttmhtoch, cr cpmrftm fs f vfaon bchnohe fn`msovm. U`mrm ycuhemr
eoras fhn wcimh faojm smm, lmma, fhn jhcw t`ft t`msm bm`fvocrs soipay
frmht f gcca, tcamrfbam, cr scgofaay rmwfrnohe imfhs cl rmaftohe. U`mh
wm bmeoh tc smm t`ft cur uhjohnay wfys frm hc achemr imt wot` afue`-
tmr, tfgot mhncrsmimht, rmohlcrgmimht, cr rmgoprcgftochw`mh wm smm
t`ft ronoguaohe cr ecssopohe cr mxgaunohe ncmsht prcvonm f sprohe-
bcfrn tc fggmptfhgm cr pmrschfa mipcwmrimhtncmsht aceog nogtftm
t`ft wmaa bm amss aojmay tc mhefem oh ot faa3 Oi bmttohe sc.
Eovmh t`m nmichstrfbam ohflumhgm fhn swfy t`ft eoras fhn wcimh
`fvm cvmr chm fhct`mr, O t`ohj t`mrms aottam qumstoch t`ft f icrm spor-
otmn, prcfgtovm mllcrt oh t`os normgtoch wcuan rub cll fhn mvmhtufaay rf-
noftm cutwfrn. Ohnmmn, t`m p`mhcimhch cl scgofa gchtfeoch `fs bmmh
rmgmovohe faa scrts cl mxgotohe buzz aftmay t`fhjs tc G`rostfjos fhnLcwamrs rmsmfrg`. Oh Gchhmgtmn, t`my mxpafoh t`ft, lcr bmttmr cr wcrsm,
cur fbots fhn scgofa bm`fvocrs gfh sprmfn aojm nosmfsm fiche t`csm oh
cur scgofa hmtwcrjs. Wicjohe, nomt, mictochs, afue`tmr, efrnmhohe,
stuny fbots, pcaotogs, lfs`och smhsmmvmh fggusftochs cl wotg`grflt
gfh wcrj t`mor wfy lrci pmrsch tc pmrsch vof f scgofaay gchtfeocus
g`foh rmfgtoch. Uot`cut mvmh jhcwohe w`ft `fppmhmn tc us, wm gfh
tfjm ch cur bunnys `fppohmss, feotftoch, fhn vortufaay fhyt`ohe masm
kust by bmohe mxpcsmn tc ot. `m ohflumhgm os pmr`fps icrm subtam t`fht`ft Lfbmrem crefhog s`fipcc gciimrgofa oh w`og` @mft`mr Acgj-
amfr tcan twc lromhns fbcut ot, fhn t`my tcan twc lromhns, fhn sc ch, fhn
sc ch. But ots fppfrmhtay hc amss mllmgtovm.
Oi ecohe tc ec cut ch fh frig`for, scgofa sgomhtost aoib `mrm fhn
sueemst t`ft t`m ohlmgtocushmss cl iohnlua govoaoty os kust fs pafusobam. Ol
wm gfh ifjm mfg` ct`mr sicjm, efoh wmoe`t, wmfr `crozchtfa stropms,
cr lmma nmprmssmn soipay by `fheohe cut wot` lcajs w`c sicjm, frm
cvmrwmoe`t, flfuht t`mor stropms, cr lmma nmprmssmn, O `fvm tc bmaomvm wmgfh hunem mfg` fhct`mr tcwfrn bmohe icrm nmgmht tcc, wot` f ioho-
ifa ficuht cl mllcrt. Kust fs hfstohmss, ecssop, fhn vocamhgm brmmn hfs-
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
13/22
tohmss, ecssop, fhn vocamhgm, fhn kust fs fppohmss brmmns fppohmss, sc
tcc gfh johnhmss bmemt johnhmss fhn bmgcim, sfy G`rostfjos fhn
Lcwamr, f pfapfbam, pcwmrlua lcrgm lcr eccn cvmr bfn;
ZFYatruosi tmhns tc sprmfn fhn t`m bmhmstts tmhn tc bm ifeho-stmn . . . U`mh f pmrsch `fs bmmh trmftmn wmaa by scimchm, s`m
ecms ch tc trmft ct`mrs wmaa oh t`m luturm. Fhn, mvmh icrm stroj-
oheay, faa t`m pmcpam oh t`msm hmw smgchn-rcuhn ercups frm fasc
fllmgtmn oh t`m t`orn rcuhn.
Wusfh, f lcrimr sfams ifhfemr hcw tmfg`ohe ft f wcifhs stthmss
bcct gfip oh Wcut` Gfrcaohf, os chm cl ifhy w`c tcan im t`my hmvmr
uhnmrstccn w`y wcimh erfvotftm tcwfrn cr put up wot` t`m johns cl
lromhns w`c chay iorrcr bfgj t`mor cwh hmeftovm bm`fvocrs;
O wfht tc surrcuhn iysmal wot` wcimh O fniorm fhn lmma `fvm
f eccn `fhnam ch t`mor bm`fvocr. O wcuan accj tc t`csm tc amfrh
lrci. O gfh hcw rmgcehozm nmstrugtovmhmss oh wcimhs bm`fvocr
fhn fawfys erfvotftm fwfy lrci t`ft.
O t`ohj Wusfhs tfppmn ohtc w`ft os sc mssmhtofa `mrm; surrcuhnohe
cursmavms wot` john fhn emhuohm wcimh w`c ohsporm fhn `map aolt up
cur cwh bm`fvocr. O t`ohj cl t`m fut`mhtog fhn erfgmlua scuas w`c fa-
wfys brohe cut t`m bmst oh im w`mh Oi frcuhn t`mi. _cu jhcw t`m
typm. Aojm iy lromhn Iog`maam; john fhn wmagciohe fhn oh t`m iox,
but hmvmr spmfjohe oaa cl ct`mrs cr mhefeohe oh t`m stmfat`aojm kuneohe,
gcipfrohe, stftus kcgjmyohe, fhn ct`mr hchsmhsm tc w`og` ifhy cl us
frm sc vuahmrfbam. Ucimh w`c smmi tc smm t`m wcran t`rcue` fh mh-tormay nollmrmht, icrm lcreovohe amhs fhn icvm tc fh mhtormay nollmrmht
r`yt`i. _cu wcuanht gchsonmr flogjohe t`m fs` cl ecssop cr kuneimht
t`mor wfy bmgfusm ycu jhcw t`myrm kust hct ohtc ot: ycun lmma
fs`fimn bmlcrm t`m pmtty cr hmeftovm rmifrj mvmh sjftmn pfst ycur
aops. Ot lmmas eccn tc bm wot` t`msm wcimh. _cu wfht tc bm icrm aojm
t`mi. _cu wfht w`ftmvmr t`myrm `fvohe. _cu wfht tc bm bmttmr.
Ot ncmsht mvmh `fvm tc bm f eccn lromhn lcr ycu tc bmhmstt lrci
bfsog govoaoty. U`c ncmsht lmma ermft fltmr f soipam, chmst, fhn pamfs-fht mxg`fhem wot` fhct`mr lmifam, w`mt`mr ots ycur bmst lromhn cvmr
t`m p`chm, f sioaohe wcifh ch t`m subwfy w`c tfjms t`m toim tc fn-
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 606
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
14/22
iorm ycur hmgjafgm, cr t`m ohtoionftohe `fs-ot-faa hmoe`bcr w`c st-
hfaay hctogms ycu, sfys `maac, fhn fsjs ycu fbcut aolm3 O usmn tc smm iy
cwh nfy aoltmn w`mhmvmr O buipmn ohtc t`os chm wcifh ft t`m nce
pfrj oh \oreohof. Aojm im, s`m wfs f busy ici oh `mr lcrtoms, On
eumss. Rmfaostogfaay, hmot`mr cl us fn toim tc emt tc jhcw mfg` ct`mrt`msm wmrm quogjom nce wfajs sfhnwog`mn bmtwmmh lfioay fhn wcrj
cbaoeftochsbut t`m wfy s`m wfs fawfys bmfiohe, rmimibmrohe iy
hfim, fawfys rmfny wot` t`m @my t`mrm, `cws ot ecohe3 Hct`ohe
tcc cbtrusovm: kust emhuohm fhn swmmt fhn rmfa. Wmrocusay, O fawfys
wfajmn fwfy wot` fh mxtrf sprohe oh iy stmp. (Fhn wfs prcbfbay hogmr
tc iy lfioay lcr ft amfst f lmw `curs fltmrwfrn.) Fefoh, prmtty bfsog
but uhncubtmnay pcwmrlua stull.
WC, HCU U@F^3
^`m pcoht os, mvmh ol ycu frmht buyohe iy prcerfi, t`mrms f rmfa, sgo-
mhtostgfaay prcvmh pcwmr tc cur gchhmgtovoty fhn ohflumhgm cvmr chm
fhct`mr, chm cl t`m sioam fhn t`m wcran sioams wot` ycu vfromty. _cu
ioe`t hct bm lmmaohe t`m hmeftovoty sc iug` cr mhefeohe oh ot ycursmal,
but O gfh fbscautmay fssurm ycu t`ft pamhty cl ct`mr wcimh fhn oi-prmssochfbam eoras cut t`mrm frm. Wcim frm wfnohe oh ot up tc t`mor fh-
jams cr hmgjs: ct`mrs frm quotm nrcwhohe. Wc w`ft nc wm nc hcw3
Iug` cl ot os aunogrcusay soipam, tc iy iohn. Mfg` cl us `cans t`m
pcwmr tc gchtrobutm tcwfrn f icrm pcsotovm guaturm, stfrtohe hcw, t`os
smgchn, wot` cur hmoe`bcrs, t`ft rmsmrvmn gcwcrjmr ot wcuan bm soi-
pamr tc oehcrm, t`m fwjwfrn-smmiohe ict`mr ft cur jons sg`cca, cur
nfue`tmrs, fhn mvmh cur eoralromhns. Fhn ol faa cl t`os onmfaostog rfaayohe
os bmeohhohe tc scuhn vfeumay rmiohosgmht cl f sfppy ohlcimrgofa crvohtfem Ioss Fimrogf pamnem lcr wcran pmfgm, fs f gcupam cl wcimh
kcjmn, Oi scrry. U`mh ycu `fvm nfue`tmrs cr w`mh ycu mxfiohm t`os
nfrj stull up gacsm fhn pmrschfa lcr icht`srmfaay aovm ot, brmft`m ot,
fhn pfy fttmhtoch tc t`m strueeams cl ct`mr lmifams ohstmfn cl turhohe
fwfy cr bacwohe ot cll fs Ct`mr Ucimhs Ossumsycu bmeoh tc lmma f
smhsm cl s`frmn rmspchsoboaoty. _cu gfh bmft ch fs usufa, surm, cr ycu
gfh, fs Efhn`o sueemstmn, Bm t`m g`fhem ycu wfht tc smm oh t`m
wcran. (_ms, O kust quctmn Efhn`o.)^`m stcroms Ovm bmmh `mfrohe frmht stgtoch, fhn, bmaomvm im, t`msm
602 ; ; ^@M ^UOW^MN WOW^MR@CCN
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
15/22
frmht pfracr efims wmrm pafyohe. Eoras fhn wcimh faa frcuhn us frm
emttohe `urt fhn tfjohe ifkcr `ots tc smal-mstmmi, `mfat`, fhn cvmrfaa
aolm prcspmgts. Ct`mrs frm soipay puaaohe bfgj fhn lmmaohe burhmn,
turhmn cll, fhn gacsmay eufrnmn fbcut w`c t`myaa amt ohtc t`mor aovms.
cc ifhy wcimh frm spmfjohe cl f nostfhgm fhn nosgchhmgt fichelmifams tcnfy. Chm bmaomvms wmrm wothmssohe t`m nmgaohm cl govoaoty
otsmal, fhn t`os os w`ft cur emhmrftoch cl wcimh woaa bm jhcwh lcr:
wm kust ncht jhcw ot ymt. O wcht ec t`ft lfr, but t`m hctoch t`ft t`m
bm`fvocrs nrovohe cur nostrust fhn fibovfamhgm `fvm scim`cw bm-
gcim sc gciichpafgm fhn prmvfamht t`ft t`myrm mxpmgtmn fhn mvmh
fggmptmnfs lfor-efim lcnnmr lcrLfioay Euy, hc amsss`cuan trcubam
us faa. Ots toim tc gchsonmr t`m hmt mllmgt; fh ohgrmfsoheay lrfgturmn,
nosgchhmgtmn, oh`cspotfbam, fhn nysluhgtochfa scgomty cl wcimh. Amss
`fppy wcimh. Amss prcnugtovm wcimh.
Fefoh, O t`ohj ycu gfht mllmgt scgofa g`fhem wot`cut trum rmscavm
fhn gciiotimht. Um `fvm tc gcaamgtovmay wfht tc strmhet`mh t`m sc-
gofa lfbrog. `m w`mrmwot`fa fs tc gcim lrci scimw`mrm wot`oh cur-
smavms. Aojm fhyt`ohe masm oh aolm, ots prmtty tcue` tc ictovftm pmcpam
tc g`fhem bm`fvocrs wmvm faa ercwh fggustcimn tc fhn fggmptmn fs
pfrt cl mxostohe guaturm. Fhn ots ncubay tcue` tc quot bm`fvocrs t`ftfrm rcutohmay mhgcurfemn, vfaonftmn, ifnm aoe`t cl fhn mxgusmn, cr
ncwhroe`t rmwfrnmn by pmmrs, pfrmhts, t`m wcrjlcrgm, fhn t`m imnof.
O smm f w`cam act cl icvohe pfrts `mrm, but O t`ohj t`ft ol icrm cl us
wcuan kust pfusm fhn gchsonmr t`m afstohe oipaogftochs cl cur amss t`fh
sostmray gchnugt, ol icrm cl us wcuan rfaay fhn mibrfgm t`m hctoch cl
f gmfsm-strm, ot rmfaay gcuan rmsuat oh fh crefhog, gchtfeocus g`fhem lcr
t`m bmttmr.
F @FHN_ ^CT LOL^MMH
cnfys `crcsgcpm oh t`m Ufs`ohetch Tcstcllmrmn scim prmtty gci-
pmaaohe fnichotochs fbcut eovohe pmcpam t`m bmhmstt cl t`m ncubt fhn
trmfnohe emhtay; Taftcs can Bm john, lcr mvmrychm ycu immt os ste`t-
ohe f `frn bfttam. Oi hct hcrifaay f Taftc-quctohe john cl efa, cr
mvmh f `crcsgcpm-lcaacwohe efa, but osht t`os prmgosmay sc3 Icst cl us
`fvm sc iug` ecohe ch fhn s`cuanmr mhcue` burnmhs oh cur nfy. Umncht hmmn t`msm nostrfgtochs, t`msm mxtrf wcrroms, t`msm aottam huo-
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 607
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
16/22
60> ; ; ^@M ^UOW^MN WOW^MR@CCN
sfhgms t`ft gfh hfe us fhn tfjm up sc iug` rmfa mstftm oh cur ohhmr
aovms. Aolm nmfas us mhcue` g`faamhems, prmssurms, nosfppcohtimhts,
fhn gchflogts fs ot os. Wc ifhy cl us smmi tc bm smgchn-eumssohe cur-
smavms fhn spmhnohe uhhmgmssfry toim, mhmrey, fhn mictoch ch t`m
hmeftovoty. Ct`mrsamts lfgm otfrmht bct`mrohe tc t`ohj iug` bm-ychn t`mismavms fhn t`mor oiimnoftm gcgcchs. Ohstmfn cl fgtovmay
fnnohe tc chm fhct`mrs acfns, s`cuanht wm bm icrm gchsgocusay
aoe`tmhohe t`mi t`rcue` f icrm prcfgtovm govoaoty3
Umaa-imfhohe ohtmhtochs frmht mhcue`. Mamfhcr Rccsmvmat `fn ot
roe`t w`mh s`m sfon t`ft ot osht mhcue` tc tfaj fbcut pmfgm. Chm iust
bmaomvm oh ot. Fhn ot osht mhcue` tc bmaomvm oh ot. Chm iust wcrj ft ot.
Umvm bmmh tfajohe fhn tfajohe fhn pfyohe faa scrts cl aop smrvogm tc
t`mlfgtcl cur ohste`tohe fhn ohsmgurotoms, but aottam `fs g`fhemn. Um
`fvm wcrj tc nc. Mfg` cl us rmfaay gfh pafy f rcam, soipay by prfgtog-
ohe nfoay johnhmss, tcamrfhgm, cpmhhmss, rmspmgt, gchsgomhtocus rcam
icnmaohe, fhn, fs iug` fs fhyt`ohe, rmstrfoht fhn smal-gchtrca. Ots
fbcut tfjohe t`ft mxtrf icimht tc t`ohj twogm fhn nc t`m roe`t
t`ohecr hct`ohe ft faa.
Wohgm O afuhg`mn iy ohvmstoeftoch, f huibmr cl wcimh `fvm gch-
vmymn t`m `cpm t`ft O ioe`t smozm upch t`m soavmr-buaamt fhtonctm fhnsmhn t`mi ch t`mor imrry wfy wot` f afuhnry aost cl tops lcr oiprcv-
ohe t`m guaturm cl eoras fhn wcimh. Fs ycu ioe`t oifeohm, Ovm rm-
sostmn t`ft john cl t`ohe. Lorst cl faa, Ovm fawfys bmmh sjmptogfa cl
t`csm tony, soipaostog, `fal-bfjmn tmh-pcoht aosts: ycu jhcw, t`m pot`y,
surmstrm prmsgroptovm tops t`ft purpcrt tc tom imssy fhn gcipamx
`uifh ossums tcemt`mr wot` f prmtty rmn ercserfoh robbch3 Iy eccn-
hmss, iy ercgmry aosts frmht mvmh t`ft gamfr gut. Icrm luhnfimhtfaay,
t`cue`, t`os bccj os fbcut rfosohe gchsgocushmss fhn grmftohe f nof-aceum. Oi hct sc surm Oi qufaostmn tc bm ycur smal-`map euru
gmrtfohay by hcw ycu gfh smm t`ft Oi f wcrj oh prcermss iysmal.
Ch t`m ct`mr `fhn, fs Ovm mip`fsozmn faa fache, t`m luhnfimhtfa
fhtonctm tc gurbohe scim cl t`msm s`fncwy tmhnmhgoms osht faa t`ft
gcipaogftmn. Fhn sohgm O `fppmh tc bm sottohe ch icuhns cl wosnci
fhn mxpmromhgm guaamn lrci spmgofaosts fhn t`cusfhns cl wcimh w`c
gfrm vmry nmmpay fbcut oiprcvohe t`m stftus quc, Oi pmrsufnmn t`ft
ots wcrt`w`oam tc nostoaa t`mor t`cue`ts fhn cllmr f lmw scuhn botmstc gchsonmr fs wm smt cut tc oiprcvm cur gcaamgtovm act. Ots f stfrt,
fhywfy.
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
17/22
Gchsonmr t`m afstohe mllmgts t`ft ycur wcrns fhn fgtochs
ioe`t `fvm ch ct`mr lmifams, t`m vmry typm cl lfaacut
nosgussmn oh t`os bccj. Ncht lcremt ot. ^`csm smmioheay
ohhcgucus noes, grflty bacwclls fhn saoe`ts, fhn
mvmrynfy bots cl hmeftovoty cr gfht-bm-bct`mrmnhmsscltmh stohe icrm t`fh f eovmh wcifh woaa fgjhcwamnem
cr mvmr pmriot ycu tc jhcw. Fs uhaojmay fs ot ify smmi,
fhn fs stcog fhn ohvuahmrfbam fs fhct`mr efa fppmfrs,
ycu ify `can f vmry rmfa, ol subtam, ohflumhgm. Uot` f
soheam gfrmamss w`ospmr, ycu gcuan smrocusay oipfgt `cw
s`m lmmas fbcut `mrsmaloh t`m s`crt tmri fhn, pcssobay,
t`m ache tmri. W`cw scim gcipfssoch. ]sm ycur lmi
pcwmrs rmspchsobay.
Gurb t`m erftuotcus imfhhmss fhn hmeftovoty. Rmfaay, ol
ycu `fvm hct`ohe pcsotovm tc sfy, t`ohj bfgj tc w`ft wm
faa amfrhmn oh johnmrefrtmh. Mxmrgosm scim smal-gchtrca
fhn nch t`m iuzzam, ol hmgmssfry. ^`m hmxt toim f
wcifh, mvmh ycur bmst lromhn, flcfts chm cl t`csm
nfheaohe ohvotftochs tc grotoqum cr ecssop, ncht tfjm t`m
bfot. Eovm `mr f bafhj stfrm, g`fhem t`m subkmgt, mhn t`m
gchvmrsftoch, cr gfaa `mr cut. W`maa lmma ioanay fs`fimn
fhn emt t`m imssfem. ^`fts cjfy. Ol s`m ncmsht, ycuvm
tfjmh t`m `oe` rcfn fhn f stmp tcwfrn ermftmr vortum.
Umaa nchm. Fhn, bchus; ^`mrms f strche g`fhgm s`maa
lcaacw ycur amfn fhn sthn ycur eccnwoaa fhn emhmrcus
sporot ohlmgtocus.
Wtcp suppcrtohe t`m vmry guaturfa ohflumhgms ycu sfy ycu
cbkmgt tc, t`m chms t`ft lmmn t`m hmeftovm gaoiftm cl
w`og` ycu gcipafoh. ^`mrms f rmfsch t`os stull os
mvmryw`mrm, pcoschohe mvmh cur icst ameotoiftm imnof
scurgms. Ot smaas, fhn wmvm bmmh buyohe ot. Wcrry, but t`os
ioe`t mvmh imfh gfhgmaohe ycur Wtfrifefzohm
subsgroptoch cr turhohe cll t`m iohn-huibohe ^\ s`cws
t`ft rmohlcrgm t`m lmifam nfrj sonm fhn cur fttmhnfht
ohsmgurotoms, pmrpmtuftm t`m vfpon, gftty vobm fs cur
rmfaoty, fhn kust pafoh mxpacot us. Ol ycu soipay gfht nc ot,
by Ecn, ft amfst jmmp ot fwfy lrci ycur nfue`tmrs.
Bm icrm ohgausovm, amss mxgausovm. Guatovftm mxostohe
lromhns`ops by g`mgjohe oh fhn s`cwohe up but gchsonmr
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 60=
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
18/22
60
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
19/22
fttfgjs ch fhy lmifam w`c t`ohjs, fgts, accjs, cr kust
pafoh icvms nollmrmhtay t`fh ycuhct wot` ycur
eoralromhns, hct chaohm, hct mvmh oh ycur `mfn. Umrm hct
tfajohe fbcut f sostmray acvm-oh, vctohe wcimh ycu ncht
suppcrt ohtc clstgm, cr `orohe fh uhqufaostmn lmifambmgfusm ycu s`frm f pfor cl g`rcicscims. Umrm tfajohe
fbcut eovohe fhct`mr wcifh f brmfj bmgfusm ots t`m
roe`t t`ohe tc nc. Rmefrnamss cl fppmfrfhgm, stftus,
wmoe`t, mnugftoch, cr rmaoeoch. U`y hctstfrt wot`
wcimh3 Um gcuan usm ot. Um gchstotutm icrm t`fh `fal
t`os gcuhtrys pcpuaftoch fhn `can uhoqum fhn prclcuhn
swfy cvmr chm fhct`mr oh wfys wm cltmh ncht wot` imh.
F hmw scgofa gchtrfgt t`ft rmwfrns cpmh johnhmss fhn
gcipfssoch cvmr mxgausovoty, oh`cspotfaoty, fhn cutroe`t
grumaty woaa smrvm faa cl us icrm gchstrugtovmay.
Rmspmgt. camrftm. Wuppcrt.
ry tc lcreovm ycursmal fhnt`m wcimh w`c `fvm saogmn
fhn nogmn ycur psyg`m. ^ry cpmhohe bfgj up. Gcim
gamfh. Urotm. Grmftm. Nc ycef. Imnotftm. ^fjm scgofa rosjs.
Tut ycursmal bfgj cut t`mrm. Wicjm cut t`m emis oh ycur
clstgm cr hmoe`bcr`ccn. Lohn f `oe`mr purpcsm fhn
vcauhtmmr scimw`mrm. Emt scim t`mrfpy cr w`ftmvmr
masm prcvms `maplua. Fpprmgoftm t`ft fhy ueaohmss ycu
mhgcuhtmrmn wfs faicst gmrtfohay bcrhm cl ohsmguroty,
lmfr, bfn kuneimht, cr lcrgms cl ycut`, pmmr, cr ercup
ohflumhgm. _cu ioe`t hct efoh gacsurm, but rmfaozohe t`ft
ots icrm fbcut t`mi t`fh fbcut ycu cr ycur pmrgmovmn
s`crtgciohes ioe`t sfvm ycu scim `mfrtfg`m fhn `map
bcastmr ycur gchstnmhgm.
Ucrjohe wcimh; Wmrocusay, pamfsm g`oaa. O fi s`cgjmn by
w`ft Oi `mfrohe. _cu frm hogm fhn fggcipaos`mn pmcpam
w`c frm bmttmr t`fh t`os. Wtcp bfgjbotohe fhn
sfbctfeohe ycur lmifam gcaamfeums fg`omvmimhts fhn
fsgmht. Wtcp t`m pmtty nospfrfeohe cl wcimh lcr
mvmryt`ohe fhn hct`ohe. Mvmh ol ycu frmht amfnohe t`m
pfgj, stcp bmohe t`m funomhgm t`ft lmmns t`m bmfst.
Ifybm ot `maps nostrfgt ycu lrci t`m nfoay nrunemry.
Ifybm ots kust f `fbot cr `fhny bchnohe rotufa lcr ycu
fhn ycur clstgm gcipftrocts. But ots ueay fhn, uatoiftmay,
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 605
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
20/22
600 ; ; ^@M ^UOW^MN WOW^MR@CCN
nmicrfaozohe lcr faa. Fefoh, t`os john cl stull nrovms t`m
uhnmrgurrmht cl hmeftovoty oh cur guaturm fhn jmmps
wcimh ncwh. Gchsonmr t`m pcssoboaoty t`ft ycurm fgtohe
cut cl kmfacusy, ohsmguroty, cr s`mmr bcrmnci. Wtfrt
suppcrtohe ycur lmifam gcaamfeums, imhtcr t`mi, s`cwt`mi t`m rcpms, euonm t`mi t`rcue`. _cu woaa lmma bmttmr
fbcut ycursmalbmaomvm im. Ot truay tfjms icrm mhmrey tc
tmfr scimchm ncwh t`fh tc suppcrt t`mi cr `map prcp
t`mi up. Otaa pfy cll oh t`m mhn. ^`mrm rmfaay os mhcue`
pom lcr ycu bct`. Fhn ol t`mrm osht, ycu gfh kcoh lcrgms
fhn ifjm icrm pom.
Bystfhnmrs; Tamfsm stfrt upstfhnohe. Nc scimt`ohe.
Ncht kust sot t`mrm, lcr gryohe cut acun. Mxpmrts sfy ycu
frm fgtovmay gchtrobutohe tc fhn mxfgmrbftohe t`m
prcbami. Rmimibmr; Woamhgm + ohfgtoch 9 tfgot gchsmht.
Kust bmgfusm ycurm hct `uraohe t`m fgtufa stchms ncmsht
imfh ycurm hct f pafymr.
Ict`mrs, tfjm 7; Tamfsm tfjm ycur kcb smrocusay ol ycu
frmht farmfny. Wtrovm tc bm f icrm gciiottmn, fgtovm rcam
icnma. W`cw ycur eoras w`ft rmspmgt, tcamrfhgm, noehoty,
fhn mipft`y accj aojm. Wtcp tmfg`ohe t`mi t`ft twc-
lfgmn s`mhfhoefhs, ecssopohe, kuneohe, fhn ct`mr amss-
t`fh-g`frotfbam icvms frm cjfy. Fhn amss lcgus ch t`m
iftmrofa, pamfsm: ycu jhcwot osht w`ft ifttmrs. Faa cl
t`os statmrs roe`t ch t`rcue` tc aottam Wusom: s`m smms roe`t
t`rcue` ycu. Amts fssurm cur nfue`tmrs t`ft t`my
hmmnht bm pmrlmgt. Lcstmr johnhmss fhn gchstnmhgm. Emt
t`mi t`ohjohe pcsotovmay fbcut t`mismavms lcr t`m roe`t
rmfschs, but fasc t`ohjohe cl ct`mrs bmsonms t`mismavms,tcc. ^ry ohvcavohe t`mi oh gciiuhoty smrvogm lcr t`m
smrvogm fspmgts, hct kust bmgfusm ots f sg`cca
rmquormimht cr rsui buoanmr. Hursohe `cims, `cspotfas,
aobrfroms, fhoifa s`matmrs, `cimamss cutrmfg`,
mhvorchimhtfa crefhozftochs, fhn lccn bfhjs fbcuhn
wot` vcauhtmmrohe cppcrtuhotoms lcr jons. @map lcstmr
`mfat`y smal-mstmmi t`rcue` spcrts, Wgcuts, `cbboms, fhn
prcerfis aojm Mipcwmr Eoras, Gaub fhn Gfip Cp`maof,
t`m Ict`mr-Nfue`tmr Trckmgt, Eoras Amfnmrs`op Ohstotutm,
Eoras Ohg., t`m John Gfipfoeh, fhn fhtobuaayohe
wcrjs`cpsfhyt`ohe t`ft `maps scaonoly f prcpmr smhsm
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
21/22
cl roe`t fhn wrche, s`cws t`mi ots fgtufaay gcca tc bm
john, fhn `maps mhsurm t`ft t`mor smal-pmrgmptoch fhn
pmrschfa hfrrftovms frmht bfsmn scamay ch w`ft t`mor
pmmrs t`ohj cl t`mi. Loaa t`ft uhnmsthmn spfgm wot`
scimt`ohe pcsotovm fs f lfaabfgj lcr w`mh lromhns frmhtbmohe sc wfri fhn fggmptohe. _cu gfh sthn t`msm
cllmrohes ft sg`cca, chaohm, fhn t`rcue`cut ycur
gciiuhoty. ^`m wmbsotms cl Rcsfaohn Uosmifh, Rfg`ma
Woiichs, Nr. Rcbyh Woavmrifh, t`m Fimrogfh Fgfnmiy
cl Tmnoftrogs, fs wmaa fs Wtcpbuaayohehcw, Jonsgfpm,
@frny Eoras @mfat`y Ucimh, Jonpcwmr, fhn Bmftbuaayohe
frm kust f lmw cl t`csm wot` f wchnmrlua frrfy cl
rmscurgms fhn aohjs.
Mvmh ol t`ohes smmi kust sthm ch ycur sonm cl t`m pchn,
jmmp fh cpmh iohn fbcut `cw ycufhn ct`mr eoras fhn
wcimhioe`t bm gchtrobutohe tc f hmeftovm cr
oh`cspotfbam guaturm. ^`m hctoch t`ft chay imh, t`m
imnof, Ici, fhn ct`mr wcran lcrgms gfh vogtoiozm,
ifreohfaozm, trfuiftozm, nmictovftm, fhn ct`mrwosm `can
lmifams bfgj os purm iyt`.
Chgm fefoh, wot` lmmaohe; Tfusm. ^`ohj twogm. Rmstrfoh
t`ysmal. Wuppcrt.
Bmttohe ch t`m Tcwmr cl Lmifams fhn Wostmr`ccn 60?
8/8/2019 An Excerpt from THE TWISTED SISTERHOOD by Kelly Valen
22/22
Ufht tc rmfn icrm lrci ^@M ^UOW^MN WOW^MR@CCNby Jmaay \famh3
Crnmr f gcpy tcnfyfvfoafbam oh `frngcvmr crfs fh mBccj!
Fifzch.gci
BfrhmsfhnHcbam.gci
Bcrnmrs.gci
Ohnombcuhn.cre
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345520517http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780345520517http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?type=1&catalogId=10001&simple=1&defaultSearchView=List&keyword=kelly+valen&LogData=[search%3A+17%2Cparse%3A+21]&searchData={productId%3Anull%2Csku%3Anull%2Ctype%3A1%2Csort%3Anull%2CcurrPage%3A1%2CresultsPerPage%3A25%2CsimpleSearch%3Atrue%2Cnavigation%3A5185%2CmoreValue%3Anull%2CcoverView%3Afalse%2Curl%3Arpp%3D25%26view%3D2%26type%3D1%26nav%3D5185%26simple%3Dtrue%26book_search%3Dkelly%2Bvalen%2Cterms%3A{book_search%3Dkelly+valen}}&storeId=13551&sku=0345520513&ddkey=http:SearchResultshttp://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Twisted-Sisterhood/Kelly-Valen/e/9780345520517/?itm=2&USRI=kelly+valenhttp://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Sisterhood-Unraveling-Legacy-Friendships/dp/0345520513/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275544059&sr=8-1http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345520531&view=ebform