“Kylie, I’m not apologizing and this is the last time I’m talking to you about it.” Kinnerly’s past promise to change her ethical values vanished. In it’s place her sharp tone shot through the phone line and snapped in my ear.

Kinnerly has always been difficult, nasty, even deceitful. Now that I’ve been turned over to a collection agency, because of her neglectful management of my share of the money for the overseas tour she arranged, I want nothing more to do with her. She’s pushed my temper beyond the boiling point. Her mercenary attitude has curdled every inch of this long anticipated vacation, due to begin in three weeks. The woman is impossible to deal with, but I’m stuck, and find myself at her mercy. She’s got to correct her error and set my account straight or my credit will be ruined.

“You’ll need to call me back. I need to know the error in my bill has been corrected and the collection agency rectified.” To hope for an apology required more conscience and understanding than Kinnerly possessed. Instead, I hoped my plea would throw her into immediate action.

“It’s not my responsibility. I don’t have any involvement in this. You’re calling the wrong person. You’ll have to call Travel Time Tours.” Her voice escalated, drenching each sentence in a thicker coat of fiery anger.

“I’ve talked with Travel Time Tours. They told me you’re listed as the leader. The funds went through your account, and you have the paper work. You need to call them and get the matter of my account and the collection agency cleared...”

Kinnerly had hung up. Marked by corrupt dealings in the past, especially bribery, I should have known better than to fall for this scheme, know doubt tied in a tight, dishonest knot of venal tactics. Maybe I’ve finally learned a tough lesson. One I hope I won’t have to address the next time I have to encounter my untrustworthy twin sister.