Page 48 (1/2)
"And snobbery," I ardless," he talks over me "It’s too late I’ve already applied you for Harvard, Yale, and Stanford"
"What?" I bristle "How –"
"Your father was very acco He only wants the best for you, and provided all your personal information"
"But, my required essay –"
"I pulled a few spectacularly funny yet poignant and observant essays frolish and World History classes They fit nicely"
"My SAT scores –"
He holds up a paper "Your father informed me you took the ACT before you left Florida, at his behest You never got the scores because youTake a look"
Four lare back at me; 32, 35, 33, and 9
"Exemplary scores across the board! Marvelous You must have been in a much better state of mind for that test"
"I can’t –" I’o to college?"
"Your father also told hter, and that your h patch in life Trust me when I say I understand –"
"Do you?" I snarl "I doubt that, baldy"
He smiles patiently "I had a father as ill Cancer I stayed behind for three years while e to take care of hi uilt that I couldn’t save him crushed me But the way he told as station night shifts – that he was proud of e si I had no idea Evans had a life like that
"So what, you tell me your whole sobby life story and I feel sorry for you and decide to go Stanford, is that it?" I ask quietly
"No I just wanted to tell you that I understand I knohat it’s like, to be kept against your will, even if your heart wants to stay You’ve written the idea of going out of state co to settle for a school that wouldn’t challenge you, just to take care of someone you love"
I clench my fist around the ars ant to do for ourselves Sometimes ait for someone else to do thee on your own But in the meantime, I had to step in"
I snort He presses on
"Even if you get accepted, you don’t have to go Choose whatever path you like But I can rest easy now, knowing at least you can see the open paths before you"
The bell rings I putatelephant who smells Like a poop-covered busybody
I stop at the door and look over y for the pictures"
"It doesn’t make up for it You’d need like, a in to ram at Duke –"
I politely scream UGH and slam the door shut behind me
-14-
3 Years
22 Weeks