I’ve been a good student

My mom actually ran outside when the mailman came to deliver our mail. Before he could even put it into our mailbox, she took the ones that were addressed to me specifically and squealed. I think I even heard it from inside the house. She had married at the age of 24, where my father was six years her senior. She wasn’t much of a scholar as I had been in high school, so college wasn’t an excitement for her. But when it came to my higher education, she could not help but broadcast it to the whole world. And so even our mail carrier knows about my quest to better myself by going to college.

My father and I wait as my mom walks back up to the house with the mail in one hand. He’s always been the silent one, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t discipline me. I have to thank him for drilling in me the need to get at least a bachelors degree in anything, which is his way to succeed where he failed in regard to my older brother. He pats my back as my mother enters the house with glee on her face.

“Alright, Elijah, it looks like we have one, two, and three letters for you. And a fourth letter. The more the merrier,” she explains, handing the envelopes to me. From what I can see, I have received mail from my top three schools. The other one is addressed to me and is in a discreet envelope. The only other writing on it says that it was forwarded by my counselor, Mrs. Ramirez. “Open it here, if you don’t mind.”

With an embarrassed smile, I open up the envelopes. “For my third-choice school….” I say before opening it. Letting the suspense hang seems to get on my mother’s nerves and it is evident she cannot contain her excitement. Fortunately, Dad is there to keep her at bay. “Congratulations on your academic achievement… I am pleased to offer you admission to…” I trail off as my mother squeals at just the keyword ‘admission.’ I open the second-choice school and as I’m ripping the envelope, I say, “This is the school on the other side of the country.” I take out the letter and read it. “Mr. Elijah Gibson, I am glad to inform you that you have been successfully admitted to our prestigious university.” My father kisses my mother to keep her from screaming. I shield my eyes from the public act of **** affection.

As my parents calm down, my father speaks, “Alright. Last but definitely not least. Your first-choice pick, son.”

“I know,” I take a deep breath and open the envelope. “I, Mr. {dean_surname}, dean of Summer City University, am glad to announce that your application for admission to our university has been accepted.” Without any warning, my mother is able to slip out of my father’s hold and borderline pounces me with a hug.

“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, I knew you were going to get in, baby,” my mother says as I regain balance on the floor.

“Didn’t doubt you for a second, kid,” my father says, once again pulling my mother away from me. “So, your top three all said yes. Which one are you going to go to?”