The Exchange Student

One afternoon Dawn came back from college with big news. You'd just come home from tutoring a different first years in History yourself.

"I aced it!" she exclaimed loudly. "First exam is in the bag with an A!"

"Congratulations, kid" you said, hugging her. "You did it."

"Thanks" Dawn said, beaming brightly. "I sure did! Is mom home yet?"

"Not yet" you told your baby sister.

"What about Rebecca?" she asked.

"If she hasn't woken up by now she should still be in bed" you said.

"Great! Rebecca!" she called, storming off. You smiled as you watched her go.

Later at the dinner table the four of you were talking when Dawn looked at your mother.

"Mom?" she asked. "How would you feel about housing an exchange student?"

"Hm?" your mom replied with a mouthful of asparagus.

"All campus housing is full, so they're looking for other places for the students to stay. The dean suggested guest families" Dawn said. "It'll be for one full year."

"What about us?" you asked as you indicated yourself and Rebecca.

"You'll be leaving soon, won't you?" your mom said with an evil grin.

"Hey, I'm paying rent so I'm not so sure why you're looking at me" you told her.

"And I'm still sad" Rebecca added.

"Nice try, you two. Rebecca, you're going to pay rent soon. John, you're leaving soon" your mom said.

"What about the guest house?" you asked.

"What about it? I'm not going to pawn an exchange student off by putting her..it'll be a her, right?...in a guest house" your mom told you.

"What if I take it? Can I stay then?" you asked. Truth was, by now you could afford to live on your own, but with a job of your own you were saving up so much money that staying at home saved you significant amounts of money.

"Fine" your mom said. "This'll be the final year, though."

"Yes, ma'am" you said, saluting her with your fork.

"So you're saying yes?" an excited Dawn asked.

"Only if it's a girl" your mom cautioned your sister. "No boys allowed."

"What about me?" you asked.

"That's why she said yes to you going to the guest house" Rebecca butted in with a smirk.

"Yeah, we're getting rid of all boys" Dawn piled on.

"Well, shit" you said, "guess that's unanimous."

"Yep, so get packing, sonny" Rebecca told you.

The rest of that month passed with you pretty much forgetting the entire thing. The first exams were coming up and you had more students to tutor than before as a result. Late one afternoon you drove home from a tutoring session to find your mother wasn't home yet.

"Hey Bec" you said as you put your bag on the floor and joined her on the couch.

"Hey" she replied. "How did tutoring go?"

"I'm pretty sure this kid's going to pass. Barely, but he's finally starting to understand it" you told her.

"Barely's better than not at all" your sister pointed out.

"For sure" you said, nodding. "How was your shift?" you asked in turn.

"Remarkably quiet" Rebecca said. "I even got to make out with Mona a few times when nobody was inside."

"Lucky" you said with a laugh.

"Yeah, we make it work" your sister said with a proud grin.

"Now if only I had someone to mack with at work" you said.

"Aren't some of those kids you tutor 18?" Rebecca suggested.

"That sounds as much as a bad idea as it sounds like a hot idea" you said before shrugging. "Oh well. Maybe I'll go out for a night on the town at the end of the week."

"Well, let's hope you find someone to mack with" Rebecca said with a laugh.

"Here's hoping" you said. You got up just when the front door opened. You picked up your bag and went into the hallway only to come face to face with a stranger.