Chapter Two

          The Moselys were nice but flat characters.  Mr. Mosely was friendly but had a head for nothing but Ford.  Mrs. Mosely had bright teeth that she flashed often.  I doubt that woman had an original thought in her head.  She nodded to whatever her husband remarked and answered listlessly when my mother asked if she were involved in any organizations.  And then the kids—Susie was partly right.  The Mosely's had an eleven-year-old son that preferred to squirm in his seat and adjust his bow tie every five minutes.  He picked at his fish and kicked his legs constantly.  He placed the napkin over his head and attempted an imitation of Lawrence of Arabia.  Only the Moselys were amused.

            After the meal, Daddy offered to dance with me.  As he came around the table to pull out my chair, Mrs. Mosely piped up.

            "Oh, what a shame Robert couldn't be here.  I'm afraid his absence caused an uneven number for partners," Mrs. Mosely said, flashing her teeth at me.

            "Our son Robbie is at Virginia Polytechnic," explained her husband.  Mama caught my eye and nudged my foot.  I followed orders and smiled beguilingly.

            "A college man, eh?" Daddy said, winking at Mr. Mosely as he took my hand and led me to the floor.

            "Try and smile a bit, could you, kiddo?" he said.  "You've been moping for the past three months.  How about you bring Margo to the next dinner?"

            Daddy was trying.  But he didn't understand.  He had everything he loved.

            "Three high schools in one year is an awful lot, I know.  But in just a few months you'll be at school for good.  You'll make much better friends there than you did in high school, anyway."

            "Daddy," I said, meeting his eyes.  His mouth was curved into a smile, but his blue eyes were crying out for me.  "I'll be happy… for you."

            His smile turned into one of grateful pity and he held me close. 

"But no more bosses' sons," I warned.  Daddy chuckled; I put my head on his shoulder and disappeared into the music.

~*~*~

            "Mail's here!  Mail!" Susie shouted frantically, running through the house.  I was busying working on a government essay when she ran into the room, dropping her schoolbag at the door.  I felt my heart jump.  I'd written to Javier nearly every day, sending letters off in hopes he'd get at least one.  I seriously doubted anything was yet running smoothly.  But there was always hope.

            "Three letters, all on the same day, can you imagine!" she shrieked, thrusting them towards me.  I could see return logos for Radcliffe, Brown, and Catham.  Not Javier.  I snatched the envelopes from her outstretched hand.  Not even Susie knew about my application to the all-girls college, but she'd probably already seen it.

            Susie took a seat on the bed and watched me with eager eyes.  I stared at the envelopes anxiously.  I could only wish that the other two were rejection letters.  They felt heavy in my palm.  I wasn't sure if that was just my imagination or reality.

            "Aren't you going to open them?" she asked finally.  I looked up and tucked hair behind my ear.

            "I guess I have to."

            "Want me to open one?" she asked.  I shook my head.

            "Want me to leave?" she questioned further.

            "No, stay.  I just need a minute."  I closed my eyes and shuffled the three envelopes facedown in my lap.  I picked one hesitantly and slid my finger along the glued edge.

            The letterhead was the logo of Radcliffe.  I swallowed nervously and my eyes grazed over the sentences.  I felt a weight lift from my stomach when I read that I'd been wait-listed.

            "No," I said quietly, trying not to smile.

            "No?  Radcliffe?" Susie said, her smile fading.

            "They only have so many positions open for females," I said, trying to sound as though I were rationalizing my loss.  "Besides, three high schools in one year.  They probably don't know what to think."

            "Mama will be disappointed."

            "I know," I said, picking up the next letter.  Brown.  This one wasn't as good.  "Brown accepted me." 

            Susie gave a squeal of excitement.  She jumped off the bed and gave me a tight hug around the neck.

            "I knew they had to take you!  Just wait until Daddy comes home!" she said, running to the door.  She had her hand on the doorknob before I thought clearly.

            "Wait!" I cried as she opened the door.  Susie gave me a confused look.  She closed the door and sat on the bed again.  I didn't explain, but rather opened the third envelope: Catham.

            I smiled when I saw the warm greeting and exuberant congratulations.  I glanced over the enclosed material, then folded the letter and returned it to the envelope.

            "I'm not going to Brown," I said confidently.  Susie's eyebrows shot toward her scalp but she wisely remained silent.

            "This is Catham.  It's a nice girls college here in Virginia."  My sister's jaw dropped to the floor.

            "But—Katey—you're so smart!  You'd be great at Brown!" she responded.

            "I thank you for the comment but Catham is a respected private college.  It may not be as prestigious as Brown but I can receive a much more personal education.  And I'll be closer to home."

            Home, right.  My home was wherever he was.  Was he in Norfolk?  I didn't think so.

            "But Daddy wants you to go to Brown," Susie said quietly.

            "And that's why it's going to be hard.  I'll just tell him I didn't get in," I responded quickly.  Susie frowned.

            "You promised no more lies, Katey."  This caught me off guard.  That much was true.  It was easy to tell Mama I didn't get into Radcliff.  It would have been easy to tell her no.  But to tell Daddy?  How could I tell him I didn't want to go to Brown?

            "I can't go to Brown.  I won't be happy there.  I know it.  Just because it's prestigious doesn't mean it's for me.  I just want to—forget."

            "Don't lie to him, Katey.  He'll find out," Susie emphasized.  She was right.  I swallowed and shrugged.

            "I'll…think about it," I finally resolved.

            Dinner that night was tense.  Mama knew I got my letters and I could see her chomping at the bit, waiting for me to say something.  Susie broke the ice.

            "Are you going to tell or do I have to?" she finally asked.  Daddy gave her a confused look.

            "What's that, Susie?"

            "I got my letters in the mail today, Daddy," I spoke up, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

            "Is that so?  Well what's the big news?" He said, putting down his fork.  I took a deep breath.

            "I got wait-listed at Radcliffe," I said, with a look at Mom.  Her face fell slightly.  "But Brown accepted me."

            At that, both my parents cheered considerably.

            "Congratulations, Katey.  We knew you could do it," Daddy practically boomed with pride.

            "That's wonderful, Katey.  You'll excel wherever you go," Mama encouraged.

            "But," I interjected their praise, "I was also accepted at Catham.  And…that's where I want to go."

            Their praises fell silent. 

            "You didn't tell us you applied to Catham.  What—-where—-what is Catham?" Mama asked.

            "It's a nice girls college in Virginia.  I'd be much closer to home than I would at Brown," I added quickly, glancing at Daddy.  He was watching me closely.

            "But Brown University, Katey," Mama continued.  "An ivy league school.  You'd have no problem keeping up with the work, is that your concern?"

            "No.  Brown may be a great school—-for someone else.  Catham is a nice quiet campus in the mountains.  It's much smaller but just as nice.  I could get a much more personal education," I explained.

            "But how can you give up such a prestigious school for some podunk college in the middle of nowhere?"

            "It's what she wants, Jeannie," Daddy responded.  "Are you sure about this, Katey?"

            "Yes, Daddy.  I'm sorry.  I just couldn't tell you two.  You both wanted me to go to famous schools, I just didn't know how to tell you."

            "It's your education and your future.  You should make your own decisions.  I'm glad you applied to Catham.  Now, just exactly how much is this going to put us in the poor house?" Daddy smiled gently.  For the first time in weeks, I really smiled.  I pulled the envelope out of a pocket in my dress and excitedly showed him the school's brochure.

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A/N: Still own nothing but the Mosely's and Catham.  This is the first time I'm writing a story as I go.  Normally I have several chapters set up when I first post.  So, if this takes awhile, you have my apologies.  Thanks for all the reviews, I'm glad you guys seemed to enjoy the movie as much as I did.  Your reviews/encouragement really made me smile.  But so far I'm having fun writing this.  Hope you like reading it! ;-)