John has just arrived home from work. Dad waves John into the kitchen and says, "There's post for you."
"Finally," he grumbles, trying to hide his enthusiasm. He's been sending out university applications left and right, and the waiting is killing him. The envelope on top is from Bart's and his hands tremble slightly as he opens it. He scans the letter frantically as his father watches.
Dad demands, "Well? What's it say?"
John whoops, "I got in!"
Dad claps John on the back and says, "Congratulations! I knew you would!"
The teen smiles. "Doctor John Watson… it has a nice ring, doesn't it?"
The older man clears his throat and says, "I, er, hate to rain on your parade, but there is the matter of money…"
John replies calmly, "I got a bursary that'll pay for half my tuition, I've got some money saved up, and between that and whatever I get during my gap year I can cover housing. That should cover me till my second year, and then I can get a cadetship, which means the Army will pay for everything."
Dad beams at him. "I knew I could count on you to be practical. Good job, son."
John's greatest fear is that he won't get a cadetship.
A/N: The British Army offers 30 cadetships per year to students in their last three years of medical school. The Army pays these students' tuition and gives them a stipend in exchange for military service after graduation. More on this in a later chapter…