I promise to continue this soon. but after this chapter I'm taking a brief hiatus to work on an angelica christmas fic. so look for that soon! then i will finish this one as soon as possible. thanks for reading! :)
Susie tilted her head awkwardly to hold her cell between her ear and shoulder while wheeling a suitcase behind her. She rummaged through her purse frantically. "Oh, where is it?"
"Where's what?" said Dr. Carmichael's voice on the other end of the line.
"Mom!" yelped Susie. "I'm so glad I finally got a hold of you."
"I know. We've been playing phone tag, huh?"
Susie dropped her duffel bag and rubbed her aching shoulder. "Yeah, and I've been really busy…"
"I bet, with graduation coming up so soon," replied her mom with evident excitement. "Which is exactly what I've been wanting to talk to you about. How's the job front looking?"
"Well…"
"Oh, Dr. Owens has a cousin in the city who could really help you out—"
"Mom—"
"You really need to be thinking about networking—"
"Mom!"
"Oh sorry, I'm just so excited! I'm packing right now. I can't wait to see my baby walk up on that stage and receive her degree!"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you…I'm not walking."
"I—what?"
"I'm not walking on graduation day."
"You're kidding."
Susie continued fumbling through her purse. "Geez, it's not like I'm not graduating. I'm just not walking up on stage. It's just a ceremony."
"But it symbolizes all your accomplishments! All you've had to go through—"
Susie finally dumped her purse, tubes of lipstick and tissues spilling on the floor. There among the clutter was the elusive slip of paper she'd been looking for. Her ticket.
"—I just don't understand," she continued. "What could be more important than that?"
"I might have a record deal."
"Excuse me?"
"There's this guy Peter, he's a friend of Angelica's. Well, he knows a guy who thinks he can get me a contract."
"You can't be serious."
"Yes, I am. I'm at the airport right now. I'm going to L.A. to record a demo."
"But walking up on that stage to get that diploma is your dream!"
Susie sighed. "No, Mom, that's your dream. I just want to sing."
Dr. Carmichael pulled the phone away and stared at it in disbelief. Her little Susie had hung up on her.