"Thanksgiving"
425 words
21 minutes (but I was watching "Bones" while I was writing. That's gotta count for something!)
Two coasts
"Mom!" Charlie opened the apartment door. "I'm home!"
Margaret looked up from her case files, scattered around the kitchen table. "Hi, Sweetie. How was your class?"
"Great! Dr. Fleinhardt is awesome."
Margaret smiled. Charlie had blossomed since they had arrived at Princeton. His mind was being challenged for the first time in a long time, and it was wonderful to see him smiling again. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself here, Honey."
"I am! But you know what? We get a whole week off next month for Thanksgiving. That's more than enough time to go home and see Dad and Don."
Margaret's face fell. She turned away and picked a folder up from the table. "I'm sorry, Charlie. We can't afford to go home for Thanksgiving."
Charlie sat, tears springing to his eyes. "But..." Suddenly understanding crossed his face. "Donnie was right..."
"Right about what?"
"You guys can't afford to do anything because of me. He said if I hadn't wanted to come here..."
"He's wrong, Honey. We have two sons in college. It's not your fault any more than it's Donnie's fault. Most families with one kid in college have to cut back on expenses. With two, well, it's just that much harder. I wish we could go home, but it's impossible. I'm sorry. We will go home for winter break, though. I promise you."
But Charlie wasn't listening. He was gazing down at his hands. The tears had gone from his eyes, and he had an expression on his face that Margaret was very familiar with. He was lost in some mathematical limbo. She smiled and stood to clear the table so she could start supper.
For the next few weeks, Charlie didn't mention Thanksgiving. He didn't seem upset. He was just caught up in his work. But Margaret did notice that the first thing he did every day was check the mail. Finally, a week before Thanksgiving, he picked up an envelope and let out a whoop.
"Charlie! What's wrong?" Charlie dropped his backpack on the floor and ripped the envelope open. He waved a piece of paper and held it up for Margaret to see. "A check?" She held his hand and took the paper. "From the Journal of Applied Mathematics? For four thousand dollars?"
"They published my paper. Now we can go home for Thanksgiving!"
"When did you send them a paper?"
"The day after you told me we couldn't afford to go home for Thanksgiving. Wait until Donnie sees that my math is good for something. He won't believe it!"