10 Days Later
Alex rushed into the room and looked around. Mallory was sitting on the couch and Jennifer was sitting at the table by the door working on her homework. She looked up at him.
"What's the matter Alex?" Jennifer laughed. He looked over at her.
"Has the mail come yet?" Alex asked. Mallory looked over at him.
"Why are you so worried about the mail Alex?" She asked. He glared at her.
"Because we are still looking for the doctor that's willing to do your brain operation," Alex sighed and looked at Jennifer, "so has the mail come or not." Jennifer looked at him.
"Yeah, it's here." Jennifer held up the mail and leafs through it. "Some stuff for mom and dad, Mallory's got a magazine."
"I did?" Mallory jumped up and walked over to her little sister. She grabbed the magazine and flipped through it. "I've been waiting for this issue!" Mallory ran up the stairs. Alex grabbed the rest of the mail and flipped through it.
"Mom, mom, dad, mom, aha!" Alex dropped the rest of the mail on the floor and tore open the envelope. Jennifer stood up.
"Alex?"
"It's my acceptance letter." Alex replied. He sat on the couch and looked at it. His eyes skimmed the letter and then he laid it down on the table. Alex stood up and walked from the couch to the kitchen. He stood at the corner by the kitchen table, put his hand up on the wall and continually smacked his head against his arm. Elyse was sitting at her work station across the kitchen from him. She looked over at him and took off her glasses.
"Alex?" She stood up and walked over to him. She put one hand on the wall and held her glasses at her hip with the other hand. "Alex?" She put her hand on his shoulder. Finally, he laid his head on his arm and looked at her.
"I didn't get in." Alex said.
"What?" Elyse replied. Alex stood up straight and looked at his mother.
"I didn't get in mom."
"Get in?" She asked. Alex sighed loudly.
"College mom!" Alex crossed his arms. "I had the grades, I've had everything to get in. I was in every club that meant something to my future. Why could I have not gotten in? It's the best school in Ohio!" Elyse touched his back with her hand.
"Oh Alex." She hugged him. "I'm sorry." He pulled away and slammed his hand on the counter.
"What did I do wrong mom? What could I have done to keep them from accepting me?! I have done everything right!" He exclaimed and rushed over to the doorway by the pantry. "Next I bet we'll find out that they accepted Mallory!"
"Alex, calm down." Elyse stated. Alex looked at her.
"My whole life was counting on going to that college. What am I going to do?"
"You can go to another school Alex. There are other college's out there."
"No." He interrupted. "My whole career was set up for me to go to THAT school. Now what am I going to do?" He started choking. "I need to get out of here." He loosened his tie. "I need some time to think. I'm going out. I'll be back later."
"Alex!" Elyse hollered as she watched Alex storm out the door. What was he going to do? He can't run away from his problems. He'll have to face them eventually; but right now there isn't anything Elyse could say to change the way he's feeling. Alex was going to have to figure this all out by himself.