Today was mostly a day like any other in my life. It started with me waking up at 5:30AM sharp and heading to my office. After a few meetings with clients, I went to the courthouse and walked yet another client away from twenty years in prison, and towards freedom.

Oh, where are my manners? Forgot to introduce myself. Jack Waggoner's the name. I work as a Defense Attorney in the city of Los Angeles… and I've garnered a bit of a reputation around here, you could say. I've been defending the innocent from the clutches of the government during the five years that I've been a lawyer. And I can proudly say that I've never lost a case, and I honestly doubt I ever will. Unless… it's against a certain prosecutor…

My work day finished at 5 in the afternoon, and as is tradition on Fridays, I called up my best friends for burgers, beers, and billiards at my place. I played billiards with my friend George, while my other two friends, Parker and Jordan, headed outside to cook the burgers.

I had known George since high school. We had separated once it was time for college, he went to a much more prestigious school than I did, but reunited when we found each other at a Los Angeles courthouse.

George had introduced me to Parker and Jordan, who are also lawyers, after inviting them to an outing at a bar. We hit it off from there and decided to make these outings a weekly thing, except they'd be done at our homes instead.

"Nice job on the acquittal today, Jack!" George said from across the pool table.

"Ha, thanks. Where have you heard about it though?" I said as I hit the striped yellow ball into a pocket, "It was only a couple hours back."

"Word travels fast around the courthouse," George smirked as he sent another ball into a pocket, "Plus I have a paralegal at the firm that's cousins with the judge."

"Speaking of which, why haven't you come to work with me?" George asked, "You're probably the most qualified out of all of us!"

"I'm happy with my own firm," I said, focusing on the red striped ball.

"What? Come on, man! I'll even make you my senior partner," George said, "Barrow, Kirwan, Waggoner, and Associates. Think about it! We can rule the legal world! Plus, it paaaays well~," he finished in a sing-songy voice.

"George, you know I only do criminal defense," I chuckled, "And your firm is all civil suits, it's boring to me."

"Ugh. Worth a shot," George said, sinking his last solid-colored ball into a pocket, "Prepare to pay up, Jack!"

He aimed at the 8-ball at the pocket closest to him, and struck the cue ball as hard as he could. The 8-ball was sunk in the pocket, but so was the cue ball.

"Goddamnit!" he groaned.

"Haha. Pay up," I said, as I rubbed my thumb across my middle and index finger.

He pulled out his wallet and reluctantly forked over $500.

"Next time, Jack. Next time…" George chuckled.

We went to the outside of the house where Parker was serving the last patty onto a plate.

"Dinner is served," Parker said.

The four of us chatted over our burgers and beers, mostly about our casework and families.

"Jack, you're 29 years old! Why are you still single?" Jordan asked me.

"Too busy with work and such," I said, "I should be asking you the same thing!"

"Hey, well at least I'm trying," Jordan said, "You could easily get somebody with your looks. Not even mentioning the money!"

"Ha, if money was all it took to get into a relationship, we'd all be married by now," Parker joked, "So I don't think that's the problem, Jordan."

"Well, I must be doing something right," George laughed, "Cause I'm married already!"

"Yes, we know. We were at the wedding, remember?", I laughed.

"Very funny Jack," George laughed before finishing his beer.

We continued talking, eating, and drinking until 10, when the three of them went home. I walked to the front of the house, somewhat drunk, to check the mail.

Hmm… client mail, gift certificates, bills, magazines… oh? A letter from Shining Futures University?

I've heard about this place before. They invite 16 upcoming college students every year from around the country, on the basis of them being the best at a certain field. Those who successfully graduate from the university would be essentially guaranteed success in whatever field they specialized in.

Which raises the question of why am I, an adult who has finished with law school, receiving this?

I opened the envelope, curious to see what they could possibly want.

Dear Mr. Waggoner,

It is with great pleasure that we bestow this letter upon you. This is a bit unorthodox, but this year we've decided to go for a different approach than normal.

We've realized that you, and fifteen other adults, are among those who were worthy of having been called Elites due to your significant contribution to society, but were not scouted for the university. We are preparing a ceremony to honor the sixteen of you and grant you Elite status, which will come at the end of a three-week, all expenses paid, stay at our luxurious campus.

The honor will bolster your career in the same fashion that it did for our graduates. Enclosed in the envelope is a plane ticket to our campus located in Connecticut. We hope to meet you there, future Elite Defense Attorney.

With pleasure,

Shining Futures Scouting Department.

I reached into the envelope, and sure enough, there was a plane ticket to Connecticut, leaving tomorrow evening. First class too.

Well, I don't have any court dates scheduled within the next month…and if there's any truth in the letter, my career will shoot into the stratosphere! So I'd have to be pretty stupid not to go.

I went back into the house with my envelope and started to pack a suitcase.

I drove to the airport and went through baggage drop-off and security rather quickly. Boarding was fast too. The flight was relaxing, although that might be partly because of the free drinks at the bar. I collected my bags and headed for the exit, where I saw someone holding a sign with my name on it. He guided me towards a limousine. The driver drove me for about twenty minutes before we arrived at our destination, Shining Futures University.

There were fifteen other limos in front of the extremely modern-looking school. Seems to be a bit excessive, but I suppose they can afford it… Hopefully this trip is actually worth the time, but I guess I should try to enjoy this little "vacation".