Clips

Clip #10: The Letter

South POV

It was small, the size of a typical envelope, but I knew what it held. The letter that could either make my dreams come true or temple them underfoot- my acceptance (or rejection) letter for The Junior Performance Academy of New York.

I kept staring at it, sizing it up. It was thick- was that a good thing? I tried to read the contents through the envelope, but the paper was too thick.

I hated waiting. I hated knowing exactly what my father would do once he found out I had applied for a school far away in New York City.

My father was a rich businessman from Seattle, my mom was a school counselor from Atlanta. They couldn't be more different from one another, but they were more in love than pretty much any other couple I'd ever seen. My mom was the calm to my dad's temper, the kindness to his rudeness. Don't get me wrong, I loved my dad, but today I was more scared of him and his reaction to the choice I had made.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket. It was a message from my mom.

"Did it come yet?"

My phone made clicking noises as I typed back a response. "Yes, it did."

"Did you look at it?"

"No, I'm waiting until you get home."

"Thank you. I'll be home soon."

I set my phone down on the kitchen table next to the letter, then walked to the refrigerator in search for a snack. I grabbed a block of sharp cheddar cheese from the meat and cheese drawer and cut a few slices off, setting them on top of some crackers I had already laid on a plate.

I was about to bite into salty-cheese-crunchy perfection when the door swung open, revealing my lovely mother, standing in her most terrifying power stance.

She was very short, with blonde hair dyed with blue streaks. She wore lavender joggers and a flowery exercise shirt. She should have looked more exhausted than she was, because she had just gone on a five mile run. But that was my mother- the unstoppable, constantly-caffeinated force of positive energy

"WHERE IS IT. WHERE IS THE LETTER."

"Hello to you too, mom," I said, then picked up the envelope and handed it to her.

"Oh yes, hello, South, okay, can you open this now? I cannot wait another SECOND."

I took the letter from her. "I waited for HOURS for you to come home mom."

"Well then, congratulations for your patience, open the letter."

I made a face, then slid my finger under the sealed flap of the envelope. Anticipation filled me, seeing what could become my future in such a solid form.

I unfolded the letter, hands shaking. My mom peered over my shoulder.

"Congratulations, South Evanson, you have been accepted...."

That was all I read before it was ripped out of my hands by my psycho mother, who paraded around holding it in the air.

"YOU GOT IN, OH, MY BABY GOT IN!!"

I just stood there, stunned. I had expected rejection, but this...

... wasn't rejection.

What was I going to tell my friends? Leyla? My dad?

Was I going to accept?

With all that I had here?

What if Leyla moved on while I was gone?