Mismatched

Purple and White!

When I returned home from school the next day, I got called over to the dining room by my mother. When I got to the table, I could see a thick white envelope. I squinted to get a closer look at who it was addressed to; it was addressed to yours truly. And it was from Utah State University!

Damn, those guys had some really nice stationery!

I carefully peeled open the nice-looking envelope and took out their letter. It read:

Congratulations on your acceptance to Utah State University. Enclosed is a variety of materials you will need in order to...

Oh—my—goodness!! I was accepted into Utah State University!

"YEEEESS!!!" I screamed, so loud that I almost busted Mom's eardrums and my own.

My old man must've heard me, because he was down here in almost an instant.

"My ACT score of 19 and the essay I had submitted were enough, Pops," I said once I'd cooled down. "I got accepted to Utah State."

There was a lot of optimism and energy inside Dad as he pumped his fist. "My boy's going to my old Alma Mater..." he said, hugging me.

—---

The next day, I couldn't help but feel uneasy about my family. Were they planning something for me?

When I went down the stairs to go to school, I was immediately greeted by my mother at the door.

"After school's out, I want you to go to the grocery store and get what's on this list," Mom told me, handing me a list of groceries along with some cash.

"Wait, but isn't that—"

Mom put a hand up to stop me from saying anything else. "Look, it's your turn to get the groceries today," she said sternly. "There's no way out of this one, Jason; I always get my way."

I heaved a heavy sigh of defeat. "Fine. But it's not guaranteed that they're gonna have everything on here..."

And I slipped the list and the cash into my left back pocket, grabbed my backpack, and headed to school for my second to last week.

—---

As soon as I arrived at school, after shuffling in my locker for everything I needed for the day, I decided to go find Hera and ask her a question.

"Hera, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Tell me, Hera, where did you apply?"

"I applied to Utah State and the University of Colorado," she told me. "And guess what? Utah State was the only school to accept me. What about you?"

"Same schools, plus Arizona. And guess who accepted me?"

"I don't know. Who?" she asked.

"I went two for three, Hera! Two for fucking three! USU and Arizona accepted me!" I replied.

"And have you even decided where you'll be going, oppa~?"

"I don't need another damn minute to decide, Hera-chan. I'm going to USU, just like you," I said as a grin formed across my face.

"That's what's up!" Hera boomed.

"Fo' sho'!" I replied with so much enthusiasm it practically flooded my mind.

And with that, we again traded a slap-slap-bump high five on the down low and went our separate ways to our first classes.

—---