Touch of Hellfire (Pocket's Version)

🎬42🎬

May 10th, getting closer and closer and closer. "So, how's it going?" I asked Mom. "Too. Many. Books!" she ranted. "My brain has reached full capacity, I am done for!"

"Take a break," Rory advised her. "No time," Mom said. "Close your eyes and clear your head," I instructed her.

"Then all the knowledge I shoved in there will be gone! To make room, I lose stuff, it's a vicious cycle," she rambled. "I hate finals but thank God I'm graduating because I despise academics, what do you two see in it?"

"Fun," Rory answered her.

"Gets me where I want to be in life," I added. "Also no choice."

"Isn't there a ceremony?" I asked Mom. "It's a community college, I don't know."

"Come on, me and Heather will come and cheer loudly," Rory piped up. "Yeah and we'll film the whole thing and put it online," I laughed.

"Evil!" Mom exclaimed. "We're going," I insisted. "Hezzy," Mom sighed. "What?" I asked her.

"It's the same day as the Columbia Open Day," Mom admitted. "And you are not missing Columbia, you and Tessa have been planning it for too long and I'll never forgive myself if you miss it."

"So, missing your graduation is the price I have to pay for good education?" I sighed.

"I'm sorry, but Columbia comes first," Mom told me.

"Can I at least bring you back a present to make up for me not being there?" I asked her. "Fine," Mom caved and hugged me.

"I'll film the whole thing if you let me use your camcorder," Rory offered.

"No!" I refused. "Evil!" Rory pouted.

"So, guest list, Rory, Sookie, Jackson, Grandma and Grandpa," I said. "No, not my parents," Mom objected.

"Why not?" Rory asked her. "I disappointed them and humiliated them, I didn't graduate high school or marry a Yale man, I got pregnant and I have a career which is so beneath them, I don't want them there."

"We'll leave you to study," I said.

***

I rang the doorbell at Grandma and Grandpa's house. "It's a good thing I'll be in New York," I smirked.

"Evil!" Rory hissed.

Grandma answered the door. "Hey, Grandma," Rory greeted her. "Thanks for seeing us both on short notice."

"I'm happy to see you both on no notice," she hugged us both. "What's this about, you were both mysterious on the phone."

"We needed to talk to you about something in person," I explained. "Well come in," she ushered us into the dining room.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed once I saw all the food on the table. "An English tea service," Grandma explained. "Advantage of having an English maid, and that she speaks English."

"You didn't have to do this," I said. "Beatrice! I told you to doily line the plates!" Grandma yelled.

"You don't have to," Rory mumbled. "Hello!" Grandpa called.

"We're in the dining room!" Grandma shouted. "Rory, Heather, you're both here," Grandpa hugged us quickly. "Your grandmother said you had something to discuss with us."

We all sat down at the table. "Okay, we'd like to propose an idea, totally up to you," I said. "But promise us that you won't get upset."

"We won't," Grandma reassured me. "And that you'll try to keep an open mind," Rory added. "Alright," Grandma agreed.