Purple Hearts

Chapter 6- Spencer

Spencer-

Spencer had begun to move out of his dorm. The term was over. Summer was officially here.

Finally?

Though he was relieved that he didn't have to sit and study for anything, he oddly still wanted to do something with his summer. Maybe get a summer job?

He pulled his luggage into the elevator. His roommate had left as soon as finals were over. Spencer's parents were already downstairs helping lug this belongings into the truck. Dragging two giant bags behind him, Spencer walked casually out of the elevator, and right outside the dorm was a booth. Something he hadn't seen since the beginning of the first semester.

Spencer quickly pulled out his phone, but before he could fake a call, they'd already started talking to him. "Hey! You! Would you like to help us out in a Summer Scholar program? That could totally be you!" A girl with short blonde hair came up to him clutching a clipboard in her hand.

The pure fact that this was happening to him, strangely satisfied his question just a minute ago. He shrugged. "Sure."

Her blue eyes widened at his immediate response. "Oh! Well, you can fill this out I guess." Spencer pulled a clipboard out of this bag, and began to fill out the paper.

"Didn't expect me to respond that fast?" He laughed.

"Well, yeah. It's summer, and most of the people in this dorm just want to go home." She sighed. "I've been rejected all day."

"Oh dang, that sucks." He handed her back the paper.

"I know right. Anyway, have you heard of the Summer Scholar Program before?"

"I've heard of it."

"Okay, I'll give you the run down version of it. You help kids from middle and high schools broaden their horizons. Specifically giving them the experience of a Clemson student."

Spencer nodded and took mental notes as this lady talked.

"Oh yeah. I'm Chelsea, the Program Director." She smiled, heading back under the booth's shade. "This is Camille, your boss."

A red-headed girl briefly looked up from her phone and smiled. "Hi!"

"You'll meet everyone else later. We're having a brief meeting on June 5th about how all the weeks will go. You'll get a list of what's going on when. and the first week starts from the 7th to the 13th. And this is volunteer so, if you want to get a job and do this too, hey that's fine."

"Oh okay. Sweet. Nice meeting you Chelsea." Spencer pulled his luggage to the curb and waited. Soon enough, an all too familiar burgundy van pulled up.

"Taxi!" His mother joked as she rolled down the window. "Hey there Spencer."

"Hey Mom." Spencer smiled. She looked older than he remembered. Her hair a little grayer, her face a little more tired, but he figured that time did that to people.

"What are your plans for the summer then?" He'd packed his things in the car and they'd begun their drive home, only an hour away.

"I'm volunteering for the Summer Scholar Program." His mother nodded and politely listened as he explained the details. "But before I go, I'd like to be home for a week or two."

"Alright then," She nodded. "Let's go home."