A Spark of Love

The Rejection Letter

I sift through the mail, which appears to be all bills, as I walk across the grass and climb the porch steps. I stop looking for an acceptance letter to open the front door.  "Mom, I'm home."

There's no response, but I know she's home. She always is home in the afternoon.  I set my backpack down by the stairs and plop down on the couch to finish looking through the mail. My heart races as I find the envelope I've been waiting for. My boyfriend, Kevin, is already committed to play for State next year.

We've been planning the rest of our lives together for the past six months. When things got more serious, halfway through junior year, we decided to attend the same school.  Kevin was offered scholarships at a few schools out of state, but we decided that it would be best for my family financially if I went to State. I think Kevin secretly didn't want to be that far away from his parents, but he would never admit it.

The plan was for Kevin to play football and I would major in education.  When we both graduated, we would get married and either move back to Natchitoches and I would teach, or if he made it to the pros we would move to whatever city he needed to be in.

My fingers tremble as I flip the envelope over and tear it open.  My eyes skip over the letterhead and move right to the most important part of the letter, the first paragraph.

We regret to inform you that based on your high school cumulative GPA and your SAT scores, you have not been accepted at this time.  We wish you the best in furthering your education at another institution of higher learning and thank you for taking the time to apply.

The air leaves my lungs.  I read the letter again.  I can't believe it.  Getting into State seemed like such a sure thing.  Tears form in my eyes as I think about the future I had planned with Kevin.

The front door opens and I shove the rejection letter between the cushions of the couch and quickly wipe the tears from my eyes with my sleeve.

"How was your day?"

I turn to my mom as she sets her purse down on the table near the front door.  I think about telling her.  She deserves to know about the letter.  I know that, but she was so proud of the fact that I was going to attend her alma mater and be a teacher just like her... I can't do it, not yet.

"Oh... it was just fine, just the normal stuff."

She sits down on the couch next to me and cracks a smile.  I do my best to smile back, but I have no idea if she's buying it.

"It's amazing, isn't it ... you've got two days of school left and then before you know it, you and Kevin will be at State.  I'm so excited, for you both."

I can't take it.  I have to change the subject, otherwise,  I will spill the news about State and I need some more time to figure out what to do.  That and I want to tell Kevin before I tell Mom.

"Where were you?  You're always home at this time."

I really look at her for the first time since she came home and I noticed she isn't dressed in one of her typical teaching outfits.  In fact, she's wearing a dress that I don't recall ever seeing before, I can't remember ever seeing my mother in something so.... revealing.

Her red dress, a color that only a young movie star would ever wear, reaches only halfway down her thigh and the cut in the front is low enough that her cleavage is showing.  My eyes wander back up and she is blushing enough that her cheeks are almost the same color as the dress.

She clears her throat and fiddles with her cell phone.

"I...I stopped by the movie set in town for a few minutes after work."