Cipher [A Gravity Falls Tale] #Wattys2016

Seventeen

Will submitted his application not long after that incident. He spent significant time outside of secondary compiling letters of recommendation, information about his achievements, and anything else he needed to meet the requirements. His friends pitched in to help him and Kryptos, who had also started work on his own application.

As for the written portions, Will burned the midnight oil long into his late nights. He would stay up long past dark, working only by the dim light of some lamp from his father's downstairs store, writing as though his life depended on it. He was determined to make this application the single best thing he had ever created.

He was able to successfully turn in his application a while before the deadline actually hit, a feat dubbed impressive by most. His family remained the most impressed, though Willie still maintained some reservations about being left to fend for himself for the remaining portion of secondary. Still, he was happy for his brother, as were most others.

The rest of the semester crawled by as Will eagerly awaited information from the Academy. Finally, one day, he received a letter in the mail. Over dinner, he read it to his family.

To whom it may concern:

Congratulations! Your application has been accepted as part of the University of Geometropolis' Advanced Secondary Program. You have hereby made it to the interview phase of the process. Please coordinate a date that works for you with our office. Excellent work on making it to this stage, valued student. Your future just may be one with our prestigious University!

Regards,

H. Thorpe, Minister of Education

"Great news, kiddo!" exclaimed his father Markus, slapping him on the back.

"Indeed!" agreed Mary. "I'm sure you'll rock this interview."

"Y-yeah," nodded Willie. "G-great job, man. I'm proud of you." Will soaked up the praise. He knew they loved him, but he also knew that his family hadn't had the highest hopes for his endeavours. He had showed them, though. And soon, he'd show everyone.

The next day at school, he showed it to all of his friends, allowing the channels of gossip to do the rest. By meal time, practically everyone in the school knew of Will's achievements. He shot Torrington a triumphant glance in Trigonometrics, to which the circle only scowled and turned away. He also received many compliments from his teachers about the matter.

In his way home, several neighbors that had hear the good news shouted out congratulations to him. And, as they walked in the door, Will and his brother were greeted with the surprise of a party. Markus has called a bunch of family and close friends to celebrate his son's good news. Over a potluck of home cooked food, the fire of his good fortune continued to be fueled.

"To William," toasted his father after getting some silence. "Maybe the most successful triangle I've ever known."

"And to little Willie," butted in Mary. "His equally intelligent brother!" Everyone laughed at this but cheered in agreement. Several people gave the brothers congratulatory pats on the back.

"Your old man's right," pointed out their Uncle James. "You two are probably the smartest triangles this sorry old family has ever seen."

"What about the shop, though?" asked their Cousin Georgie. "Who's gonna run that?"

"Oh, hush!" his sister fired back. "They'll be rich enough to hire people to keep that old thing going, that is, if they don't need to tear it down first!" Everyone roared in laughter.

During the festivities, Markus pulled his son away. "Listen, Will, we're so proud of you," he told him. "You really have made it far. But we won't be any less proud if you don't make the cut. Just being considered is, well, huge! Even if you don't land this spot, there's other positions for smart triangles. Especially in the Defense Department-- someone like you could rise to the level of General while still in youth!"