Hetalia AU - The Institutional School for Gifted Internationals

The Package (or Letter)

 Arthur sighed as he heard his name called for the umpteenth time.

"Arthur! Arthur! You British jerk, I need your help!" A squeaky, boyish voice called. "Shay is trying to tell me I'm wrong but Sealand really is a country!"

A equally boyish voice chorused in outrage. "That's not my name and it is not! You're thinking of New Zealand! Arthur come in here and tell him I'm right!"

Sitting down his cross-stitch (Men can cross-stitch too you know!), Arthur made his way from the living room down the hall to the boys' bedroom. Upon opening the door he found the two pre-teens sitting on the bed and glaring at each other with the younger, Peter, holding their shared laptop on his lap.

"What's the issue now? Something about Sealand and New Zealand?" Arthur questioned, annoyed. This was the fifth time today that he had to deal with his younger brother, Seamus, and his cousin Peter arguing. The two boys shared the same room in the house and slept in the bunk beds that had previously been replaced by cradle, and before that, a Queen-sized guest bed. Back when Seamus had first been born, their parents had the room changed into a nursery. Five years later, when their cousin Peter, who was only one year younger than Seamus, moved in with the family, they exchanged the cradle for the ratty old bunk beds from the storage. Apparently the family had had them for over twenty years now. Considering that Arthur's older siblings, Alistair and Aisling, had once shared them.

"Shay-Shay over here keeps telling me that Sealand isn't a real country but I'm telling you it is!" The first voice, Peter, cried out accusingly.

"Sealand is not a country! And my name isn't Shay-Shay, it's Seamus. S-E-A-M-U-S. Seamus!" The boy shouted angrily.

Arthur sighed again. This was already giving him a headache.

"You're right Seamus, Sealand isn't a country, it's a micro-nation. Technically owned by the British still. Peter, stop calling your cousin Shay-Shay you know he hates it."

"Sealand is too a real country you stupid British Jerkface!" Peter yelled out and began viciously typing on his computer before turning it around, displaying a website about the "country" of Sealand. "It says it all right here!"

Maybe Arthur should've been kinder, but he was already on edge. He was waiting for a very special package (or very un-special letter) today. Everything, his future and his family's, relied on this one day.

"Sealand isn't a country Peter! I don't know how many times I have to tell you that! And Seamus, you knew Peter would upset, so why'd you even have to bring this up? Can't you two just be civil for one bloody day?" Arthur gave an angry sigh. "Just... The two of you are grounded until Mom get's home, no computer, no phones, and no television. Now go into the Living Room and start on your homework."

Both boys looked at him with varying levels of shock. Peter looked as if he was about to cry and Seamus wouldn't meet anyone's eyes.

"What're you waiting for? A chariot? Off you go!" At Arthur's command, both boys left the room, Peter sniffling and Seamus patting him on the back. For all the arguing those two did, they truly did act as brothers. Close brothers at that, not like Arthur and his older brother Alistair.

Following after them, Arthur made sure to turn off the lights behind him and to shut the door. Electricity bills were already through the roof with Aisling's obsession with the internet and computer, the last thing they needed was to run up the bill with heating and lighting too. Sighing, he went into the living room and sat down, resuming his crocheting. Alistair always mocked him, but it helped Arthur to feel closer to their mother. The fondest and clearest memories he had of his late parent was when she was teaching him and Aisling how to stitch.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell awoke Arthur from his thoughts. He immediately rushed to the door and flung it open only to be disappointed by the sight of his older siblings.

"Hello brother dearest, what's with the glum face? Aren't ya happy to see me?" The red-headed devil, also known as his older brother Alistair, asked.

"Oh lay off him Ally, I'm sure he was just waiting for that special package from California." Aisling shot Arthur a smile as she pulled a padded, yellow envelope from behind her back. "Speaking of which, we have right here."

"Well why didn't you just tell me that in the first place, you bloody wankers! I was afraid I would have to wait for Monday's mail!" Arthur yelled as he quickly grabbed the envelope and rushed to the kitchen island. Grabbing the letter opener, he quickly and carefully opened the package and pulled out it's contents.

24 July 2016

Dear Master Arthur Kirkland,

On behalf of the Admissions Committee, it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the Institutional School for Gifted Internationals! You stood out as one of the most talented and promising students in one of the most competitive applicant pools in the history of the Institute. Your commitment to personal excellence and principled goals has convinced us that you will both contribute to our diverse community and thrive within our academic environment. We think that you and ISGI are a great match.
You'll likely have offers of admission from many fine schools, but we hope that you'll choose to enroll at ISGI. We hope you will join us on campus for Campus Preview Week (CPW), August 1-8, 2016. As a courtesy, we will be paying for a one-way plane ticket should you choose to come. We do realise that some will not want to spend the money to fly home and then back so, if you should choose, you may stay in your dorm for the three weeks until school has started.

If you are a financial aid applicant, any information about your financial aid application can be found on your MyISGI portal. If your financial aid application is complete, your award letter will be available on your MyISGI portal beginning. The password to your portal is your Student ID (3645263). If you have any questions about financial aid, feel free to contact Student Financial Services at XXX-XXX-XXXX.
ISGI's mission is to educate students with wondrous curriculum, comprised of the best academic programs and information from around the globe to best prepare them to solve the world's greatest challenges. Make no mistake, the rigor here is real, but so is the excitement of discovery in the classroom. The ways students collaborate and help each other are varied and many.
I hope you'll agree with us that ISGI is the perfect place to prepare for your future. As a member of our community, you'll join the best and brightest from around the globe, with a student body made of up of people from over 150 different countries! Together, you will make all the difference in a world that desperately needs you.
Many congratulations and welcome to ISGI! Now stop reading this and go celebrate!

Sincerely,
Ms. Karpusi
Dean of Admissions

"Well?"

"... I need to pack my bags. I'm going to California next week."