Endeavor Project

Chapter 1: Beginning of the End

"Ugh!" I said as my hands slammed the door behind me. My feet pounded the floors, anger seething from every pore. With a jerk, I rip open the fridge door and take out my water. With a grunt, I open the bottle of water. Pouring it's contents into my mouth. What a day! Just... I just can't even describe it! It was horrid, awful, whatever else you can think of. Ugh, just... I just don't know. I just don't know...

Today was supposed to be the day. The day I would get on the debate team. Ever since the tryouts were announced, I poured every ounce of time into practicing for this. I practiced, I studied, and I even had mom help me pick out topics and debate them in the evening when I got home. I did everything I could. But, it just wasn't enough. Those stupid, spoiled, rich, idiotic, know-it-all jerks decided I wasn't good enough. That I can't make the team.

"Sublime." That's the word they said. Sublime. Ugh! I don't even know what that word means but I already can't stand it! They... those little... ugh!

Taking my water bottle, I plop myself down on the couch. Heat raced through my body, as my anger reached a boiling point. The heat spread farther and farther until it reached my eyes. That familiar feeling of wetness began to pool in my eyes as the situation began to replay itself over and over. Why? Why wasn't I good enough?! It's not fair!

Taking my hands, I rest my face against them just as the dam burst. Tears spread down my face like a flooding river. Washing away every good feeling I had left. Sobs echoing deep from the heart spilled out from my lungs as I cried. As I cried, a familiar presence plopped herself down beside me. With arms thin as wire, her arms coil around my shoulders. Sending a stroke of comfort to my heart. Mom...

"Shhhh. Shhhh. It's going to be okay Lydia. It's going to be okay." Mom. I forgot she was home today. I didn't realize she was here. Mom usually isn't. She typically comes home later in evening, after her shift at the police department ends. But, I guess today she didn't have to stay as long.

"Mom, I'm so sorry! I... I d-didn't know y-you w-were home."

"It's okay honey. Is everything alright?" Immediately I shake my head.

"No! It isn't. Mom I... I just had a really bad day. It was awful."

"Tell me about it," Mom said, her voice gentle. And so the floodgates open. I leave no detail to spare as I tell mom everything about the debate team tryouts. How I got there, how I debated my heart out. And how they rejected me and insulted me on top of that! When I finished, mom's gaze was cold and sharp. Goosebumps arose from my skin as I remembered that look. Uh oh.

"So, let me get this straight. You went to the debate team tryouts?" Immediately I nod.

"And you tried out?" Again, another nod.

"And after debating your heart out to these people, they told you your performance was "sublime"? And that if you ever showed up to a debate team competition they would have you thrown out of the stands?" Immediately I nod. Mom's gaze drifted to the floor as her hand went to her chin. Oh no. Oh no no no! That look! Not the look!

Anytime mom pulls out that look, it usually means either two things: One, she is deciding punishment. Or two, she is thinking up something dastardly. And trust me, you don't want to know the things mom can come up with. My mouth goes to open, I go to speak. But nothing comes out. Nothing but a sigh from mom.

"Lydia, let you tell you something about those rich kids. They're spoiled, rude, and above all else, stupid. Lydia, I know that what they said may seem like the end of the world. But trust me, it's not. The only reason they said that to you was because they were jealous. They were jealous that someone like you, someone smart, beautiful, kind, and common, could debate like that. Lydia, you showed them up. And they retaliated the only way they knew how. By being spiteful. By being mean. They wanted to hurt you, Lydia, because they were jealous of you." Jealous? Of me?