Camp Comfort

01

Dream Crusher

Growing up I'd always dreamt about going to college; today, that dream was crushed.

You see, my poor excuse of a life had been droning on for 18 years, and now that I've finally graduated from hell on earth, commonly known as high school, I'm faced with the biggest milestone in my life so far;

Go to college or go off into the big bad world and hope for the best.

Due to my annoyingly introverted self, I'd decided that I am going to go to college because, let's face it, I wouldn't last a day out in the 'big bad world', as they put it.

My whole life, that is what I had planned; to go to college. Although now, that plan has be shot, mutilated and buried six feet under along with any spec of hope I had left.

Don't get me wrong, all the colleges I applied for accepted me; can't say I'm surprised.
I'm not being egotistical or anything, it's just that I got straight A's in my SAT's; my grades met, and exceeded, those of any college I applied for.

But I wasn't just applying to get accepted; I was applying for a full ride scholarship.

Unfortunately, I didn't get one; which meant I had to scrape up $50,000 at the least just to go to college.

In other words; I'm screwed.

Growing up it was always just me, my mom, and my sister. While she always did the best she could, my mother had always had problems with money.

She had to work 2 jobs just to pay the bills and put us through school. This also meant that unless I wanted to bankrupt her, I had to get a full ride scholarship or pay for school myself.

The second one was not an option; my job at the local cafe did not pay me enough to cover 50,000.

Although I had saved up around $5,000, and my mother just happened to mention that she had around $30,000 saved up; that still meant I had to pull $15,000 out of my ass in the next 3 months.

Unless I jump in-front of a bus and claim a million dollars, I think it's safe to assume that I'm not going to college; this year at least.

And to think; the only reason I didn't get a full ride, was because I didn't have enough extra curriculars.

Damn my lazy, unathletic self.

"Ivy! Sweetie come here a second!" My mother screeched from the bottom of the stairs, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Mom, I'm right here. Why are you shouting?" I chuckled behind her, emerging from the kitchen while earning an ear piercing scream.

"Ivy! How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that! I swear your like a ninja when you walk." She grumbled turning to face me; hand clutching her chest and breath heavy.

"It's not my fault you can't hear me walking up behind you."

"That's because you don't make any sound!" She argued before sighing. "Now that your here I have something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Okay?"

"I know how much college means to you and I felt horrible that I couldn't pay-"