The Secret Life of Mitchie

Chapter 2

"What, what is it?" Mandy asked, peering over my shoulder to see what I was looking at.

"Pierce came home early. He found this in the mailbox when he got there," I said, zooming in on the picture so Mandy could read the letter.

"Full scholarship??? Wait, Mitchie, isn't this good news? Can't you just take this then? Plus it says its available starting from this spring. Talk about perfect timing!" 

I laughed and pointed to the school's name on the envelope.

"Mandy, that would be great if I could go, but that scholarship is to Harvy B. Richard's Boys Academy. This is a legacy scholarship. All four of my brothers went to school there, so the scholarship is for the next in the family to go as well with all tuition paid, but the next in line is me. The only way I could take the scholarship was if I was a guy."

Mandy sat there, looking thoughtful for a minute. "It was just an idea. Besides, I think you could go as long as you were a guy." A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.

"Yeah that would be great, but I'm not a guy," I said, watching her suspiciously. Mandy stood up and went into our adjoining bathroom and returned a moment later with a pair of scissors.

My eyes widened, "What are you doing with those?"

She smiled devilishly, "Come on, this is great. You can go to school and your dad will never have to know. It's only temporarily, just until we can prove that you're being unfairly expelled. Plus, hair grows back."

Finally I got what she was saying.

"OH, oh no, you are NOT cutting my hair." I reached up protectively to cover my head. I had spent the last two years growing it out.

For some reason 13 year old me thought that my naturally wavy hair would look cute in a bob. Obviously that was a mistake and I was not about to let someone cut it again.

But, Mandy was right....kind of. I could cut my hair, dress like a guy, accept the scholarship, and my dad need never know that I was expelled in the first place. It's not like we had come up with any other idea. Plus, I could feel a sort of bizarre excitement building inside me. 

Me. Mitchie Daniels, straight A, honor student, president of the student council; being impulsive and reckless. Who would have thought?

Reluctantly, I let my hands drop from my hair, "Okay, do it." I squeezed my eyes shut as I heard the first snips of the scissors.

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"Okay, you're done." Mandy said, turning me this way and that checking to make sure she cut it all evenly.

Shakily, I raised my hands to my hair and I nearly had a heart attack. 

"Did you have to cut it ALL! I'm going to look so stupid, what was I thinking I can't pass as a boy I'm......" I trailed off as Mandy placed a mirror in front of me.

 I didn't exactly look like a boy, but with the haircut, an outfit change, and my sadly undeveloped chest, I could maybe pull it off.

"So what do you think?" Worry was starting to color Mandy's voice, she didn't like that I was taking so long to tell her what I thought of her handiwork. 

"If you don't like it I can try to change it up a bit." She offered.

I smiled, "Its fine, I like it. I just worry how I'm going to explain this when I go home." Mandy sighed in relief and hugged me.