Surviving my Scholarship

Hair of the Dog

                I didn't feel as uncomfortable this time standing amongst the board. I had a distraction in this rather terrible tasting tea. Each time I took a sip, it distracted me from the silence in front of me. The bitter aftertaste took forever to clear out of my mouth. So, I focused on that. When my tea was gone, I glanced down at the brown stain that was left over. A smile looked back at me. Didn't they use tea leaves to read fortunes on Earth? I wonder what a smiley face meant.

                "Ms. Graddon," Madame Zee started. "Do you party often?" I smirked. I knew this was coming.

                "I've never been one for parties, ma'am," I replied trying to act innocent and humble. She decided it was time to attack.

                "Why does someone like you know the ingredients to a rather complicated drink such as the Bay Breeze," she prodded. I shrugged.

                "I have tried to have an extensive knowledge on a variety of things. When I was younger, I had the dream of making it onto Jeopardy. You never know what he will ask," I smiled in response.

                "So, your dream is to be on a game show," Madame Zee continued with an eyebrow raised.

                "It was," I corrected her trying to remain truthful. It is extremely difficult pulling the wool over someone's eyes when your entire mind is screaming, "I am a sham."

                "We expect our scholarship recipient to demonstrate to us their superiority over the competition," she explained.

                "Ms. Graddon, what do you plan on pursuing with this scholarship," one of the twins spoke up with an overly charming grin. His brother had frowned as the other smiled. I wonder if that is their thing.

                "I was getting to that, Gerald," Madame Zee spat.

                "We would have been here all day if you woman continued your game,as you attacked her and she eluded every question," Gerald whined turning his attention back to me. "Ms. Graddon, you were saying?"

                "I hope to continue my studies with Eugene, Professor Hughes, in Mathematics and Engineering. My dream has always been to take Mr. Wilken's research and do what he never was able to accomplish, finish his work. I believe my education here will allow me to do so," I blurted out before I could regret it.

                In the time it took a security probe to get from the far end of the gardens to the gateway to the party, the notes were feverishly scribbled between the four board members. Probes are excruciatingly slow. They turned away from me and discussed the information. Gerald was the only one to speak.

                "You want to solve Wilken's Cursed Research? Isn't that a bit ambitious for someone of your ........... status," he raised an eyebrow as he took me in.

                "I don't see how status has anything to do with brain capacity," Mr. Galloway burst into our private meeting. "I'm sorry to interrupt, however I must see that Ms. Graddon gets home at a decent hour. She is still just a child."

                "But I....." I started but Mr. Galloway's glare made me stop dead in my argument. They just started asking me questions. I turned and allowed Mr. Galloway to place his hand on my back as he led me away.

                "What are you doing," I snapped at Mr. Galloway when we were out of the board's range. "They had just started."

                "Everything they need to know is on that paper," he grumbled. "The more freestyle from you means a higher chance of error."