An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Forty- Two

Tim caught Trudy's eyes as the senior class entered the auditorium of Brighton High School. Representatives from various colleges had set up booths to hand out information and answer questions. The twins had been looking forward to this for months, but now it seemed irrelevant to their lives. They had wanted to find out about safe schools in the event one or both didn't get into Boston College, but now the only benefit of this special program was that Tim was missing math class and Trudy history.

Forced to take a leave of absence, their father had come home yesterday from chemotherapy looking weak and pale. Their tear-stained grandmother and haggard-looking grandfather had driven him and they stayed at the house for hours. They spoke very little, their grandmother offering to make dinner but unable to find the energy to get out of her chair. It was upsetting to see their normally jovial grandfather with a pained-filled expression, constantly getting up to see how his son was faring. Uncle Seth was out-of-state but called every few hours to check upon them. He promised when he came back to drive their father to some of his doctor visits.

By the time their mother came home, she rushed to their father to find out how he was feeling. Her hair was disheveled and there were shadows under her eyes. For the first time, they noticed their mother did not have a youthful glow.

"I got home as soon as I could," she told her in-laws defensively.

"I know. I know," her father-in-law replied. Her mother-in-law tried to speak but only a sob came out. Christine paused, not knowing what to do or say, and then rushed upstairs.

Tim and Trudy walked around aimlessly as if this college fair had nothing to do with them. They knew the medical bills were mounting. Trudy shifted between being mad at her father for getting sick to feeling sorry for him and herself. Tim, on the other hand, was already planning to look for a job and save up to take a course or two at the local community college at night.

Their mother looked so shattered last night that they couldn't even voice their concerns about college.

Trudy saw her friends visiting the college booths, excited and hopeful. They tried to include her but she shied away. Trudy secretly wished she came from a wealthy family, one that didn't have to struggle for everything. She felt finances, as well as illness, was sucking the life out of her. It all became too much, so instead of wandering around the auditorium, she left for the ladies' room. Staring in the mirror, she wondered why her life had to fall apart. After a few moments, she composed herself and exited the ladies' room.

Tim was waiting for her.

"You know life isn't over," he told her, reading her like a book.

"I've been looking forward to college for years. Now it's been taken away. What's left?"

Tim stared at his twin sister, his eyes narrowing in anger. "What's left? We're hoping Dad stays alive."

"I didn't mean it that way," Trudy glared back. "I just don't know what I'm going to do now! Every day of high school I have worked with one objective in mind: to get into BC."

Tim glanced in all directions, not wanting to make a scene. "Things change. I don't think Mom planned on getting pregnant without our father around. She wanted to graduate from college. Plans get derailed."

"OK Mr. Know-It-All, then why are you here at the college fair?" she snapped, putting one hand on her hip.

"You know just as well as I do that all college seniors are required to attend this fair," Tim said, jolted by his sister's anger.

"Oh really? Seniors going to trade school or the army were told they could go out for this period as long as they came back after lunch for class," Trudy kept blinking to feign surprise that her brother didn't know this but her tight smile had anger written all over it.