“Why didn’t you want to be a lawyer, if you don’t mind me asking?” She smiles,
“No its fine, my whole life my father pushed me about Law School. My dad always told me that is what I was going to do. I never had any choices of my own. At first, I wanted to be what he said, but as time went on, I realised that, it is my life and I do not want to spend it doing something that I would not love. When I did not apply to Columbia, my dad would not speak to me for over a month. It was horrendous, he hated my choice and for a brief time I think that he hated me.” Summer’s words are sad. I can see that she is in pain from her surgery, but I feel that the pain she has over her schooling is much more severe.
“I am sure that’s not true. Your father most likely, just wanted the best for you.” I say sympathetically. I gaze over at her and she looks distressed. I look to my mom as she talks rapidly on her new white iPhone. She seems oblivious to the fact that Summer and I are even here. I shake my head briefly at her and turn back around to Summer.
“Yeah, he still is not happy about my decision; however I feel that he has kind of accepted it now. There is no way we could afford a college like Columbia anyway, my dad was about to get into debt and I hated that. Which college do you attend?” I feel very uneasy about my answer. I cannot lie to the girl, but at the same time, I hate to tell her the truth. It seems as if there was a lot of tension between her father and her, over Columbia. I look around awkwardly searching for an answer. I gaze at her hoping that she will forget the question she just asked. However, she does not, I see her lips move and her words chime out.
“Do you attend college in the city?” She says looking irritated that she had to ask again. I exhale and look over to my mom. She is obviously not listening to our conversation. If she were, she would have jumped in by now, shouting from the rooftops how proud she was of me for to be attending Columbia. I stare at the flame haired girl,
“I go to Columbia.” I say feeling guilty, I wonder if money was the main issue in Summer’s decision not to apply.
“Cool, I hear it is a great school, it was just not for me.” She says very upbeat. I smile at the girl but I do not say anything. I do not want to share my views with her on Columbia. Hearing her story makes it impossible for me to share. We sit in silence until Summer breaks it.
“Hey, my stop is around here.”
“Okay, “I say. I reach over to my mom who is now talking excessively on her phone. I gently touch her on the knee and she puts her call on hold.
“Yes dear?”
“We are near Summer’s house, tell the driver.” I say to her. She glances to the driver and tells him to pull over. The car comes to a stop and I reach for the door. I step out and summer follows. I look around to see where she lives.
“Which building is it?” I say.
“That one,”
“She points to a tall dark grey building, that’s looks old. The front stoop is rundown and there are a few broken windows in the hallway. Summer glances around, she looks embarrassed and I feel again guilty. I lift her backpack from the ground and hand it to her. She smiles and looks happy.
“Is your father home?”
“No, he works until eight tonight.”
“Are you okay alone?” I ask.
“Oh yeah, fine,” She says quickly. Something in her voice leads me to believe that she is not fine. I run my finger along my lower lip and I gaze at the red haired girl. I cannot assume that she is lying and I have to believe what she is saying.
“Okay, if you are sure?”
“Yes, I am sure. Thanks again Alanna.”
“That’s okay, it was nice meeting you.”
“And you.” I enter the car once again, and I feel that I have helped this girl in some way.
“Alanna, have you decided where you are going to stay?” My mom asks me as she finally ends her long telephone call.
“Yes, I am going to Columbia.” She looks confused.
“I don’t think that is wise, you must rest, and I don’t feel you would get much of that in college.” I frown at her,
“I am going back to college, I have already missed so much already, and I cannot afford to miss anymore.”
“But Alanna, that is too much too soon, really darling come back home with me.,” I shake my head.
“No, my mind is made up. I need to focus all my energy on college.”
“Alanna, I know what this is all about, Adrian. You miss him and you feel that you need to focus on other things to occupy you.”
“Mom, please stop telling me what I feel. You don’t understand, and not everything is about him.” I say harshly.