Besides, you already spend part of your day away from Walden-I don’t see how going to Colonial Academy would be all that different.” “At any rate,” my mother continues, “I think you’re being too hasty about this decision, Jess. “Michael! I’m trying to make a point here, and you’re not helping.” “Jess, I think you’re exaggerating just a tiny bit, don’t you? There are plenty of wealthy people who are perfectly nice and normal. “Normal? Mom, gimme a break! Have you been downtown and seen those kids? Some of them have chauffeurs! Their parents are movie stars and politicians and stuff like that.” My mouth, which is open to take a bite of hamburger, gapes at her instead. “Well, some of them are rich, that’s true, but underneath they’re just normal girls like you.” “Sweetheart, they’re not snobby rich kids.” She pauses. “Hush!” My mother frowns at them, then turns her attention to me again. I don’t want to go to some dumb boarding school with a bunch of snobby rich kids.”

“I want to stay at Walden Middle School with my friends. My mother glances over at my dad again, her brow puckering with concern. “I did,” I reply, slapping the top of the bun onto my burger. “They’re offering you a full scholarship!” “Honey, are you sure you understand?” says my mother. Out of the corner of my eye I see my parents exchange a glance. I pick it up gingerly, trying to avoid the buttery smears where his fingers touched it.

My little brother removes one sticky paw from the ear of corn he’s busy gnawing and shoves the bottle over to me. “I don’t want to go to Colonial Academy,” I tell my parents matter-of-factly. I toss the letter aside and start assembling my burger. Once again, congratulations-we look forward to welcoming you to our school!” It is indeed an honor to be nominated for this scholarship, and we hope you will accept it. Created in honor of Harriett Witherspoon, the illustrious educator and suffragette who established our school, this award for academic excellence is offered each year to an outstanding local eighth-grade girl. One of those mysterious we know something you don’t kind of smiles.Ĭongratulations! We’re delighted to inform you that you have been nominated for a Colonial Academy Founder’s Award. There’s a funny tone in her voice and she’s smiling across the table at my dad. “I guess you’ll have to read it and find out, won’t you?” my mother replies. “What’s this?” I ask, picking up the letter that’s lying in the middle of my plate and scooching my chair closer to the table. “When you get accustomed to people or places or ways of living, and then have them suddenly snatched away, it does leave an awfully empty, gnawing sort of sensation.”

Dear pen pal by heather vogel frederick