PROLOGUE
No news was good news.
A new box of mail stood on the glass table peacefully. But my eyes were far from it as I stared at the fireplace. It was cold so the fire was on heating the house. It glowed in its usual way and it seems to be glaring at me. At least it was better than me; in all ways. At least it glows as it does on summer nights. It heats the house like it always did. It did everything perfectly.
“Aren’t you going to open it?” I heard the familiar voice of my willowy single mom who seemed like a hundred parents to me. She had supported me financially until her money ran out and now she never ceased to support me emotionally.
“What’s the use?” I said still looking at the fireplace. “It’s all the same.”
“Don’t you give up and open it,” she said and disappeared from the room. Yes. She had always being optimistic. Still is.
I looked down at the box. It was a brown big box with paper with a little writing on it.
From: Happy Scholarships
To: Todd Thomas
′ I hope I’m happy in the end,′ I muttered sarcastically and slit the seal. I opened the box and saw a white envelope with the same notes:
From: Happy Scholarships
To: Todd Thomas
I took it and checked the back if there were any notes but found none so I just tore open the envelope and took out the letter. It was short and it looked precise.
Dear Applicant Todd Thomas,
We appreciate your effort and time to apply for Happy Scholarships but we regret to inform you that you were not selected among the chosen. We ask for your patience and understanding. You can apply next year and can be possibly chosen.
From the Happy Scholarships team, Manager.
I have read this too many times that it drives me crazy. I even went crazy recalling their slogan.
We always make you happy
Well, I’m not happy, I thought holding my anger lest it consumes me. I squeezed the letter and stood up moving to the fireplace and calling out to my mom. She did not answer immediately but when she did, she came out in her favourite cloth - an apron - and yellow gloves.
“What’s it?” She asked. “What did you read?”
“Same,” I replied. “I’m heading out.” As I crossed over to the sofa, she said, “Aren’t you going to eat before you go?”
I grabbed my coat before answering, “No.”
With that, I wore my coat and walked out of the house.
