Graduation Day's Cruel Ultimatum

graduation c

a state university, a hund

nd uncertain. I was staying with a fri

mom fo

r, my fa

tificate. Suddenly, he was on the doorstep of my fr

aid. It wasn'

him. She would

d. "We've found a good place fo

dn't know I had

chimed in, finally looking at me. "Goo

ry. Not

ve a scholarship. I

sh sound. "College is for rich

't ask. T

of my father's rusty pickup truck, a

at in the f

to suburbs, then to countryside, then

te." This was the

p to a dilapidated

My mother turn

good opportunity, Sarah. She'll te

in a sweats

out, holding a

r aunt's place is a bit further. We'll drop you at th

ed. A bus stat

us station" was a single bench outside a closed-down

rom the truck. "Bus comes

e. My mother just st

away, leaving me i

ck. It was

around.

ing. Away from the bus stop. Away f

s. My feet ached.

ched a larger

out my

ed. Cars w

o give up, an old sta

graying hair leaned ov

the driver's seat,

you headed?

ere," I said. M

They were on their way

y, or the parts I dared

nner at a roadsid

rs. Miller said, her hand covering

neat house in a quiet t

room. It was smal

ct the university, e

d a summer job at

ped me buy a

o my

Haven, Co

ttending a summe