How My Life Got Screwed Up Even More

Finally, the day I graduate from high school is here. I won't go into details so I'll skip to the end of the ceremony where my brother was taking me home. "I'm not sure if we're going to be able to get you into college... yet. There isn't a lot of money. There's IS a lot of bills though. Hurray!" Boy, did I love his sarcasm. Really, I do love it. It makes everything seem less... dark and unfortunate. But reality did sink in.

Andy and I have had this conversation before. I might not be able to get into college until I'm twenty. "I'll get you in! Don't worry. It's not too late for you. Maybe for me, but not you!" Of course, he was twenty at the time he said that. But he did have to raise his little fourteen year old sister when his parents died at my age. Now, he's twenty-four and college is way off his mind. "Food, clothes, shelter" is what runs on his mind.

If I ask him what he wants to do, he says, "I'd love to just chill but I got to work at the CVS. Or is it the photo shop?" He always had to have two jobs. I had one. Of course, without a college education and no smarticles, you're limited with job options. Oh, he was also desperate.

So I just said smally, "I don't think I want to go to college."

"WHAT!?!?"

"Don't swerve off the road," I mumbled not making eye contact. Maybe I was going to cry myself to sleep tonight. Plans ruined yet again... CHECK! "It's just. It costs a lot and it's another four years of my life. I might even fail college and all that money is worth what? Nothing. We have enough money to live."

"Live without happiness. I'm stressed out everyday. I have two friggin' jobs. I leave early in the morning, come back when you're at school, come home when it's getting late. Code"-- God, I hate that nickname-- "I'd do anything to see you more, but I can't because I'm so busy. And I never have any free time. I work, do bills, work on dinner, work, come home, eat, find something to do before I have to go to bed. This is my daily schedule. I don't want you to have to live the hell I'm living."

"We could work together, you'd see more of me."

"Codie!"

"You said anything."

"You're going to college evantually."

"In the mean time, I'll work with you at CVS."

"Oh fine."

So that was my wonderfully exciting night. I got home and ate dinner and picked up a book. I had all of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. They were basically my only books. They were thick and great so I could reread them and they'd last a long time.

My phone started to ring. It was my friend, Lisa, singing, "You just got a text. You just got a text. You just got a text. I wonder who it's from!" It was in the tune of Blue's Clue's "We Just Got A Letter" song thing. It was cute so I saved it as the text message ringtone. She was sure to make a "You just got a call" one. Maybe a little more creative.

I looked at the number. It was restricted. I looked at the writing:

Look out your window.

It was probably Lisa playing a prank on me. She knew how to restrict numbers. I walked over to the window and opened it to yell out, "Lisa, aren't we a little old for these games?" or something like that. But what did I yell?

"HOLY MOTHER OF CRAP!"