"Are you coming, son?" She questioned.
Chris sighed. "Of course." After his sisters had been put to bed, Chris joined his mother on the floor in the living room.
"My baby boy is all grown up." Chris smiled at his mother's comment.
"Mom." He turned on his side to face her.
"Yes, Chris."
"How am I going to pay for college?"
"I was waiting for that." Beverly sighed. "I've gotten in touch with your father." She paused. Chris' eyes widened. "Now before you scream and shout let me finish."
"All right."
"I told him that we couldn't pay for any of your schooling." Chris nodded. "And he's agreed to pay for your full tuition." Chris was outraged, but yet, ecstatic at the same time.
"And where has he been the past eighteen years of my life?" He shouted. Remembering that his sisters were asleep, Chris lowered his voice. "When we had no heat, or electricity! When Molly had to walk in the snow all the way to school with thin soled shoes on! When you were sick and I had to work three jobs to pay for your medicine!" Tears welled up in Chris' chocolate brown eyes. "Why is he all of a sudden entering our lives?"
"Because." Beverly really didn't know why. ‘Chris definitely had a point, why was his father all of sudden so active?' She thought.
"Can I tell you something?" Chris asked.
"Of course, sweet heart."
"I'm scared."
"What are you scared of?"
"Leaving you." Chris sighed. "I'm afraid when I go off to college things will get even worse than they are already."
"We'll be fine." His mother reassured him.
"That's not the only thing. I never was accepted at school. College is such a huge change, and I don't think I'm ready for this big step."
"You are more than ready, and don't worry about what others say."
"I know I shouldn't care, really, but I do. I want more than anything to have a best friend. And I want to be able to just make everything in our lives better, I want to be young again!"
"What is so great about being a kid again? You don't get to make your own decisions, and you...."
Chris interrupted. "Because, I don't want to enter the real world! I want to stay in a land of candy and toys, I want to be able to just goof off and not worry about anything."
"Is this what it's all about? You don't want to enter the real world. Chris, the real world is a lot better than you're making it seem."
"For you it is." Chris mumbled.
"And it will be for you. It may be tough at first, and you may just want to give up, but don't! Don't let whatever gets you down keep you down. You are an amazing person, Chris, and don't let anyone tell you different. Jus step into the world knowing what you know, and knowing also that I love you. I always have and I always will."
"I love you too, Mom."
