College

“Grandma, I’m going to the market. Do you need something?” I called as I rushed towards the front door.

“No sweetie, but do bring the stuff we need for the movie,” she shouted from the kitchen.

My name is Lily Lodge. I’m 18 years old. People best describe me as a sweet yet strong girl. Maybe that’s because my parents passed away in a car accident when I was 8. My Grandma, who’s 63, took me in and took care of me. I’m grateful to her. We live in a small town, Montona.

I entered the market, “Good morning, Mr. Jake,”

“Ah! Good morning! How’s my favorite customer?” he asked.

“I’m doing fine. How are you?”

“I’m good and healthy,” he gave me a warm smile.

Mr. Jake had lived his whole life here and he used to know my Grandma. Well he still does. He’s 57 years old with two sons and a daughter. His family is really nice. They supported us after my parents died.

I wandered through the racks, searching for coke and popcorn. I paid and left. “Goodbye Mr. Jake. Have a nice day,”

At night, we played a romantic movie, ‘A Walk to Remember.’ Grandma told me it was a 90’s classic and even though this was her thirteenth time, she was still so into it as if it was her first time. She stopped the movie during a kiss scene. I asked what was wrong but she sighed and looked at me. “Is everything alright?” Her silence was scaring me at the moment. I could hear crickets outside.

“I’ve been thinking lately. Keeping my money in mind and the savings I had been doing since you were born and the money your parents have left you with, I think…I think I’d be able to handle you college fees.”

A spark appeared on my face. “I…”

“Don’t say anything honey. You are my granddaughter and it is my responsibility of giving you the rights of going to college. And don’t even say you don’t want to because every American child had a dream of going to college. Or so they say,”

I hugged her tight and tighter. “Thank you so much, Grandma,” tears filled my eyes.

“There’s nothing to thank about, honey,” she moved back, “but I’m afraid you’ll have to stay there. I can’t have you travel every day. It’s not safe. Also you’ll have to stay at hostels and I don’t know much about them which is why I’m not wanting you to stay there but if there isn’t any other way then of course you have no other option,” her voice showed grief.

“There is a way,” I said, “I’ll apply to a college that provides its own dorms. That way I will always be in school premises and it’ll be safe.”

There was a sign of relief on Grandma’s face. “Alright honey, you start from tomorrow.” She whispered the next part, “You’ll be gone in just a month.”

Leaving Grandma like this really made me unhappy but the thought of going to college, of going to a new place, experiencing new things that made me feisty. To my amusement 90% of the colleges provided their own hostels. I chose CAS (College of Arts and Sciences) it was the best in Angelic Falls. Angelic Falls was a city, three hours away from Montona. I heard it was a beautiful city.

On 28^th of August, I left Montona. Leaving Grandma was harder than I thought. I had spent my whole childhood with her in that town, the town where I found my childhood and happiness. Sure, it was a reminder of that terrible accident and the sleepless nights I spent crying under my pillow but the cheerful moments I shared with my Grandma, obliterated all the bad ones away. 

I was worried about where I was going to spend the night. College was staring tomorrow which meant I had nowhere to go for the night. I didn’t want Grandma to worry so I told her that college was starting from today. The bus wasn’t leaving till evening and I had to get here on time to get the room.

I reached the city at night. With just a trolley bag and a backpack over my shoulders, I wandered in the city, glaring at the tall luminous buildings and inhaling the ecstasy that surrounded me. It was Monday and the streets were crowded and the roads were lined up in heavy traffic. I couldn’t even compare Angelic Falls with Montona. But still, I already missed that little place.

I was alert. Being in a new city, around new people and roaming around with bags was unsafe. The traveling and thinking made me hungry. I spotted an ice-cream parlor and ordered a large chocolate ice-cream cup. While enjoying my delight, a woman not more than mid-forties came to me. She wore a blue apron over a red half-sleeved shirt with a neat ponytail. Her name was Mandy. She offered me to stay here for the night after I told her my story when she asked me what I was doing with these bags. She was the manager of the parlor.

I left my bags at the shop and ran to the telephone booth to call Grandma. “Hey Grandma,”

“Dear! Are you there yet? I called you but a woman answered and said that your phone was powered off,”

“Yes I got here just a few minutes ago and that woman was right. My phone’s battery was dead so I’m sorry I couldn’t pick up.” I laughed at Grandma’s innocence of calling the phone operator, woman.

“Did you get a room?” she asked, concerned.

“Yeah uh…can I call you back when my phone is charged? The booth takes money,”

“Oh sure, stay safe and enjoy. Bye dear!” I walked back to the shop. I didn’t have much of a choice so I had to lie to Grandma even though it was hard.

A few minutes later, three guys started to follow me and whistled. They were definitely high. I ignored them and kept walking. One of them held my wrists and pulled me back to him. I kept no eye contact but said firmly, “Leave my hand,”

He pulled me closer and the moment he held my waist I pushed him back which made me lose my balance and trip. But I didn’t fall. Someone held me from my arms.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed. The guy looked at me with a grin and helped me stand straight.  

“You again,” said the fat one.

“And it’s you…again.” The guy was wearing a black pajama with a white T-Shirt on top. “Guys this has been the ninth time this week. Stop flirting. Think of your daughters…if you have any.” The guys seemed pretty…calm.

“We’ve been ignoring you a lot, boy. Now you either leave or…”

“I see I’ve definitely pissed you off. But before you do something stupid; there are police officers behind you looking at us…so if you wanna create a scene, I suggest you better think twice.”

They turned to see the officers and then looked back at the guy. They slowly walked away and disappeared in the crowd.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you,” I said, reassuringly. 

“Are you new here, in this city I mean?”

“Nope,” I said, quickly. Why I said that, I had no idea but it felt right. The guy narrowed his eyes looking at me almost not believing in me.

“Alright, I’ll see you soon then,” he shrugged and smiled. I watched him go. He was very attractive. There was something about him that was very striking. I noticed him slowing down. He turned around and looked at me. He waved me goodbye with a nice and warm smile.

Wait!

Did he know I was watching him? This is embarrassing. I watched him till I lost sight of him. I went back to Creamery. That night I helped Mandy with the orders and everything. I ate ice-cream after the shop was closed. I wanted to get rest. I was exhausted.

Staring at the ceiling above, I couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow awaited me.