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Kelly’s face crumpled, and she began to cry uncontrollably. “He got into Riverland University,” she sobbed, unable to contain the flood of emotions coursing through her. Her words echoed in the room, but no one seemed to understand the weight of her distress.
“Riverland University?” the villagers murmured in disbelief. “Carlisle got into Riverland University?” It felt like a cruel joke. This was the university that Kelly had dreamed of but never quite reached, and now, her own brother had achieved what seemed impossible.
Kelly’s own score of 1225 had barely secured her admission into a Tier 2 university. How could Carlisle, who had always been a quiet, average student, have achieved something so extraordinary? The questions were too many, and no answers seemed to fit.
Maria’s face twisted with disbelief. “Are you trying to trick us, Kelly?” Her words were sharp, laden with suspicion. She couldn’t fathom the truth, and her frustration was evident.
Kelly, her voice trembling, shook her head. “Riverland TV Station even came to interview him,” she managed to say, her words still heavy with shock.
Gerard, desperate for clarity, turned on the TV. The image of Carlisle being interviewed by Riverland TV Station appeared on the screen. The reporter’s voice was clear, announcing Carlisle’s impressive score and his acceptance into Riverland University.
“Carlisle’s college admission party is about to begin. We won’t take up too much of his time. This will be all for today’s interview! When we have time, we’ll conduct an exclusive interview with his parents to better understand the kind of family that’s been able to raise such an outstanding child!”
Gerard stared at the television, frozen. His emotions were a tangled mess—pride, disbelief, and a deep sense of confusion. He couldn’t quite digest what he was seeing, and for a long moment, he remained in a stunned silence.
Maria, on the other hand, seemed to lose her sense of self. Her face became slack, her thoughts racing but failing to make sense of it all. “That’s impossible… There’s no way Carlisle got into Riverland University. He must have cheated!” she exclaimed, unable to reconcile the image of her son with the reality unfolding on screen. “He scored 1400 even though he handed in his papers in 30 minutes? Who would believe that?”
Gerard let out a deep sigh, his head spinning. His sense of pride in Carlisle was quickly overshadowed by a gnawing sense of envy and resentment. As Kelly sobbed in the corner, Gerard’s gaze shifted uncomfortably. His focus was shattered by the persistent chattering of the villagers.
“Gerard, I’ve received Gordon’s invitation. I’ll go over to give him some money to congratulate him!” one villager chimed in.
“Oh, right, I got his invite too. Please bring 50 dollars for me. We’re family, after all. Even if I’m not going over, I should at least deliver my wishes!” another added, eager to associate with the successful family.
As Gerard listened to their words, it felt like salt on an open wound. Riverland University was more prestigious than the Tier 2 school that Kelly had gotten into, and the villagers were eager to forge good connections with Gordon’s family. Gerard had no choice but to nod and allow them to go. He remained seated, smoking his cigarette, lost in his thoughts.
A few moments passed, and the room fell silent. But that silence was soon broken as the villagers began to return from their visit to Sunago Restaurant. There weren’t enough seats, and as the evening wore on, the celebratory atmosphere was replaced by discomfort and awkwardness.
Despite the lively crowd, Gerard and his family couldn’t bring themselves to enjoy the evening. Their appetites were gone, their minds preoccupied with thoughts of Carlisle’s sudden success.
Across the room, Xander Zahn, oblivious to the tension, continued munching on some ham hock, grease smeared across his face. “Dad, is Riverland University really that great?” he asked, his curiosity innocent but poorly timed.
Kelly’s temper, already frayed from the whirlwind of emotions, snapped. With a loud smack, she slapped Xander across the face, silencing him. “Shut up…” she hissed, her voice filled with anger and frustration.
Xander, shocked and hurt, immediately burst into tears. “Hey! How could you hit your brother?” Maria reprimanded Kelly, her anger rising. But her words held a different weight—she was more protective of Xander than Kelly, and she let her frustration show.
Gerard, too, shot Kelly an angry glare. “You’re taking it out on your brother? You’re the one who didn’t do well on your exams,” he scolded, his voice stern but laced with bitterness.
The emotional pressure became too much for Kelly. With a sharp exhale, she slammed her cutlery down on the table, the clatter echoing through the room. “I’m done!” she yelled, her voice breaking as she stormed out of the room.
The tension lingered long after Kelly had left. Gerard, weary and defeated, didn’t bother to meet with Gordon after the party. Instead, he returned to the county with Xander and Kelly in tow, the weight of the evening’s events pressing down on him.
Meanwhile, at Sunago Restaurant, Carlisle was being celebrated by his friends. A group of his male schoolmates, eager to toast to his success, encouraged him to drink. Carlisle, ever the humble student, hesitated, but his friends made sure to drink on his behalf. Sean, one of Carlisle’s closest friends, drank enough for both of them, eventually succumbing to the alcohol before Carlisle did.
Later, Sean’s father, Rory Woodsen, arrived at the restaurant in his aging ’96 Santana. He walked up to Gordon, his face a mix of amusement and frustration. “How could you do this to me, Gordon?” he asked, pulling out 500 dollars from his bag. “You didn’t even tell me about Carlisle’s college entrance party!”
Gordon, laughing awkwardly, shook his head. “You’re a busy man, Mr. Woodsen. I didn’t want to get in the way of your work!”
But as the laughter died down, the room felt charged with the realization that Carlisle’s future was set. Meanwhile, Kelly’s turmoil continued to unravel, leaving her unsure of where she stood in the shifting family dynamics.
