It's Your Choice Not Mine

“Don’t tell anyone I’m going to school in New York City. My mom doesn’t even know,” Vicky told her best friend Sandy.

The two best friends lived in an apartment in Philadelphia.

“What’s wrong with going to a with going to a school here?” Sandy said and she took a few sips of her coffee. They were sitting across from each other at the kitchen having breakfast and coffee.

“I’m not interested in any of the schools here. I want to go to a big arts school. It’s called The Visual Arts School in New York City.”

“You are good in art, but do you have all of the requirements for that school?”

“Yes. I’m leaving Monday. It’s Friday. I have a couple of days to make sure that I have everything ready.”

“I think you should tell your mom.”

“She won’t be happy with me if I tell her because she expects me to go to one of the schools that are close to our apartment.”

“Okay, but if I were you I would tell your mom.”

That night Vicky was looking through her email and it said congratulations you are now enrolled in The Visual Arts School in New York City.

“I wonder if I should tell my mom or not,” Vicky said to herself and closed her laptop. She was sitting at her desk in her bedroom at her apartment.

Susan knocked and said, “Do you want to go out to dinner?”

“Sure. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Are you okay?”

“Not really. I’d like to tell my mom I’m going to school in New York City, but then again I don’t want to. It’s really hard to choose.”

“We can talk about it when we go to dinner. My treat.”

“Thanks. Let me get dressed and I’ll be down in a minute.”

The girls were at a China Buffet that was at the end of Eighth Street. They sat across from each at a booth next to a window after they got their food from the buffet.

“What would happen if you told your mom you’ve been accepted to that school?” Sandy said and she took a few bites from her egg roll.

“She would make me email them and tell them I’m not able to go that school. She would also tell me that I should go to school closer to our apartment.”

“Hmm...Well, why don’t you tell her about it and see what happens? You never know what she might think.”

“Do you think I’m being to hard on myself not telling my mom?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, but you have to be with me.”

“Oh, Vicki. You can tell her yourself. You’ll be fine. I don’t need to stand by your side. Honestly, I think she’ll be okay with you going to that school because it’s your choice, not hers.”

“You maybe right. I’ll call her tonight when we get back home and ask her to meet me at the cafe tomorrow for lunch.”

“Good. Now let’s have some dinner and talk about what would happen if you end up going to that school.”

Vicki and Susan were back at their apartment after they finished eating at The China Buffet.

Vicki closed and locked the door to their apartment and said, “What are you going to do for the rest of the night?”

“Work on my PowerPoint for my Psychology class and then work on my book.”

“You mean your mystery?”

“Yes.”

“How are you doing on that?”

“I’m halfway finished.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m going to call my mom.”

“Let me know how it goes.”

“I will.”

In the middle of the night, Vicky was on the way to the bathroom and bumped into Sandy.

“Hey. Did you call your mom?”

“Yes. We’re meeting each other at the cafe for lunch tomorrow. It’s the one on Main Street.”

“You are going to tell her, right?”

“Right. Do you want to go to the bathroom first?”

“No. You can go ahead. I’ll use the other one.”

The next morning Vicky walked into the kitchen. Sandy was in front of the coffee pouring herself some coffee into a mug.

“Good morning. I made coffee.”

“Thanks."

“Are you nervous about talking to your mom?”

“A little,” Vicky said. She walked over to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup of coffee into a mug.

“I’m sure she won’t mind you going. You’re always doing some type of art project and it’s what you’ve been doing artwork for the past two years.”

“You’re right. Now I don’t feel as nervous.”

Vicky and her mom, Tanya, were sitting at the cafe on Main Street for lunch that afternoon. They were sitting at a table next to a window across from each other. Vicky had an iced tea with a chicken caesar salad, and her mom had ice water with a turkey club sandwich.

“How is everything?” Tanya said and she took a few sips of her ice water.

“It’s okay.”

“Just okay? Is there something bothering you?”

“Nothing’s bothering me, but there’s something I need to tell you. I’m a little nervous about telling you.”

“What is it?”

“I got accepted to The Visual Arts School in New York City.”

“That’s great! But why New York City and not here?”

“See? That’s why I thought you would say. I’m not interested in any of the schools or art schools here.”

“I’m happy you got accepted!”

“You mean you’re not mad at me?”

“Honey, of course I’m not mad at you. It’s your choice, not mine. You’re an adult now and you should be able to make your own choices, but I’m glad you told me. When do you start?”

“My classes start Tuesday, but I’m leaving Monday.”

“Okay. Did you not want to tell me?”

“No. I didn’t want to tell you because I was you might get mad at me and tell me I should go somewhere closer to my apartment.”

“It’s safer to tell me because if you went without telling me I wouldn’t know where you would be. I’d say we celebrate.”

“How?”

“Let’s go out to dinner tonight.”

“Or we can go to your house and you can cook me my favorite meal. I’ll bring Sandy.”

“That’s even better. Come to my house at six?”

“Sure,” Vicki said and her mom walked over to her and hugged Vicki.

“I’m proud of you!”

“Mom, stop hugging me. You can hug me when we’re not in public.”

“Sorry,” Tanya said and she sat back down at her seat.

When Vicky came home from lunch Sandy was typing on her computer in her bedroom and Vicky knocked.

Sandy turned around and looked at her, “How did it go?”

“She’s letting me go! She’s very happy I got accepted and she’s going to make my favorite meal at her house. I’d like you to come.”

“I will. What time?”

“Six.”

“Let me finish up my power point and then take a shower. What time is it now?”

“Two.”

“Okay. We can take a walk around the park.”

It was six o’clock and the girls were at Vicki’s mom’s house. They were eating dinner at the kitchen table. For dinner they were having Vicki’s favorite meal, which was spaghetti with meatballs, Asiago cheese, and minced garlic. They were also having cooked carrots and rolls with butter, which was also another part of Vicki’s favorite meal.

“You should’ve told me before that you wanted to apply,” Vicki’s mom said.

“I’m sorry I didn’t,” Vicki said.

“Are you packing to leave for Monday?” Vicki’s mom said.

“I’m going to start packing tomorrow,” Vicki said.

“I’ll help you,” Sandy said.

“Thanks.”

“You can always come visit. Did you find a place to live near that school?” Vicki’s mom said.

“Yes. It’s a one-room apartment, about ten minutes away from the school,” Vicki said.

“I’m moving into a one-room apartment in the apartment complex that Vicki and I live in."

“We have a lot of work to do this weekend,” Vicki said.

Vicki and Sandy went home after they finished eating dinner at Vicky’s mom’s house.

The next morning Vicky and Sandy were helping each other pack boxes of their stuff onto a moving truck. Vicki’s mom was with them.

“Are you excited?” Vicky’s mom said and she hugged daughter.

“Yes. I really am.”

“Now remember it’s your choice, not mine. Good luck. I love you.”

“I love you too, mom,” Vicki said and they hugged each other.