A Homecoming Surprise

"A new year signifies a new start. You should all be thinking about what you want to accomplish this year and how you want to be perceived. You only get so many chances in life to make a name for yourself, and this could be one of those times for you!" Mrs. Hanican told us. I sat and wondered what in the world she was trying to get across to us because I couldn't focus on what she was saying. I knew at one point she was talking directly to me, but I was lost in thought.

I received a letter from my parents yesterday, and it was all I could think about since then. They told me that my little brother's party was a hit, and in just two short years, he would be joining me at boarding school. In the all-boy academy, of course. He was only five. I couldn't believe how much my parents relied on the success of boarding school. It was almost as if they didn't believe they could raise kids past the age of seven and make them successful.

I just kept thinking about my first year at Langsford Academy. I had just turned seven. My parents were so excited to ship me off. I didn't think my parents really wanted me to leave, but they thought the opportunity of being accepted into such a prestigious school would reap benefits for me in the future. Maybe they were right? I didn't know, all I knew was being ripped from my parents and placed in a completely foreign environment was terrifying. Mr. Mackaffy had to literally pull off my mother while I screamed. I am obviously not a parent; I am only twelve, but I can't imagine any parent being okay with how things ended when I left for boarding school. Now, my little brother, Cal, would be facing the same fate.

"Did you hear a word she said, Hattie?" Kristen asked. I swung my brown curly hair off my shoulder and away from my face, so I could see her.

"Huh?" I responded, dumbfounded by the fact that she noticed I had no idea what was going on. I took my glasses off and cleaned them as a buffer to mask awkwardness.

"Mrs. Hanican was just saying that this was the time to make a name for yourself. There is going to be a writing contest, here," she said as she handed me a piece of paper she had apparently picked up. I had never even noticed she stood up.

I took the paper sheepishly from her, embarrassed that she noticed my absence. The flyer read:

"2025 Writing Contest: Langsford Academy Seventh Grade

To enter: Write one short story with no less than 1,000 words and no more than 3,000 words. The story must be about something that happened to you this past year, 2024. Please submit to Mrs. Hanican no later than January 6th, 2025 and 11:59 pm.

The winner gets an all-expenses-paid trip home for a four-day weekend!"

"Hattie, you could totally win this!" Kristen said.

"Oh, I don't know, Kristen," I responded.

"What do you mean? You are the best writer I have ever seen! That's what got you here in the first place! You can do it!" She exclaimed. She wasn't wrong, When I was six, I wrote a short little story about ducks. It was completely unprompted, and when my parents turned it into the school as evidence of my ability, I was a shoo-in.

I wasn't questioning whether or not I could win the contest. I was sure I could. I was questioning whether or not I wanted to spend a long weekend with my parents. I had never fully forgiven them for sending me here. I knew they thought it was what would benefit me most in the future, but I couldn't help but wonder if they really just wanted to get rid of me so they could live out their own life plans. They sent me pictures from their extravagant vacations every year. They didn't even take my brother. He always stayed with my grandmother while they were gone. I wasn't sure that they wanted me to spend a weekend with them.

I sat down in my dorm and stared at the computer screen. I didn't really know what to write, which hardly ever happened to me. When I sit at my desk, on my computer, I always just place my hands on the keys, and the thoughts flow through my fingers onto the screen. I had an entire folder of saved stories that I had only ever let Kristen read. They were my most prized possessions. If I didn't have writing, I wasn't sure where or who I would be now.

I decided I would go ahead and try to write something for the contest. It didn't have to be my best work, just something to show I tried. It took me one and a half hours to complete the 2,100-word short story I intended to enter. "Good enough," I thought to myself, then typed "2025 Writing Contest" at the top, and I printed it out without another glance. I placed it in my backpack to turn in the next day. Kristen was in the library with some of our other classmates. Between 6-8 pm on weeknights was the only time the boys and girls of the academy were able to mingle. They were restricted to the library and were heavily monitored. I hardly ever partook in the ritual because it just didn't interest me like it did Kristen.

While I stared at the computer, I decided I would send my parents an email and tell them about the writing contest with a potential visit. I wrote to them every now and then, just to let them know I was still alive, but I always struggled with things to say. It had been a few months since they last heard from me, and this time I could talk about the contest. I watched my bony fingers peck gracefully at the keys on my keyboard. By the time I heard Kristen's key in the door I was hitting "send" on the email. She slammed the door behind her, "what a jerk," she said under her breath.

"You okay?" I asked as I spun in the orthopedic computer chair towards her. That was a benefit of being at a boarding school, whenever we needed something, the dean would email all of our parents and they were expected to send the exact amount of money requested, no questions asked. That's how we all had these top-of-the-line computer chairs in our dorms.

"No, Ethan sat with Kayla tonight and completely ignored me until it was time to dismiss. Then he walked up to me as we were walking out of the library to tell me that he was breaking up with me," she flopped on her bed. I really thought she would be more upset. She seemed to like Ethan a lot.

"Whatever, at least I can make time for Kyle now without being worried about them seeing each other," she said with a grin. I guess I had been wrong, maybe she didn't really like Ethan. "What have you been doing?" she asked me.

"I wrote a story for the contest," I answered.

"Already? Is it done?" she asked.

"Yep," I replied and then turned my chair back around.

We went to bed like normal, both thinking through our next day and the plans we had. I was thinking about the reply my parents would give.

The next morning, I handed my story to Mrs. Hanican.

"I was expecting a story from you, but not quite so quickly!" she beamed, "I am excited to read your entry!" Then she leaned down and covered her mouth as if to shield everyone else from reading her lips, "I bet yours is the best!" She smiled at me as she stood back up. I politely smiled back and felt a pang of disappointment in myself. I didn't want Mrs. Hanican to be disgruntled with my work, "I should have reread it," I thought to myself.

The next few days went on as usual as we moved through the schedule of our classes. I checked my email more times than I cared to admit for a reply from my parents. No such luck. The evening before the contest was over, I returned to our dorm to study for our science exam that would take place next week. Kristen headed to the library for the nightly mingle. While I checked my email, I noticed a small headache starting to form right between my eyes. I took off my glass and rubbed my brown eyes hard. It felt so good, like an itch I hadn't been able to scratch until now.

I looked up again and didn't know what time it was. Kristen was asleep in her bed, curlers intact. "What happened?" I said to no one except a snoring roommate. I guessed I dozed off. Why didn't Kristen wake me? The whole situation was strange, but nothing that wasn't explainable. At least my headache was gone. I got up from the computer and walked to the bathroom to get ready for bed. While brushing my teeth, I heard a "ding" on my computer. I spit out the minty, bubbling toothpaste and walked out to the computer to see an email from my grandmother. The email said:

"Hey, Hattie!

This is Mom and Dad. Our computers have recently been hacked and we cannot send or receive emails on any of our accounts anymore. By the time we finished reading your email, a virus had taken over everything. We are working with a specialist to get everything up and running again! So, if you need us, send emails to your grandmother's email address.

Our fingers are crossed that you win that contest! We would love for you to come home for a long weekend. Your dad, brother, and I were just talking about how much we missed you and would love to spend some time with you! Keep us posted!

Love you,

Mom"

WHAT! Since when did my mom and dad want to see me? What was going on? My brain started to swirl. Did something happen to them? Did they have a near-death experience? She has never mentioned missing me. I lay down to try to get some sleep, but it didn't come. I tossed and turned all night, mostly because now that I knew my family wanted to see me, I needed to win that contest. I couldn't believe I didn't try harder. I should have reread it seven times before turning it in! I didn't even take a second glance at it.

When my alarm went off, my eyes were already open. I never went back to sleep. I was sweating at the thought of losing that contest. I wanted to win so much. Kristen got up to get in the shower and start her day. I followed. As I heard the shower curtain open and close again, I knocked on the door. "I'm in!" I heard through the wooden door. I stepped in and started fixing my hair. This was our normal routine. We always talked while we got ready. On the days we didn't talk, we listened to murder mystery podcasts.

"What happened to you last night?" Kristen started.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"When I got back, you were snoring at your computer desk. I said your name a few times, but you never responded. So, I let you sleep. Apparently, you needed it as loud as you were snoring!" she laughed.

"I didn't even realize I fell asleep," I said, thinking about how glad I was that I did because, at the time, I didn't need the extra sleep, but since I stayed half the night, I ended up needing it. We both laughed and continued to get ready for the day. It was January 6th, and I was a mess. I wanted to win that contest. All morning Kristen kept asking me if I was okay. I couldn't eat, I kept dropping things, and I even walked into the wrong first period. I was not handling the stress well at all.

When fourth period rolled around, I watched Mrs. Hanican hold the winning essay in the air. I felt my throat close up. I could see the paper was cream-colored, which was not what I printed mine on. The defeat started to wash over me. I was holding back tears and hoping no one could hear my sinking stomach and pounding heart. "The winner of this year's essay contest, and free trip home is," she paused for dramatic effect, "Hattie McCoy!"

I still had my head down in defeat when Kristen nudged me.

"Hattie! You won!" she said.

"What?" I asked and looked at her, noticing that everyone in the room was looking at me.

"Girl, go up there!" she said in a slight whisper to shield me from the embarrassment of not noticing what just happened.

Once everyone started clapping, I knew that I had won the contest. I stood up and walked to the front. Mrs. Hanican handed me the cream paper with a smile, as a man with a camera snapped a photo. She leaned in and said, "I knew you could do it!" I smiled and said, "Thank you!"

I returned to my seat and could still feel several eyes on me. I opened the cream paper and there sat a round-trip train ticket home. I couldn't believe I had done it. I was set to leave the next day at 8:00 am. I packed up the night before and Kristen even skipped her library mingling time to help me. I was so ecstatic to be headed home to a family that was excited to see me! I couldn't wait. I didn't sleep a wink that night, and I was standing outside the dorms waiting for my taxi by 7:00 am. The driver pulled in right on time. I checked my pocket several times to make sure I had the tickets and my phone. I decided I wanted to surprise my parents and would only call to tell them when I was almost there so they could come pick me up.

The train ride was full of anticipation. I could hardly sit still the whole ride. When we were an hour away, I picked up the phone and dialed my mother's phone number. I heard two rings on the other line, and then a voice answered, "Hello?"

"Hello! Mom? Is that you?" I asked through the speaker.

"Hattie? Is that you?" The voice responded.

"Yes! It's me!" I exclaimed.

"This is Grandma Jill," she said.

"Oh, ummm– okay. Where is Mom?" I asked.

"Honey, are you okay?" She asked in a confused voice.

"Yes? I just have a surprise for Mom, Dad, and Cal," I replied.

"Oh, well, I'm not sure what to say," she said quietly on the phone, but she wasn't talking to me.

"Grandma, what is going on? Why can't I talk to Mom or Dad?" I asked.

"Well, dear, they have been dead for six years," she responded. I dropped the phone and it tumbled to the roaring floor.