A Series of Unfortunate Events Part 12

[His only goal was to survive high school and make it to college. His mother worked exceedingly hard to make sure that this would still remain a possibility for his future. However, a rather unfortunate chain of events led him to join the military instead...
]
2008

"Mom?... Mom?.. Gotdamnit she never has a set work schedule..."

Nic has just entered his mother's house in Hyde Park. It's quiet and very still in the late afternoon. The house, while being very old and not too well cared for, is well appointed when it comes to decorations and furniture. There is much art spread throughout the house in the form of statues paintings and objects that are of various cultural influences. It is a little after 4 o'clock in the afternoon and he is just getting home from school. He places his bag on the sofa in the living room and heads for the kitchen. In the kitchen Nic digs through the refrigerator searching for an afternoon snack. The refrigerator is very well stocked with food and there are seemingly a plethora of choices that can be made. Nic grabs a bottle of cola and turns and grabs a bag of potato chips off of the counter before heading back into the living room where he flops on the couch and clicks on the television.

Nic flips through the channels disinterested in everything he sees. He appears to be too anxious to sit and watch television and is constantly looking at the clock in between changing channels. He doesn't even touch the food he has in front of him. Five thirty slowly rolls around and Nic is still firmly planted on the couch in front of the television as his mother Candace Briggs and older sister Nahlia come through the front door. Candace is dressed in a gray flight attendant's uniform. Though tired, her face remains vibrant and age defying.

Nic exclaims
"Mom! Nahlia!"

Candace bursts into a big smile as she remarks
"Why hello to you too sweetie..."

"Whaddup booger!"
Nahlia cuts in while she jumps onto the couch next to Nic and gives him a big hug.
Nic is ecstatic and quickly tears into his backpack and pulls out a large white envelope.

"You're not gonna fucking believe this! I... I... mean, friggin, I mean sorry mom, but you have to understand..."

Laughingly Candace interrupts.
"Breathe son, I'd pop you in your mouth for that any other day but this has to be important and I can't help but laugh at how you are about to pee your pants over this. Take a deep breathe and tell us what the envelop is about..."

Before Candace had a chance to say another word Nic explodes in joy while saying the good news.

"I GOT INTO STANFORD! Can you believe that!?!?!? I got into motha-F- ..."

"Watch it!"
interjected Candace

Nic eeks out.
"Stanford!"

He shyly hands his mother the envelope. Nahlia is in awe with a huge grin on her face.
Candace's face remains glowing as tears start to form in her eyes as she pulls the acceptance letter out of the envelope and reads it. She mumbles
"My baby did it."

Re-gathering himself, Nic elatedly points out,
"There's an acceptance dinner next week at the Airport Marriott for all the folks they're accepting in the LA area. Can we go?"

Candace steps over and hugs Nic almost painfully tight. "Yes, we are definitely going"
The tears are streaming down her face now and Nic feeling her warm tears against his cheek begins to cry also.