The Limit
Page 20
A soft ping signaled me that I had a new e-mail. Lauren and I caught eyes through the jumble of kids and computers. It was from Mom and Dad. Lauren had gotten it too.
Dear Matt and Lauren,
I’m so nervous! I start my new job today. Do you think anyone will listen to my ideas at the boutique? I certainly know the store well enough—I’ve spent enough money there over the years. It’s only part-time, so I can still try to squeeze the supplement business an hour or two a day and see if I can get anything out of it. So far it’s been a dry sponge, but I can’t give up quite yet. I’ve got to run! I have no idea what I’m going to wear. I was good and didn’t buy a new outfit for today, so I’ve got to scrounge up something respectable out of my old rags. LOL
Love and love and love!!!
Mom
Hey, guys,
Don’t let Mom fool you. She’s so confident and excited I can barely keep her feet touching the ground. You two hanging in there? We’ll have you home before you know it. We sure do miss you. Golf season is ending too soon! I’m taking a potential client out today. Nothing big. It will take five clients like him to make up for one Dupree—it’s been months. Can you tell it still gets me that I didn’t nail that one? Just like fishing—you always go on and on about the one that got away. I’ve got to get going now myself. Nana has a big stack of pancakes on the table, ready for Abbie and me to dig in. I want to get to them while they’re still hot. It’s great having Nana here, even though I go through antihistamines like they were popcorn to keep my allergic reactions to Dear Sweet Buffy ;-) under control. We’ll figure something out so you can have your room back once you get out, Matt. We’ll make it happen. I promise.
Dad
It’s going to take a while, but my family is getting there. We have a huge mountain of debt we have to dig out from under, but if we all try our best, we should be able to keep Abbie from having to come to the workhouse. I most likely won’t get out until I turn eighteen, and I’m learning to accept—or at least deal—with that. I hope to do better for Lauren.
A shaggy blond head popped up over the top-floor computer on the table across from me.
“Today’s the day, bro! Paddle-wall-ball!”
“I’m going to smash you this time, Coop.”
“In your dreams, dude.”
Hardly. Of all the things I fantasize about, winning at paddle-wall-ball is not even in the top one hundred. I dream about going to college—and doing it on a sweet scholarship so my personal account will remain debt-free—and traveling around the world, far away from this workhouse, and sitting down to dinner with my entire family. Mom will make meat loaf.
It will happen—all of it. Eventually. For now I’ve decided to be happy with the life I have, even though it’s not the life I thought I’d have a year ago. I’m making the best of things. I’m smart. Smart enough to be a Top Floor, even though I choose not to be one. The possibilities the future holds for me are limitless.