Chapter 2 ~ My choice

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Instead of replying, Mom just stared at me, utterly speechless. Her expression was like a storm waiting to break; she was clearly furious, but words seemed to fail her. I couldn’t blame her—after all, I’m the model daughter who rarely talks back. When I do, it’s as if some mischievous spirit has suddenly possessed me.

Dad, as usual, kept right on eating, pretending he hadn’t heard a word. But I caught the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Finally, Mom turned to him and demanded, “Aren’t you going to say anything about this?”

Choking back his laughter, Dad replied, “What do you mean 'say anything’? Isn’t that what you’re already doing?”

“Daniel Johnson?” Mom used his full name, a clear sign she was furious. “You’re just going to let our daughter decide not to go to college? Worse, you’re backing her up? Are you serious?”

Dad sighed, clearly worn out, and countered, mimicking Mom’s tone, “Becky Johnson, I don’t see you doing anything.”

Lisa and Lora burst into laughter at Dad’s imitation, while I just stared at my parents in confusion.

Then it hit me. I turned to Dad with a puzzled look. “Papa?”

“Yes?” he answered, without looking up.

“Did you know I was going to do something like this?” I asked him.

“What? How could he possibly know that?” Mom shot back at me.

No way. The father I knew would never let me take such a step without some serious pushback. He should be breathing down my neck right now, not sitting there so calmly while I’m practically destroying my future.

He must have seen this coming. I turned to him again and said, “No, no, Mom, I’m sure Papa knew exactly how today would play out.” I fixed my gaze on Dad and added, “Right, Papa?”

"Hahahaha, you are not going to leave me alone until I answer you, right?”

“Most defiantly,”

He just smiled at me, “I won’t say I knew, more like I got the intuition.” He halted, staring at me “you are your mother's daughter; you care too much, so it’s expected but are you going to be okay staying at home?” he suddenly asked.

Hell no, I almost blurted out, but held my tongue. “I can manage, papa, don’t worry about me.” I smiled at him, but mother wasn’t happy about it

“I can’t believe you are giving her the go-ahead, we struggled all these years just for her to what? Throw it away?” Mama was still furious about it, and she had every right to be.

“Honey, if this is the decision she has made, who are we to stop her, as long as she knows what she is doing is fine, right?”

“That’s not what I am saying.” Mother replied him.

I very well understand what mother was trying to say; even I didn’t imagine I could give up my long-time dream just like that: “Mother, I understand what you are trying to say.”

“Do you, Mary? Because I am starting to doubt that,”

“Mom, I do understand what you are trying to say, but you are looking at it from the wrong angle,” I said confidently, This made father look at me confusedly

“Oh, is that so?”

"Yes, mom, I know I have always dreamt of going to college and going beyond that, and I still am dreaming about it and I know one day I will achieve it all, but not right now, and I am not throwing away my dreams; I am merely just changing it. Instead of dreaming for myself, I am dreaming for my siblings.” Mom, for once, was looking at me with a thoughtful expression, “So, I think it will be okay, even if it’s not my dream.”

She sighed out loud. With a worried look, she asked, “Then what will you be doing at home? We are not rich, and in this corner of town, to get a better-paying job, you must be at least a college graduate; you know that, right?”

“I know that, but it’s alright, I can work with you and Papa on the farm. I can even sell some vegetables and fruit in the counter market. Surely I will make some money. Isn’t that okay?”

“Seriously, why am I even wasting my time talking sense into you? You are stubborn, just as your father.”

Laughing, “Mother, and here I thought I was exactly like you.”

“You thought wrong, dear.”

“I don’t think so.” Papa butted in and looked at me, “You are exactly like your mother, stubborn to the bone.”

We all laughed at mom’s shocked expression, “You... How dear you, pig-head.”

“Coming from a dog head, that’s funny,” Papa slammed her.

We all laughed at the way they were teasing each other at the dinner table, and once again, the smile returned to my sibling's faces, and I, for one, was glad.

I knew for a fact that things were going to change for me and my family by taking this bold step, even if it meant sacrificing my education; I was still proud of myself and the fact that Lisa and Lora will have a new future.

Well, I had no idea how much of a pain the whole new step was going to be.