Two Boys

by
Rocco Paperiello



Disclaimer

This is the final Part IV of a four part story. (See Part I for Index). It is a story about relationships between and among teenagers. This includes intimate relationships between young males. If you don't approve or are offended, then how come you're reading this? Find a different story. Or perhaps read on; you may be persuaded to think differently.

If, for some legal reason, you are not allowed to read this in your area of the world because of illogical laws, again I will not condone (publicly) anyone breaking the law, so either move or read sentence six. I definitely don't want the thought police after either of our butts.

Please, this story is sort of my property, so if you ever want to quote some of it, please e-mail me and also give proper attribution.

Note that an author welcomes any feedback. Constructive criticism is appreciated, and all e-mails will be answered.

Rocco Paperiello
roccopaperiello@yahoo.com


Story
PART IV -- Graduation and College

Chapter 91a-- Surprises (part a)

I couldn't believe how great everything was going. I was in the kitchen banging away at the typewriter. I wished there were an easier way but couldn't think of any. I had just got in the mail two more scholarship offers and realized, now that I'd already accepted the Merit Scholarship and was headed out to EWSC in Washington, I'd better write to all those places I'd applied for scholarships from and let them know to take me off their list. I was keeping it as simple as possible, but I was still only on my thirtieth letter. (Why did I have to apply ALL OVER the place)? But I was pleasantly surprised and secretly very happy about one of these scholarship offers. It was the one I'd opened in today's mail from LaSalle College, and it was exactly the offer my brother received two years ago.

And that brought back a thought I'd had the other night after noting that my brother Carl had studied ALL weekend for a couple test he had coming up. Thinking back on things, I really hated to admit it but I think my Dad wasn't that far wrong after all. Carl always DID put more work into his studies than I did. But I couldn't figure out if that meant anything significant. Oh well. I was certain that when college came I would be working just as hard. And I shuddered a little at the thought.

Another offer was for a part scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, a pretty prestigious school. Over the past several weeks I'd gotten a few from smaller schools including one from St. Joe's also here in the city. But I didn't want anyone to see them. And I guess not feeling this need to push the notice from LaSalle into my brother's face surprised me the most. And I couldn't figure out just why. You'd have thought that I'd have to show everybody, and shout it from the rooftops so to speak, but now that it was just me and Jade going to EWSC, it seemed too personal. Like he was the only one who really needed to know. Please don't ask me to explain further, because I can't.

I just wished I could give one of them to Jade. And I had this nagging thought that just maybe Jade hasn't seen any because he was colored. I kept remembering filling out all those scholarship applications and with only a few exceptions they all had that one square where you were asked about race. But then I realized that Consuela had gotten a scholarship so maybe I was wrong.

© 2007 by Rocco Paperiello