I've heard a lot about Newberry University it's an elite university that's pretty hard to get into unless you have exceptional talent. However, I have no idea how I managed to get in. To be honest I applied out of sheer curiosity, I had no hopes of getting in whatsoever and what's more I had my sights set on getting into a university closer to home.
Mom and Dad were absolutely delighted when I showed them my acceptance letter. Especially, Dad he even called up all his buddies and boasted about the fact that his daughter had gotten into one of the best universities on this planet we call Earth. They were not one bit concerned about the fact that it was all the way in Australia and I lived in the U.S. South Dakota to be exact.
My little sister, Avalina we call her Ava for short was so thrilled for me, the next morning she got me a present and woke me up at freaking six in the morning on a weekend. Sometimes, she can be so oblivious to my need for quality sleep, which I do take usually on a weekend. I wake up late on Saturday mornings it's become a habit that I know I'm going to have to break some day but for now who cares I'm not in university yet.
"Mary-Anne look what I got you!" exclaimed Ava as she got onto my bed and put a heavy gift box on my chest with a pink ribbon at the top."
"Ava, get it off me I can't breathe, let me get up."
I sit up straight and glance at the clock it reads six o'clock in the morning, oh the joy of waking up early. Heaven help me stay awake for the rest of the day.
"Thank you Ava, that's so kind of you. I'm going to miss you when I go to Aussie." I say giving her a hug.
"I'm going to miss you too Mary-Anne."
I slowly unwrap the gift taking care not to tear away the pretty purple wrapping paper. Inside I find the entire series of classics by Jane Austen my all time favourite author. My sister just got me a box set!
"Aaah, I love it Ava thank you I am so taking these with me to uni!"
"Great!" Ava replies with a huge grin on her face.
"I'm going down for breakfast, I think mom is up." She says before leaving the room, it's only then I notice that she's already dressed and ready to start the day. Ava has always been an early bird even when she was a kid, she rarely slept in unless she was down with a fever.
I loved sleeping in and I was more a night owl than early bird, I did most of my studying at night. I was able to concentrate better when everyone else was asleep and it was quiet. Ava studied during the day in the afternoon or evenings depending on her schedule. I take my time dragging myself out of bed as I head over to brush my teeth and take a shower. I brush my straight hair which really does not need to be brushed but I brush it anyways. I put on some lip balm and light pink eye shadow, brown eyeliner, blusher and facial powder to get a matte finish as I have really oily skin.
Mom and Dad are in the kitchen making breakfast by the time I'm down.
"There's my bright girl," says Dad
"Morning Daddy, Morning Mom." I greet them both.
"Pan cakes for breakfast, don't finish all the maple syrup Mary-Anne," warns mom with a smile on her face.
"I won't," I say repentantly.
"So when do you start classes?" Dad asks sipping his black coffee in between.
"1st of April," I reply.
"You better get on that plane and fly off soon before time catches up to you my girl."
"Yeah, I know Dad and I will, I've already booked my ticket for the 25th of March."
"Good."
I eat my pancakes in silence as I think about what I have to pack and my friends that I'd like to visit before I leave. I slather on peanut butter and pour on that maple syrup till my pancakes is heavy with it. I cut into it and take a bite. Yummy, I can taste the peanut butter and the maple syrup together and it's so so heavenly. This is what I call a good breakfast, "Mom these pancakes are so good, you've definitely outdone yourself."
"Thanks sweetie, yes I noticed the pancakes are more fluffy."
I take my plate to the sink once I'm done and wash it. Ava has already left for school, she goes by bus that brings all the neighborhood kids or should I say young adults to the same high school. She's exactly one year younger than me. We look nothing alike in fact you wouldn't be able to tell we were related if you did not know our last names. She has curly black hair which she irons down to tame it, while I have straight brown hair. She has green eyes while I have brown eyes. She resembles my Mom, while I resemble my Dad.
"I've no idea where to start today," I say resisting the urge to yawn.
"Well you can help me by sweeping and mopping the floor today young lady. The entire house needs a good sweeping and a mopping it's filthy in here. I have no idea how you walk around barefoot and not notice." She says checking the soles of my feet by asking me to raise my leg up so she can see.
"Just as I thought absolutely dirty, do that for me please and I will do your laundry for today."
"No it's fine Mom I can do my own laundry, I'll start sweeping now, then get to mopping later."
"Okay, just let me know when you're done. I'm going to the grocery store with your father to get some things that we need and maybe some fruits. See that the doors are all locked while we're gone."
"Okay." I reply.
I wait for them to leave the house which they do, and I take out the broom and the dustpan from the cleaning closet. I get to work sweeping every inch of the floor both upstairs and downstairs. I take a five minute break and fill up a bucket with water and add in a cap of Lavender floor detergent. I dip the mop into the bucket and press it against the strainer to drain the excess water. I press the mop flat against the floor and begin to move about. By the time Mom and Dad return from the grocery store, I've successfully mopped the floors of the entire household. I throw away the dirty water and rinse the bucket with water and set aside in the bathroom to dry. I put the mop to hang against the balcony wall of our back yard garden, so it dries underneath the hot sun.
"We're home," says Mom coming through the main entrance of the house.
"I see you've done your chores, good job" says Dad.
"Thanks Dad," I say before going to my bathroom to take a shower as I'm sweating profusely.
"She's done well," agrees Mom.