Interlude – University Life (Term 2)
Sarah awoke the next morning knowing she had been very, very stupid, but the news about their Dad being unwell had thrown her a bit of a curveball. Only a couple of weeks ago, her and Jack were talking about he was slowing down and his age was starting to get to him. Now, health problems were showing up and she knew it was likely just a matter of time. She went downstairs for breakfast, looking more than a little grumpy.
Jack: “Morning sis.”
Sarah: “Hey.”
Jack: “What’s up?”
Sarah: “Nothing. Just… y’know… mornings.”
Jack: “I know mornings suck and you’re usually bouncier than this. What’s wrong?”
Sarah: “I… kinda got arrested yesterday…”
Jack: “What did you
do?”
Sarah: “…graffiti…”
Jack: “You know better than that, sis… and that explains the ‘fine’ I found on the online bank statement.”
Sarah: *winces* “…you check that, huh?”
Jack: “Of course I do. So… why do it? What’s gotten into you?”
Sarah: “If you bothered to call or write home, you’d know, wouldn’t you?”
Jack: “Oh, I’m sorry. I choose to focus on my education… and for the record, I have texted Mom a couple of times.”
Sarah: “…you choose to tart about with that Fairy…”
Jack: “How about you leave Mika out of this and tell me what’s going on, or I
will call Mom and tell her you were arrested and fined… twice…”
Sarah: “
OKAY! Fine! …Dad’s ill.”
Jack: “How ill?”
Sarah: “I don’t know. Mom didn’t want to worry us. He’s having lots of hospital appointments and apparently it’s under control… that’s all she said.”
Jack: “You should have told me instead of carry this on your own.”
Sarah: “
I know! I’m sorry… alright?”
Jack: “Yeah… me too. Truce?”
Sarah: “Truce.”
In honesty, Sarah was also a little homesick. The news about their Dad really drove that home, but she knew there was something she could do to help alleviate that a little. So, she parked herself in front of the TV, specifically the cooking channel. Wayne loved to watch his cooking programs, so in a way, she felt it helped connect to him… and it’d help improve her cooking so maybe she’d be able to make a few things as well as Anna.
Jack? One guess…
Jack: “Hey Mika! Busy today?”
Mika: “Not at all! Why? Planning something?”
Jack: “You, me, the pool, a movie and then a meal at SimBurger.”
Mika: “I am
so there. See you in 10?”
Jack: “Deal.” *click*
The only way Jack could have gotten out of the house faster would have been if it were on fire. Sarah eventually got bored of the cooking channel, but she really fancied doing a bit of writing. So, while her brother was out, she decided to occupy the computer downstairs and make a start on practicing her writing skills.
Sarah: “…I should probably call Mom and ask her for help… I have no idea how to start!”
…and the less said about Jack, the better.
Mika: “I had fun today.”
Jack: “Me too.”
Mika: “You seem a bit… off... today?”
Jack: “Just family problems. Sis got arrested because our Dad is ill… possibly seriously ill.”
Mika: “Oh no! I’m so sorry!”
Jack: “It’s ok. I think I put her back on the straight and narrow.”
Mika: “And your Dad?”
Jack: “No idea. Mom doesn’t want us to worry, so I’m going to try not to. Second term starts tomorrow.”
Mika: “…I know. It means less time for us.”
Jack: “Saturday.”
Mika: “What about it?”
Jack: “If we don’t have time to grab a date between classes and studying… Saturday. We’ll have one then.”
Mika: “Deal.”
The first day of the new term was fairly boring. The twins got up, had breakfast, went to classes, studied between classes and came home to pass out. The next day was a little more interesting, since they only had one class and it was a somewhat late start.
Jack: “Wow. Your cooking got better sis! Did you take classes while I wasn’t looking or something?”
Sarah: “Dad is obsessed with his cooking programs. I thought… maybe I should watch them. Now I understand why he does.”
Jack: “Ah. Right. Are you feeling any better?”
Sarah: “Lots… I’m sorry again, Jack.”
Jack: “Our secret. Don’t worry about it. Right, I’m off upstairs to work on some anatomy stuff.”
Sarah: “I… think I’ll work on some sketching.”
And that’s exactly what they did. Jack poked at the skeleton…
Jack: “
WHOA! What the…”
And Sarah just relaxed.
Sarah:
(“What is he doing up there? Actually… I don’t want to know…”)That evening, Jack was invited to a party at the Sorority. He didn’t want to just walk off without his sister, so he took her along as well. They had promised each other that they would party hard this week, so it seemed only fair. Though… maybe they partied a little too hard.
The Jocks dared Jack to do a keg stand, and he wasn’t about to turn that down!
And Sarah decided that it looked like fun, so she was going to do it too…
…though the results were… yeah…
Sarah: “
WOO! Clothes are for wimps!”
Jack: “…I did not need to see that…”
Sarah: “
WOO HOO!”
Jack: “Anyone in here got any brain bleach?”
Jack eventually had to take a very, very juiced Sarah back home, though apparently the party goers appreciated a rather attractive Fairy running around in the nude. It also made for a… somewhat interesting conversation over breakfast.
Sarah: “I hope this breakfast kills my headache.”
Jack: “Not surprised you have one after all the juice you drank last night.”
Sarah: “…I don’t remember much of last night…”
Jack: “I wish I didn’t.”
Sarah: “Uh oh… what did I do?”
Jack: *just shows her the photos his friends had sent of a streaking Sarah*
Sarah: “…” *head-desk* “…kill me now…”
Aside from that incident over breakfast, the day was nice and quiet. The following day was another day of late start and one class, but the twins knew that they would have finals the day after. So, once they came home, Sarah hit up her computer to work on a Sci-Fi novel…
…and Jack just studied like a man possessed.
Both went to bed early to get plenty of sleep in before the exams, though this also meant they were up at some ungodly time in the morning. So, Jack decided to work off the butterflies in his stomach… literally. A trip to the gym was necessary.
And Sarah received a phone call from a man named Jeffrey. Apparently he was up early too and couldn’t sleep, so wanted to know if she wanted to meet up at the Quad. That sounded like a good idea to her, so she went along.
…and she couldn’t resist asking him to pose for a sketch. She didn’t expect this though!
Sarah:
(”Beprofessional… beprofessional… dontgotoolow… ohgods…”) “Um… work out much?”
Soon it was time for final exams, three sets of two hours each that were more than a little stressful. The twins used their phones to study between the exams, and that certainly seemed to help. They met up outside the Administration centre to compare results.
Sarah: “Passed?”
Jack: “Top of my class! You?”
Sarah: “Same!”
Jack: “Hell YES! We’re good!”
The past two terms had been interesting for the twins, so they went home and slept in, something they had most certainly earned. Getting up early, they decided to relax with some games until the post came.
And they didn’t have to wait long for their certificates.
Sarah & Jack: “
We. Are. AWESOME!”
Jack: “I’m gonna call Mika for that date I promised.”
Sarah: “Don’t forget graduation! I’m going to call Mom.”
Jack: “I won’t.”
Jack was already way out of the house and off to meet Mika by the time Sarah made the call home.
Sarah: “Hey Mom!”
Anna: “Hi! How’s things going?”
Sarah: “Well, we passed.”
Anna: “Oh that’s great! So you both have degrees? I’m so proud, and I know your Dad will be too.”
Sarah: “I’m not finished yet… we both came top of our classes!”
Anna: “Are you
serious?! I can’t believe it! Well… I knew you both had it in you, but with your Dad being ill… just… wow!”
Sarah: “Yep! Graduation is today.”
Anna: “Then make sure you enjoy it.”
Sarah: “…you should come.”
Anna: “Oh honey, I’d love to. But I have to stay here and look after your Dad.”
Sarah. “…oh. Okay, I understand.”
Anna: “Hang on…” *in the background* “It’s Sarah.” *pause* “Um… okay.” *click*
Anna: “You’re on speaker Sarah… apparently Kerry wants to talk to you.”
Kerry: “Hey Sarah! Did you pass yet?”
Sarah: “You didn’t doubt us, did you?”
Kerry: “Nope… so why is your mother saying she can’t do something?”
Sarah: “I want her to come to our graduation.”
Anna: “I need to look after Wayne.”
Kerry: “You need to get your ass there and see your kids graduate. They deserve to have at least one parent there.”
Anna: “But-“
Kerry: “Don’t argue with me, Auntie Anna. I can look after Wayne. You get in the car, now. Or so help me I’ll drive you there myself kicking and screaming.”
Anna: “You wouldn’t…”
Kerry: “Try me.”
Anna: *pause* “So… uh… I guess I’m coming after all.”
Sarah: *snicker* “I’ll see you soon, Mom.” *click*
No doubt that would be a nice surprise for Jack, who was currently having his own little emotional scene.
Jack: “So… we go home today.”
Mika: “…I know.”
Jack: “Why so sad?”
Mika: “How do I know I’ll see you again?”
Jack: “You will.”
Mika: “But-“
Jack: “No buts. I’ll text you as soon as I’m home. Then I’ll take a couple of days to recover and get back into the swing of things. I’ll call you every day, and once I know what’s going on with Dad, you can come visit.”
Mika: “…promise?”
Jack: “On my life.”
It was soon time for graduation, and Jack didn’t know that his mother was going to be there.
Jack: “Mom???”
Anna: “No ‘Hi, how are you’ just complete surprise? Thanks Jack.”
Jack: “Hey, I’m happy to see you. I just didn’t think you’d be here since Dad was ill.”
Anna: *looks at Sarah* “You told him then?”
Sarah: “He deserved to know.”
Jack: “You better believe I did… so of course I’m surprised to see you! Happy… but surprised.”
Anna: “Kerry is looking after your Dad for me. Actually, she wasn’t going to take no for an answer and insisted I come.”
Jack: “…she’s as stubborn as you, Mom.”
Anna: “Yeah, I’m realizing that.”
The ceremony was unfortunately short, but there were many tears. Tears of joy from Sarah and Jack, and the tears of a proud mother from Anna. All three went back to the house, collected the twin’s clothes, and then they went back home.
It was an experience Sarah and Jack would never forget.
