New Bedford, Massachusetts.
"Luke!!! Get the fuck up! " A horrendous, manly voice boomed from downstairs of an old two-story house.
Lukas, an eighteen-year-old boy who was sleeping soundly, jumped up when he heard that voice, but he was still sleepy. Scratching his thigh, he got up from the bed. Seeing the chipped old house, he sighed and then went to the bathroom.
"How much time does it take you to take a dump?"
"Ah! Dad, I am just taking a piss, " Lukas replied with frustration. Every day was in this house, chaotic and messy.
Lukas, after brushing his teeth and face, sat down in an old, rusty chair. Ronald, the owner of that booming voice, came in with a plate that had toasted bread and little red jam on it.
"Dad, I don't think we should be doing this, it'll be bad for the family, and I don't want to pressure you anymore. You have to pay for Noah too, " Lukas said while looking at his dad, who was busy giving a plate to another young man who's around 13-14 years old.
"Luke, don't be like that. I am not like you, you're our family's only hope, " Noah said while munching down on his bread.
"Shut up, idiot. Dad, let me help out with your factory work, " Lukas reprimanded his younger brother while pleading to his father.
"I thought we discussed this last night? You want to be a coward and go back on your words? " A very gentle voice came in from the living room, and then slowly a wheelchair rolled into the dining room.
A middle-aged woman came in, she looked average at best and was not looking happy.
"Mom, why are you here? Take a rest! " Lukas cried out in panic when he saw his mother.
Merilyn Martin was a working woman in a factory nearby. Last year she got hit by a car and was paralyzed from the waist down. After the accident, she couldn't get a job and was getting treated now. The owner of the car that hit her was, although, paying for her treatment, but it was barely enough.
"I've rested enough, son. Why do you always put yourself down like that? You scored 1433 on the SAT and earned a full scholarship! Do you know how proud I am as your mother? Even the neighbors compare their children to you!" Merilyn said with a gentle smile, her voice filled with warmth and support for Lukas's college journey.
"But Mom, it will take around five to six thousand dollars more, our family..."
Before Lukas could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by his father, Ronald.
"I am still alive and healthy to take care of both my sons and the family, so stop worrying about it and get a move on. You're just scared of leaving the house, aren't you?" Ronald said with a sarcastic chuckle and then ate his breakfast.
"I am not scared, " Lukas replied, then finished his breakfast and went back to his room. His room was packed with boxes as he was moving to Princeton today, after wearing his jeans and a t-shirt, he took his backpack, held a box in hand, and looked at the mirror one last time.
"Fuck!! You can do it, Lukas ... hoh! " Lukas said to himself while looking at the mirror, then went downstairs.
Noah, his little brother, has already moved most of the boxes into the battered 1990 Ford Taurus.
"You took the acceptance letter and the financial aid award letter? " Merilyn asked as Lukas was waiting outside the car, Noah was going inside to get the last box of supplies for Lukas.
"Yes, Mom, don't worry about it. I've taken everything with me, " Lukas said, and then he put the box he was carrying into the car trunk. Then he came to Merilyn, knelt down, and gave her a 100-dollar bill he was saving.
"I was going to give you something, but... " Merilyn's eye instantly became moist as soon as Lukas did this.
"Mother, look at me. I'm your big boy, right? So don't cry. I promise you, I'll do my best in college and find work to support myself. But don't you ever cut short on your medicine money just to buy me nice clothes," Lukas said seriously, then gently kissed his mother's forehead.
She had used the money meant for her medicine to buy him the new clothes he was wearing today. Knowing this, Lukas silently placed the note he had been saving for two months into her hand.
"Alright, it's goodbye for now. " Ronald came out of his house while holding car keys in his hand, then sat on the driver's seat and started the car.
Noah came running and placed the box inside the car at the last minute. Lukas took two steps and then hugged his little brother tight as he might never live here again as he used to from childhood.
"Take care of them for me, don't cry, stupid, " Lukas said while wiping the tears from his brother's eyes, then sat in the passenger seat.
The car left the neighborhood while Lukas was trying not to cry as much as possible, his mother and brother were waving at him still, he could see that from the side mirror, but he didn't have the courage to wave them back, as it would make him cry.
"A man should cry sometimes. You're a strong child, so don't worry about things here. I'll handle everything until you grow up," Ronald said, reassuring Lukas. Then, with a playful grin, he added, "Just buy me a Mercedes someday. Your mom and I will travel across all fifty states in style."
With those words, he not only comforted his son but also gave him a goal, a motivation to dream big.
"I...I promise you " Lukas said with his choking voice, then smiled while a tear dropped from his eyes.
It took them five hours to reach Princeton, Lukas was all hyped up as soon as he came down from the car, the environment was so different that he was awed, the campus was huge.
It's the same campus, but last time I got a 1100 SAT score and didn't get a chance here, this time everything will be different.
Lukas, thinking of this, smiled and then walked ahead with his father with a box in hand, this time around, he was ready to face the world.