4
The next day, I went to school as usual. The
scholarship was still going to Brittany.
In class, Mr. Harrison was practically patting Brittany on the head, “Everyone, let’s all be
like Brittany, someone who excels in every area, give her a round of applause!”
Brittany’s cronies clapped like crazy, while throwing me looks that were equal parts smug, mocking, and just plain mean. The whole school, pretty much, knew her dad was
a VP at Stellar Tech.
<
Not for long.
I smiled.
Behind me, the other kids were whispering.
“Did you hear? That scholarship was
supposed to go to Ashley, but Brittany got it.
“Yeah, it sucks. But Brittany’s dad is super
rich, VP at Stellar Tech, pays them lots of
money!”
“Yeah, that’s why the teachers treat her like a
princess. How much money did they get
under the table?”
<
under the table?”
“Shhh! Be quiet, if Brittany hears us, she’ll
come after us!”
After class, Brittany sashayed over, waving the scholarship certificate in my face. “This scholarship was a done deal from the start. You really shouldn’t have bothered trying to compete. You embarrassed yourself.”
Her minions piled in on cue. “Yeah, Brittany is
the best.‘
Brittany knew what I’d told Mr. Harrison. “I’m warning you, Ashley. Don’t cause trouble. Or you’ll be kicked out of school by tomorrow.”
دو
I knew. Brittany wanted to go to an overseas
school and needed a scholarship. It was all so
predictable.
Wait, Stellar Tech wasn’t a huge company,
and it’s been losing money. How did Brittany’s
dad have so much cash?
I looked at her. “What’s your dad’s name?”
Brittany giggled and put her hands on her hips. “Trying to get in with us?” She poked
me in the chest with a long, painted
fingernail. “My dad’s name is Greg Miller!”
She was so proud, looking down at me. Her
cronies looked down at me too
r
She was so proud, looking down at me. Her
cronies looked down at me too.
Greg Miller, I silently registered the name.
That afternoon, the school gathered in the
gym to celebrate Brittany and her success.
The whole thing was a mess.
I stood in the crowd, listening to the
principal’s drone over the loudspeaker.
“Everyone, we have a special announcement!
We are so proud of our star student, Brittany
Miller, who, through sheer will and
determination, has won a state–level award!
Let’s give her a big hand!”
Let’s give her a big hand!”
The students muttered. “She got the award
cause of her dad, she gives money to the
school.”
“Yeah, what did she do? She’s not smart,
she’s not nice, and she has zero athletic
ability.”
“Yeah, but her dad’s rich. In this day and age,
ou need money to succeed.
وو
“I feel bad for Ashley, she’s so smart, but
they just gave it to Brittany anyway.”
“Ashley’s parents are not doing well. They
The students cast pitying looks a
- e.
On stage, Brittany grasped the microphone, tears welling up in her eyes. “First, I want to thank my dad, who is the VP of Stellar Tech.
He has always made endless sacrifices for me.” She was even crying.
The rest of the speech was a long, rambling essay called “My VP Father“.
く
