When You Were Young

"Nothing. I had a feeling this would happen," he said. From behind his back he produced a round cake with white frosting. In pink were the words, 'Happy Birthday Prudence.' "I bought it from the bakery this morning. And just so you know it wasn't easy. Mrs. Forman spelled the name wrong so I had to have her redo it. She was none too happy with me."

Samantha set the cake on the table before throwing her arms around Joseph's shoulders and kissing him. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she said.

"Perish from starvation," he said and kissed her. They stopped as a car turned into the driveway. "Are they here?"

They went out to the porch in time to see a green pick-up truck turn around and head downhill, a U.S. Postal Service logo on its side. "I'll get it," he said. She waited on the porch, watching Joseph bound down the driveway and over to the mailbox. How did she ever get so lucky as to find someone like him?

He let out a whoop and then raced towards her, holding up a white envelope. "I'm in! I'm in!" he shouted. Before she could ask him what was happening, he pulled her close and rained kisses all over her face.

At last she pushed him away. "Joseph, what's going on?"

He waved the envelope at her. 'California Technical University' was written on the top right corner. "They accepted me. Isn't it great? I'm going to Cal Tech!"

Samantha sagged back against the wall as someone had struck her. California? "I thought you were going to MIT," she said. "You said this was just in case you didn't get accepted there."

Joseph's celebratory move evaporated. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Samantha, what's wrong? Aren't you happy for me? For us? This is big. Cal Tech has one of the greatest scientific departments in the country. It's not easy to get accepted there."

"But California? Joe, that's like three thousand miles away. How are we ever going to see each other?"

"What do you mean? You can come with me. There are a lot of great colleges out there. As soon as you take the GED, I'm sure you could get into one-"

"Now you're planning my life for me too? What else do you have planned that you didn't tell me about?"

"Sam, don't be this way. I thought you understood."

"I understood you were going to MIT so I could visit you on weekends. Do you really think I can just pick up everything and move to California?"

"Why not?"