Page 21 of Spectacular Things
Mia’s Big Win
Six months later, when it is technically spring but still feels unmistakably like winter, Mia shivers on her bed, still wearing her heavy coat, and opens the email that determines her fate.
There he is: Handsome Dan. Yale’s famous mascot, the Olde English bulldog, smiles at her through his many wrinkles next to the only word Mia needs to know: Congratulations!
Like Handsome Dan’s professionally lit face, her future looks bright.
When Mia shows her mom the email, Liz kisses the computer screen and they are too overjoyed to acknowledge that she is already late for her shift at Primo Bistro.
Instead, Liz grabs her apron off the kitchen counter and tells Mia to come to the restaurant to celebrate.
“But you’ll be working!” Mia says.
“But this can’t wait!” Liz wraps her black apron around her waist and gives Mia one more hug. She is already ten minutes behind but too thrilled to care. Or just too Liz to care.
That night, when Mia and Cricket arrive at Primo Bistro, they are greeted by Lucia the owner, who announces to the entire restaurant that their very own Mia Lowe has just been accepted to Yale University.
She then leads her waitstaff and guests in an enthusiastic round of applause that inspires Cricket to whistle and makes Mia want to die before Lucia finally seats them in the front window.
When servers and patrons swing by the table to offer their congratulations, it is the first time their well-wishes are directed at Mia, not Cricket, who struggles to sit still, overwhelmed with admiration for her sister and giddy about being out so late on a school night.
Liz emerges from the kitchen with their favorite entrées, which they usually eat at home, reheated in the microwave and still in their plastic to-go containers.
“Chicken marsala for my baby,” Liz says, placing the hot dish before Cricket. “And tonight’s special—Timballo di Maccheroni—for my college girl!”
“This is so beautiful,” Mia says, admiring the entrée. She knows from her own efforts in the kitchen just how complex this dish is to make—all the steps and patience required to make such different flavors and disparate textures sing together.
“It tastes even better like this,” Cricket says, using her fingers to lower a ribbon of pasta into her mouth. “Eating it here, I mean.”
Lucia approaches the table with five small plates balanced on her forearms, up to her elbows.
“This is how I express my love,” she says, setting down each indulgence as the Lowes stare, agape.
The honey-browned focaccia. The shrimp scampi.
Roasted carrots and beets stacked like a game of Jenga.
The award-winning pot roast. The mouthwatering bluefish.
“Save room for dessert,” Lucia says, planting a kiss on Mia’s cheek before rushing back to the host stand to answer the phone.
“This is amazing,” Cricket says to Mia, reaching across the table to grab a hunk of focaccia. “You’re amazing.”
Mia grins as she spears a macaroni. For the first time in her life, she considers this possibility—that she, too, is amazing. Going to Yale is a big deal for anyone, but Mia’s acceptance feels like a win for everyone—her mom and sister, the whole home team.
“So Coach taught me how to visualize,” Cricket says before taking several deep gulps of water. “And I’ve been doing it, and I visualized you getting into Yale weeks ago, so I’m going to keep visualizing, and that way our lives will always be totally awesome.”
“Totally awesome?” Mia repeats, chuckling as she folds her napkin on her lap.
Cricket nods, empowered by her prophecy.
Lucia arrives at their table and hands Mia an envelope from the older couple at table 10 who just left.
Inside is a hundred-dollar bill. Lucia beams as she explains, “They said to tell you, ‘Go Bulldogs!’?”
“Oh my God, see? I told you!” Cricket says, bouncing in her seat. “Totally awesome!” She is kinetic energy in kid form, her sister, but on a night like tonight, Mia can’t help but believe it, too. Their lives will always be totally awesome.