Page 34 of The Family Guest

“Have either of you heard from Stanford?” my dad asked, after a bite of his veal medallions, Natanya’s latest gourmet dinner. I’d stuck to my vegan diet and was devouring a tasty Indian curry with lentils and cauliflower. I’d found several online sites that delivered frozen gourmet vegan meals. While my mom offered to prepare fresh vegan entrées nightly, I couldn’t trust her little helper Tanya. I wouldn’t put it past her to poison me.

“I think it’s too soon to hear,” I responded, the rumor at school being that early decision and early action applicants would hear right before Thanksgiving. To be honest, I hoped they’d lost my application.

My mom interjected. “Actually, Paige, something came in the mail for you today.”

I felt a kernel of dread unfurl in my stomach. Hearing so quickly usually meant they either loved you or hated you. Fingers crossed it was the latter and I could have the last laugh with my grandma.

“Where is it?” asked my father, eagerness in his voice.

“In the kitchen.” My mom rose from her chair. “I’ll go get it.”

A few moments later, she returned with a letter-size white envelope in her hand.

“Give it to me,” demanded my father.

“But it’s addressed to Paige,” she countered.

My father’s face hardened. “Natalie, just do as I ask and give it to me.” The only time he called my mother by her full name was when he was frustrated or angry with her. “Now!”

The color draining from her face, my mom padded over to him and handed him the envelope. With a mix of anticipation and apprehension, I watched him tear it open. His eyes flickered with excitement as I held my breath, waiting for him to remove the contents. He unfolded the single sheet of paper and silently began to read it. The expression that came over his face was one I’d never seen. It was dark and menacing, his nostrils flaring, his lips snarled. His eyes, two burning embers, met mine.

“What the hell, Paige!?”

“Matt, your language. The children!” my mom chided.

“Shut up, Natalie!”

My mother cowered as if he might jump up and slap her. My father’s fiery eyes stayed on me.

“Paige, how in the world could you do this? You’re a total embarrassment.”

I scrunched my face so hard it hurt. “I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”

His face grew so flaming red I thought his head would rocket off his neck. His voice grew louder by decibels. “You plagiarized someone else’s essay almost word for word.”

“What!? I did not!” I felt myself shaking.

“They ran your essay through a foolproof program that shows your essay is almost identical to another student’s who submitted theirs three weeks before yours.” His heated face looked demonic. “Let me read you portions of it.”

My heart was beating so hard I thought it would burst out of my ribcage and crash-land on the table. I sat paralyzed as he began.

“Theirs: We must live every day to the fullest because life can change in a snap. Here today, gone tomorrow. Look at Michael Jackson!

“Yours: We must live every minute to the fullest because life can change in an instant. You can be here today, gone tomorrow. Look at Kobe Bryant and his daughter!

“Theirs: I want to live my life to the max. Every morning when I get up, I want to be stoked by the surprise of another day.

“Yours: I want to live my life to the best I can. Each morning when I wake up, I want to be excited by the gift of a new day.

“Theirs: Mostly, I want to live my life with no regrets. I am sure if I get to go to Stanford, I will never regret attending this awesome university.

“Yours: Most of all, I want to live my life with no regrets. I know if Stanford admits me, I will never regret my decision to attend this great institution of higher learning.”

My father paused. He looked at me pointedly, contempt scorched in his eyes. “Are you satisfied, Paige? Or do I need to read more?”

My mouth went dry. I was at a loss for words. Suddenly, an unusually quiet Tanya burst out. “Oh my God! She stole my personal statement essay.”

“What?” I cried out before my father could say another word.