Page 124 of Something in Between

You clearly have the intellectual energy, discipline and imagination to flourish at Stanford. Your distinguished academic and extracurricular achievements captured our attention as we read through nearly 20,000 applications.

Tell your family and friends and take the time to learn more about us as you make your decision. Please thank those teachers and counselors who have been your allies, who recommended you. They are in your cheering section and have played a part in this good news.

Our warmest wishes,

Joseph M. Bellow

Dean of Admissions

Dad hands it back. “Great, Jas. Is there a college you didn’t get into?”

“Lots, Daddy, but only because I didn’t apply to them,” I say happily. My heart is beating hard. I want to go to Stanford so bad. More than anything, I mean, aside from staying in America,thisis what I want. “But I want to go here. This is my dream.”

“I know, sweetheart, I wish I could tell you that you can,” he says, waiting for Mom to tape a box. He says to her, “You going to take all day? I could take a nap while I wait.”

“Maybe you should,” Mom says. “You’re too cranky.”

Dad grumbles.

All I can think of is going to Stanford and everything it means, all the doors that are going to be open for me. This is everything I’ve been dreaming of since I first thought about going to college. What if I wasn’t deported? What could I do then? What would my life look like? My stomach hurts with the possibilities.

Dad shakes his head at Mom for getting the tape tangled.

“But we don’t have to leave yet,” I say stubbornly. “Can’t we wait to see if Mr. Alvarado finds anything from the judge about our visa extension?”

“Neneng,”he says. “We’re selling the house. We’ll have to be out of here no matter what. There will be nowhere for us to live.”

“But even if we sell the house we can move somewhere else. We can all live in Oakland or something. You can be closer to me.”

Danny and Isko are passing through. “The A’s are cool,” Danny says. “And the Raiders.”

“Since when did you get so interested in football?” Dad asks, shrugging his shoulders. “Forget about sports. Use your brain, like your sister.” He taps the letter, which I’m still holding. “Why are you so in denial?”

My comeback is fiery. “Why do you give up so easily?”

“We’ve had this discussion,” Dad says. “Besides, how can we afford it?”

“Stanford is supposed to be need-blind even to international students,” I say, smacking Danny in the head with the letter for still smirking at me. “I’m going to fill out the financial aid forms when they arrive.”

“You’ll be wasting your time,” Dad says.

“You’re so negative, Daddy,” I say. “This is why you should watch sports. It’s not over until time is out. I still have hope. If not for all of us, at least for me.”

Dad seems a little hurt by my comment, but Danny is suddenly excited. He starts jabbering about an NHL game he was watching on television. “I’ve seen the Los Angeles Kings down two goals come back and score three in the last minute to win.”

Dad gives Danny a look. “Why don’t you go finish packing your room?”

I pat Danny on the head. “Thanks, Dan,” I say. This is one of the rare moments he’s come to my defense. My brothers may be quiet about deportation and show a kind of excitement for the adventure, but I know they would be happier staying here. That’s how cool they are. They may act selfish, but really they just want to please Mom and Dad. It’s just in our genes.

* * *

Millie is almost as happy for me as Royce is. She’s glowing as she reads the letter. I’ve propped her up on a bunch of her pillows so she can breathe better. It doesn’t sound like she’s improved that much, but she doesn’t have to breathe with the oxygen supplement all the time.

“This is the most beautiful news,” she says. “A lifelong dream is being fulfilled with one letter. Isn’t that amazing, how that happens?”

“I’m excited,” I admit. “I keep having this feeling that I can actually go. But so much has to happen for it to become a reality. Every day, I wake up thinking about how, if the money doesn’t come, I can still hide out somewhere and secretly attend all my classes. I’m such a nerd. I love going to school that much.”

Millie laughs. “That would certainly be adventurous. But to be homeless on top of everything else would be far too difficult.”

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