Quoted By:
"Oh, right. I forgot about that. Anybody gonna be doing any <span class="mu-i">drugs</span> at that party?"
"I hope so, otherwise it's gonna be a pretty lame party."
"Anybody named <span class="mu-i">Stephanie Blake Campbell</span>?!"
"No, sir."
"Attagirl. You can have one beer. <span class="mu-i">One.</span> Y'hear?"
"Yessir, Sherriff Campbell, sir!" Stephanie mocked with a sharp salute.
"Smartass." Steven smiled, as he ruffled her hair.
The Sherriff kissed his daughter on the forehead and turned to leave, when he noticed something on her desk. There was a letter sticking out under a pile of <span class="mu-i">MAD</span> issues; a letter in <span class="mu-i">Brown University</span> stationery. By the time Stephanie realized what was going on and jumped off her bed, Steven was reading away like there was no tomorrow.
"You got in...? You got in! My baby's going to college! Oh, your mom would've been so proud... Come 'ere, you!"
"Dad, I..."
"Don't 'dad' me, this is great news! We're talking Ivy League, here! Why the long face?!"
"Dad, it's <span class="mu-i">literally</span> on the other side of the country. I did my research. Tuition's already astronomical enough, and then there's added fees and living expenses and-- I mean, even if I get a job, it's still gonna be pretty much impossible to-- I... I can't ask that of you. It's too much..."
"Nonsense! What are you even talking about? You're going, and I don't wanna hear another word about it! You worry about running for president or going to space or what have you, and I'll take care of the rest. Now, I gotta go let Sarge out 'cause he's soon gonna be firing outta both ends, and be on my way. I'll take the truck, you can take the Delta. Just remember to fill 'er up, 'kay? Oh, I made pancakes; get 'em while they're hot. There's a twenty on the counter, just in case. Call me when you get there. Love you, kiddo."
"Love you too, dad..."
"Not going to Brown, fercrissakes! What are you, nuts?!" Stephanie could hear him laughing as he hopped down the stairs. A short while later, she heard the engine start and looked out her window to see the truck backing out of the driveway and vanishing down the street.
"But I don't wanna go to Brown, dad. I wanna stay here, with you. Join the Sherriff's Department, give back to the community... There, was that so hard...?"
"Don't look at me like that. You know we can't afford it. Plus, I like it here! I don't wanna go to <span class="mu-i">stupid</span> Providence..." she said to the picture of her mom on her desk, before walking over to the closet to assess the damage.
"Oh, man! Darn it, Sarge. Did it have to be the <span class="mu-i">big</span> backpack? Guess I'll have to make do with the small one for tonight..."
She put on her jorts, her pine green hoodie with <span class="mu-i">North Falls Sherriff's Dept.</span> embroidered in white on the front, and her red high top Chucks, and butt-surfed down the banister; both backpacks in hand. She left the small one by the front door, and went outside to toss the one full of dog vomit by the garage.
