No More Waiting... for a while!

Early morning around 7:10, Attawie is in bed, recovering from a fever lasted for two nights in a row.
Mom enters the room to check on Attawie before she leaves to work.


Mom: how are you today?
Atta: I'm better. I want to bake a cake.
Mom: We got everything needed. Do you need anything else?
Atta: Yes, I wanted to tell you I want to go to the Heritage festival tonight, if it's still there.
Mom: ok, check if they are still there and we'll go. Bye.
Atta: bye



10:00 AM, same morning. Attawie is still in bed.
Dad enters the room with a white envelop.

Dad: Attawie, the mail is here. This is a letter to you from the university.
Atta: (still can't open her eyes, not surprised)
Dad: (opening the curtains) do you want me to get you your glasses?
Atta: (reaches her hand to the glasses next to her bed) No, thanks, I got them. (Starts to read silently)
Dad: (still standing there waiting for the answer. He mumbles) In sha' Allah accepted.
Atta: I have not been accepted.
(She continues to read silently). Only seven were accepted. (She finishes reading and hands dad the letter)
Dad: (as he takes the letter and reads) never mind. You deserve the best. You will find another way to study.



Few minutes later Attawie picks up the phone and dials.

Atta: hello mom.
Mom: hello, how are you now?
Atta: fine. (Trying to fine the best way to deliver the news) mom, I have not been accepted.
Mom: how did you know? I just checked your university account.
Atta: mom, I received a letter by mail, now.
Mom: when it was sent?
Atta: 28 March.
Mom: never mind, we'll find you another way to get your MA.



11:00 same morning. Attawie is writing this post. Thinking of how she grabbed the apple juice instead of milk to heat in the microwave. Her mind is busy planning how to run the whole run again; certificates, recommendation letters, applications forms.

She knew it, the moment her dad handed her the letter, she was not accepted. Last time she received such important letter, it was enclosed in a larger envelop and much more heavier too. It was exactly two years ago when she was accepted in San Antonio Community Collage, Texas. They sent her the notifying letter with many magazines, which turn out to be programs, subjects, the classes, maps, and all about dormitory.

She was dipping Digestive biscuits in hot milk, thinking. Do I want to be milk or biscuits? The milk is so delicate. The biscuits are hard. Yet, mixing them gives fragile, weak material that used to be biscuits. Nevertheless, the milk would still be milk, though may get darker. I would definitely want to be Milk. When the environment is changed, I will not let it changes me completely into another person and lose my personality-like biscuits, which melt in milk.

Now, Attawie will have to get ready for the GRE exam and the TOFEL. It was a crazy month when she studied for the ESL, but whom am I kidding? Studying is the best thing Attawie does or know.

The Moral Lesson, if there was any!

Life is not easy. You won't get whatever you want unless you try and try many times. Sometimes you'll have to change things about you to fit the new environment, but don't lose your personality like biscuits. Adapt new methods and be armed for the future. Someday you will get what you want.

.........................................................
Dear friends,
No more waiting for now, a new plan is on the way. There would also be a "waiting" part but later. At least I will have the chance to be there in my sister's wedding next summer.
As for you, readers, you'll have the chance to read my unpublished poems and short stories.

"I'm still on the first step of the road. I guess there's much for me to learn".

Attawie.