The Day My Scores Came, Mom Filed for Divorce

The day the SAT scores came out, my mother took me to the city where my father worked.

She walked into his office practically glowing.

"Rachel Barnes scored a 678. I heard that family members of Whitmore faculty can apply for a special—"

"Melanie Shepherd."

He cut her off, cold.

"The SATs are about fairness. If Rachel wants into Whitmore, she earns it herself."

"You can't use the fact that I'm a professor here to pull strings and hand her a shortcut."

My mother froze.

The eyes that turned toward us at the sound burned the color into her face.