he’s about thirty-five.”
Farren’s only response is a quick nod, like he’s storing the info for another day.
The next few miles are spent in silence, until Farren flips on the car stereo. He tunes in an indie rock station, and eventually—thank God—things begin to lighten up.
As time passes, we discover we like many of the same songs. When a Heather Nova song comes on, one that I love, I can’t help but sing along. A few of the lines are provocative, and Farren chuckles and shakes his head as I belt them out.
When the song ends, he turns down the volume and asks, “What was the name of that song?”
“‘Walk This World,’” I tell him.
I then realize how many of the lines could apply to me…and him…and him and me together. Next thing you know, I am blushing profusely. And I swear that man must have listened to every line and lyric—or else he knew the song already—since the smug look on his face tells me he knows exactly why I’m blushing.
Thankfully, though, Farren seems to sense I’m genuinely embarrassed and changes the subject.
“So, Essa,” he begins, “why Oakwood College for you? Haven told me she was lured by their stellar theater program, but you’re a business major, right?”
“The business program at Oakwood is very well respected,” I spout in a monotone voice. It’s the same rote spiel I’ve uttered a hundred times before. I’ve learned it well from my parents.
Farren glances over. “Hmm, that didn’t sound rehearsed at all.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “I know, right? Let’s just say a business career is my parents’ dream, not mine.”
Softly, Farren inquires, “What is your dream, Essa? What do you want to do?”
I stare out at rain that is lessening to a gentle shower. “Nobody ever asks me that,” I say as gently as the falling rain, “so I don’t really know for sure.”
“You must have an idea,” he says.
I take a breath. Should I dare to share my dream with Farren? Since I have nothing to lose, I go for it.
“If it were up to me,” I say. “I’d choose a major geared to writing. I write for the school paper, and I contribute articles to a monthly business review.” After a beat, I softly add, “And I really enjoy those things.”
“I’m sure Oakwood has a journalism program,” Farren replies matter-of-factly. “You can always switch majors.”
Slumping down in my seat, I say, “No, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” I mutter.
“Try me.”
Farren sounds sincere, so I tell him the truth. “I only have one year left for the business degree. It’s too late to change.”
“Hey,” he says, his tone serious. “It’s never too late to do anything, Essa. You can change majors, start over, do anything you want. You just have to be brave enough to take that first step.”
Farren’s words are passionate, and he makes me reconsider. I’m always doing what my parents want me to do. Always following their instructions on how things are going to go, never speaking up. If that continues, how will I ever find my true calling?
I’m silent, and Farren says, “Do you want to know what I learned after I survived my first day of active combat?”
I nod. “Yes.”
With his eyes on the road ahead of us, he says, “If you’re still breathing, you can change your life. You can always alter your direction, embark on a different route. You just have to be brave enough to do it.” He glances over at me. “You decided to join me on this trip, right? That was pretty brave.”
“I had to, Farren,” I reply. “I had to for Haven.”
But it’s more than that. This is my first inevitable detour. Fate led me here. Maybe I need to let destiny have her chance, let her put me where I need to be. When I head back to school in the fall, I think I’ll change my major. Then again, maybe I’ll really shake things up and apply to a different school, maybe one that’s out of state.
With these thoughts in mind, I
Farren’s only response is a quick nod, like he’s storing the info for another day.
The next few miles are spent in silence, until Farren flips on the car stereo. He tunes in an indie rock station, and eventually—thank God—things begin to lighten up.
As time passes, we discover we like many of the same songs. When a Heather Nova song comes on, one that I love, I can’t help but sing along. A few of the lines are provocative, and Farren chuckles and shakes his head as I belt them out.
When the song ends, he turns down the volume and asks, “What was the name of that song?”
“‘Walk This World,’” I tell him.
I then realize how many of the lines could apply to me…and him…and him and me together. Next thing you know, I am blushing profusely. And I swear that man must have listened to every line and lyric—or else he knew the song already—since the smug look on his face tells me he knows exactly why I’m blushing.
Thankfully, though, Farren seems to sense I’m genuinely embarrassed and changes the subject.
“So, Essa,” he begins, “why Oakwood College for you? Haven told me she was lured by their stellar theater program, but you’re a business major, right?”
“The business program at Oakwood is very well respected,” I spout in a monotone voice. It’s the same rote spiel I’ve uttered a hundred times before. I’ve learned it well from my parents.
Farren glances over. “Hmm, that didn’t sound rehearsed at all.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “I know, right? Let’s just say a business career is my parents’ dream, not mine.”
Softly, Farren inquires, “What is your dream, Essa? What do you want to do?”
I stare out at rain that is lessening to a gentle shower. “Nobody ever asks me that,” I say as gently as the falling rain, “so I don’t really know for sure.”
“You must have an idea,” he says.
I take a breath. Should I dare to share my dream with Farren? Since I have nothing to lose, I go for it.
“If it were up to me,” I say. “I’d choose a major geared to writing. I write for the school paper, and I contribute articles to a monthly business review.” After a beat, I softly add, “And I really enjoy those things.”
“I’m sure Oakwood has a journalism program,” Farren replies matter-of-factly. “You can always switch majors.”
Slumping down in my seat, I say, “No, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” I mutter.
“Try me.”
Farren sounds sincere, so I tell him the truth. “I only have one year left for the business degree. It’s too late to change.”
“Hey,” he says, his tone serious. “It’s never too late to do anything, Essa. You can change majors, start over, do anything you want. You just have to be brave enough to take that first step.”
Farren’s words are passionate, and he makes me reconsider. I’m always doing what my parents want me to do. Always following their instructions on how things are going to go, never speaking up. If that continues, how will I ever find my true calling?
I’m silent, and Farren says, “Do you want to know what I learned after I survived my first day of active combat?”
I nod. “Yes.”
With his eyes on the road ahead of us, he says, “If you’re still breathing, you can change your life. You can always alter your direction, embark on a different route. You just have to be brave enough to do it.” He glances over at me. “You decided to join me on this trip, right? That was pretty brave.”
“I had to, Farren,” I reply. “I had to for Haven.”
But it’s more than that. This is my first inevitable detour. Fate led me here. Maybe I need to let destiny have her chance, let her put me where I need to be. When I head back to school in the fall, I think I’ll change my major. Then again, maybe I’ll really shake things up and apply to a different school, maybe one that’s out of state.
With these thoughts in mind, I
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