Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell Page B

process of trying to haggle down the price, he must have injured Dwight’s ego, so his brother grabbed the man by the arm and yanked him out of the car and to the ground, no doubt swearing at the top of his lungs as he did so.
    “It’s still not clear if the customer is going to press charges,” Star continued. “I almost hope he does. I feel terrible for saying that, but maybe going to court is the wakeup call your brother needs.”
    “Do you think he’ll go to jail?” Nathaniel said.
    “For something so small?” Her forehead crinkled with worry. “I hope not! Anyway, I’m glad you’re home. It’s been a nightmare around here lately. I need you by my side.” She reached across the table to take his hand.
    Nathaniel’s eyes met hers. “I’m here.”
    “Good. Your father had to take an emergency trip to the Oklahoma City clinic. One of the managers there went AWOL, but not before disappearing with most of the schedule two narcotics. He’s looking forward to seeing you. He’ll be home later tonight.”
    “Where’s Dwight?”
    Star frowned. “Probably drunk somewhere. He brought around a new girl who smelled like a distillery. I found a bunch of empty bottles in his room too, so it looks like he’s got a new hobby. I told him if he’s so interested in binge drinking, that he should have gone to college.” The tension in her face disappeared. “Hey, speaking of which, you’ve got mail!”
    Four envelopes. As soon as his mother set them on the table, Nathaniel grabbed them and stood, heading for the kitchen door.
    “Where are you going?” she asked.
    “My room.”
    “But I want to know what they say!” she called after him.
    “I’ll show you later.” He hurried to the hallway before she could complain further. He couldn’t open them in front of her, mostly because she could read him like a book. The slightest hint of disappointment would have her trying to comfort him, which tended to make him feel worse. He needed to do this alone.
    Once shut safely in his bedroom, he placed all four envelopes facedown on the bed. Then he picked up the first, opening it even after he saw it wasn’t from the college he was hoping for. Funny, because when he sent out the applications, he didn’t have a strong preference. He wanted to be out of state. Simple as that. Now everything had changed, and why?
    Yale, or more accurately, the people who would be going there. Rebecca of course, but she would probably follow him to any college he chose. If not—as much as he really did like her—Nathaniel was accustomed to saying goodbye to friends. Only one person tipped the balance. Maybe he was still high from the carefree days of the camping trip, but he very much liked the idea of Caesar showing up at the same college a couple of years after him, a nervous freshman on a big scary campus. Never fear, because Nathaniel would be there to take him under his wing.
    The fantasy filled his chest with yearning. Nathaniel flipped over the second letter. No luck. He opened it anyway, reading it carefully, like a birthday card, when all he really wanted to do was rip open the next present. Or in this case the next letter, which he soon did, his disappointment tripling. He had been accepted. That was great. Just not to the right school.
    He eyed the final letter, all of his hopes now resting on it. His pulse was racing as he used one finger to flip it over. Once his eyes focused on the return address, he sighed. Not Yale. Feeling dejected, he opened it, finding his fourth acceptance. Four out of four. Most people would be jumping with joy. Nathaniel just sat on his bed, reading through the letter. Then he made himself go through them all again, trying to imagine himself at each place. He even booted up his laptop, looking at the official websites. After half an hour, he went to Yale’s website instead, unsuccessfully trying to discover if all admission invitations had been sent out.
    He shut his laptop and gathered up the