Tale of Life (Essence Series #2) by E. L. Todd

palms were soaked in sweat instantaneously and his heart beat grew sporadic and uneven.
    “Open one!” Aunt Grace clapped. The sight of her excited expression made Calloway feel nauseous. What if he was rejected from every school? Calloway couldn’t handle the disappointment—from himself as well as his family.
    “Okay/” Calloway sighed. With shaky hands, he opened the first letter that was from a prestigious university in Southern California. He suspected he wouldn’t be admitted to their institution—his grades were that bad. When he read the words of the letter his heart fell—it was a rejection. Calloway looked up and shook his head.
    Aunt Grace patted his hand gently. “It’s okay, honey,” she said. “Open the next one.”
    Calloway had no interest in opening the rest of his letters—they were probably all rejections. He felt stupid for even bothering to apply. He wasn’t college material and he knew it. But Aunt Grace’s smile of encouragement pushed him forward and he tore open the next letter with shaky hands. It was from a state school an hour away. He scanned through the letter and he felt his heart relax—he was accepted.
    Calloway held up the letter. “We have a winner.”
    “Yes!” Uncle Scott said, banging his fist on the table.
    Aunt Grace clapped happily. “I knew you would get in somewhere!” she said. “Now the other letters don’t matter. You can relax.”
    The acceptance letter, even though it was from a mediocre state school, had relieved his anxiety immensely. At least if he wasn’t accepted anywhere else he had one place to go. Fresno University was his desired institution but he was concerned that he wouldn’t be admitted—even if he was local. Calloway grabbed the next letter and saw the address—it was from one of the most prestigious universities in the United States—if not the world—and he stared at it for a moment. Instead of opening it, he dropped it into a separate pile. “I already know what that one says.”
    “Just open it,” Uncle Scott said. “You never know.”
    “It can’t hurt, honey,” Aunt Grace said encouragingly.
    Calloway sighed, his hands shaking, and picked up the notification. When he read the letter he felt his heart explode. He dropped the letter on the table, his hands suddenly becoming immobile. “I—they—picked me,” he stumbled. “They accepted me.”
    Aunt Grace jumped up again. “That’s two!”
    “Yes!” Uncle Scott yelled.
    Breccan nodded. “Good job,” he said awkwardly. He leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling, completely uninterested in the phenomenal moment.
    “Let me see,” Aunt Grace squeaked. She took the letter from his hand and read through the paragraphs. “This is the best college in the country, Calloway,” she said in a mesmerized voice. “I didn’t even know you applied.”
    Calloway shrugged. “It was just for fun,” he said. “I never expected to get in.”
    Uncle Scott clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m very proud of you, Calloway.”
    “And they offered you a full scholarship!” she screamed. “I can’t believe this. Honey!” she yelled at Uncle Scott. “Look! Calloway’s entire education has been paid for—by the most competitive school in the country! I can’t believe this.”
    “Let me see,” Uncle Scott said, putting on his reading glasses. He skimmed through the letter and his eyes became enlarged as he read. “This is wonderful.”
    Aunt Grace started to cry. “I’m so proud of you, dear.” She grabbed Calloway and hugged him to her chest, squeezing him so tightly that Calloway couldn’t breathe, and she cried into his shoulder. “So proud,” she sniffed. “Your mother would be so happy.”
    The mention of his mother stung his eyes but he fought back the emotion, knowing it would make his aunt more hysterical than she already was.
    She kissed him on the cheek before she returned to her seat. “This is so wonderful,” she said as she wiped her tears