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Jefferson heaved a heavy sigh and leaned back on the plush cushion. He could hear the ticktock of the gold-rimmed clock and the blades of the ceiling fan as it sliced the air. He took a sip from the slender glass of Sherry.
Well, this was the end for him. He had failed woefully on his quest to go to the US to study. He studied engineering for 6 years and then had made a switch to medicine, but he still performed poorly in the courses and had to leave school without a certificate.
“Make sure all my sacrifices for you isn't in vain.”
He could hear his dad's voice in his mind. It was the time he was about to depart for the US for his studies. They both were sitting on the lounge of the airport. Selena his younger sister was with them too.
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“I will do my best dad.” Jefferson had said with a note of sadness in his voice. “I will take my studies seriously and will come out with the best of grades.”
“Ok son. I know you will.”
“Maybe I will be joining you soon.” Selena chipped in lightheartedly.
“You will have to wait till I'm through then maybe I will sponsor you…”
“Not necessary.”
Selana seemed assured of herself. She was leaning back leisurely on the chair. A smile hung on her lips.
“I'll come through the scholarship program. The odds of me being selected are high.”
Jefferson was silent a few seconds then said:
“I hope it works. But you will have to finish high school first”
That was 9 years ago. Today Jefferson was a 35 year old frustrated failure. He thought of ways he could still make his father's vision of giving one of his children an oversea education a reality. He could not go back, there were no resources to sponsor him again and what course would he read if there were? The only chance was for Selena, who had just finished high school to get a scholarship to study abroad.
Even though Selena was a bright and smart girl, there were chances she wouldn't be among the 200 that would be selected that year. There was a lot of corruption in the country and in such situations children of the rich and powerful were considered first. Jefferson thought long and hard. But there was no end to the abyss that were his thoughts.
“A bribe can get you that easily.”
His friend Jim told him over drinks in an overcrowded bar one Wednesday evening. “That depends on if you approach the right person.”
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Jefferson was silent while he seemed to gaze into his glass of cold beer. Jim broke Into his thoughts.
“I know you will refuse on account of your morals and all that. But it's the only way.”
No reply. Jefferson muttered “I will think about it.” and that was all.
Through the night he considered what he was about to do. The way their father had raised them made them hold high moral standards. He shuddered at the thought of what his father's reaction might have been if he was alive and knew what he wanted to do. Jefferson slept off that night whilst thinking. There were a half full bottle of whiskey on the table before him and two empty ones and a glass.
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When he woke the next morning his mind was made up. He had to swim this dreary ocean he found himself in or sink in it. He was going to offer a bribe to one of the members of the scholarship board, one he was quite acquainted with. And if it didn't work he would advise his sister, Selena to offer her body instead. If he didn't do this his conscience would choke him on account of all the sacrifices his father made and how he wasted the opportunity overseas.
Jeffersons love for his sister is so strong, going out of his moral standards to secure her scholarship. Great story!
Indeed. Though I think they should have found another way. Thanks for reading my story and for your comment.
Okay, I think the decision he made or was about to carry out was terrible. Especially, making a high school graduate have to offer her body to get the scholarship. I believe if she worked really hard, she might actually make it.
You're right, it was a really terrible decision. There definitely could have been another way. Thanks for reading my story and for your comment.
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