Page 1 (1/2)

1

They were gathered around a conference table in a high-rise, eight e of sixty-five, all of them wealthy beyond measure And they were here, in the middle of Manhattan, to decide my fate

I was not quite sixteen and only one h school My parents, philosophy professors, had been offered a two-year-long acadeht--two years out of the country, which only reallyin the United States

They’d passed along that little nugget one Saturday in June I’d been preparing to head to my best friend Ashley’s house when my parents came into my room and sat down on my bed

"Lily," Mo the surprise by pointing out that nothing good happens when soht was that so horrible had happened to Ashley Turned out she was fine; the trauma hit a little closer to home My parents told ram, and that the chance to work in Ger opportunity for the, ful looks that really didn’t bode well forme to Germany with them, that they’d be busy while they were there, and that they wanted oing to a great college here So they’d decided that while they were away, I’d be staying in the States

I was equal parts bummed and thrilled Bummed, of course, because they’d be an ocean ahile I passed all the bigPuured I’d get to stay with Ashley and her parents

Unfortunately, I was only right about the first part

My parents had decided it would be best forschool stuck in the amore, hborhood, with my friends and the people and places I knew

I protested with every argument I could think of

Flash forward teeks and 240 miles to the conference table where I sat in a button-up cardigan and pencil skirt I’d never have worn under normal circumstances, the members of the Board of Trustees of St Sophia’s School for Girls staring back at irl anted to walk their hallowed halls--after all, heaven forbid they let in a girl who didn’t meet their standards But that they traveled to New York to see me seemed a little out of the ordinary

"I hope you’re aware," said one of thelasses, "that St Sophia’s is a fa and storied history in Chicago, and the Ivy Leagues recruit from its halls"

A woman with a pile of hair atop her head looked atto a child, "You’ll have any secondary institution in this country or beyond at your feet, Lily, if you’re accepted at St Sophia’s If you becoirl"

Okay, but what if I didn’t want to be a St Sophia’s girl? What if I wanted to stay hoamore withMidwestern city, surrounded by private-school girls who dressed the saed about their irl I wanted to be me, Lily Parker, of the dark hair and eyeliner and fabulous fashion sense

The powers that be of St Sophia’s were apparently less hesitant Teeks after the interview, I got the letter in the ratulations," it said "We are pleased to inform you that the arding your admission to St Sophia’s School for Girls"

I was less than pleased, but short of running ahich wasn’t my style, I was out of options So two months later, my parents and I trekked to Albany International

Mom had booked us on the saether, with me between the two of the dark hair in a low ponytail My father wore a button- up shirt and khakis, his auburn hair waving over the glasses on his nose They were heading to JFK to connect to their international flight; I was heading to O’Hare

We sat silently until they called er bag My parents stood, as well, and my mom reached out to put a hand on my cheek "We love you, Lil You know that? And that this is what’s best?"

Iwas, I wasn’t sure even she believed it, considering how nervous she sounded when she said it Looking back, I think they both had doubts about the whole thing They didn’t actually say that, of course, but their body language told a different story When they first told, but like he needed reassurance, like he needed to re to be okay It made me wonder I mean, they were headed to Germany for a two-year research sabbatical they’d spent reat "opportunity," they didn’t see was very, very strange

Anyway,out, "It’s for the best," at the airport wasn’t a new thing She and dad had both been repeating that phrase over the last feeeks like a mantra I didn’t know that it was for the best, but I didn’t want a bratty co I said to them, so I nodded at my mom and faked a s

"You can call us anytiht Or e-mail Or text us" He pressed a kiss to the top of ht"

I wasn’t sure whether I loved hi so oodbyes, and I traversed the concourse and took encies inmy name in the belly of the jet, and my palm pressed to theas New York fell behind me

Goodbye, "New York State of Mind"

Pete Wentz said it best in his song title: "Chicago Is So Two Years Ago"

Two hours and a tiny bag of peanuts later, I was in the 312, greeted by a wind that was fierce and much too cold for an afternoon in early Septeth skirt, part of ainst the chill

I glanced back at the black-and-white cab that had dropped me off in front of the school’s enclave on East Erie The driver pulled away froinacross o around azed up at St Sophia’s School for Girls, wasn’t exactly welco