Written with two others as an exercise in my English class. Based on a photo I have long since lost.

Everything starts with a letter

After a long wait, the letter came in the mail - an ordinary day like any other. The corn swayed in the wind, rustling as I ran down the lane to tell ma and pa the news. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, excitement coursing through every fibre of my being. I thought this would finally make my father proud of me, but in fact, it did the opposite.

"We can barely afford to feed ourselves, how do you think we can send you to school?" he exclaimed, when I told him the good news.

"But pa, I've been saving for a while."

"I'm sick! You know I'm sick. How could you leave me to do all the work on my own? How are we supposed to get by without you?" He trembled, and a wracking cough shook his body.

"I don't want to be stuck here forever, dad! With an education, I can provide for you and mom. I can afford the proper medication for you!"

"Education ain't done no one no good."

"I don't care, I'm leaving! You can't keep me here!"

It took until the last day I was home.

I was sitting on the back of pa's old pickup truck, waiting for the cab to come and take me to town. The seat dipped, and I looked up to see pa, tears in his eyes.

"I've always loved you," he told me solemnly. "Make me proud, boy."