“I’ll be right back”. She growled and walked straight out the door, slamming it behind her.
Half an hour later, the slamming of the door told him Jenny had returned. She walked into the room, calmer, but still obviously agitated.
“You won’t have any more trouble from those shitheads”. She said with a scowl.
“Listen to me good now, Jacob John Sanchez. Your friends are all losers. Do them a favor and stay away from them, because if you don’t,” She paused slightly, eyes blazing with anger, and lowered her voice to a menacing growl. “I’m going to have someone rip their balls off and feed them to the hogs.”
He did not doubt his sister one bit.
~~~
“Yes, I heard. Apparently, her security detail stepped in and pulled her out. Probably to protect them from her!” Judy said with a little giggle. She paused and leaned a little closer.
“Jenny isn’t wrong, Jake.” Judy said softly. “She’s been taking care of you all your life. She changed your diapers for god’s sake! Yes, she may have acted too forcefully, but she did it because she felt it was best for you. If your friends don’t respect your family, they don’t respect you either.”
She looked deeply into her son’s eyes. “You can be so much more Jake. You have a brain in your head and unlimited resources to develop it. You know we’re a wealthy family! Jenny’s already talked to Aunt Laura. As far as the family is concerned, the cost is not a factor.”
She paused and patted him gently on the leg. “Jenny and I just want you to make the right decision.”
“I know mom, but I’ve been thinking, maybe college isn’t for me, at least not that one.” he said, remembering his campus tour and the smug attitudes of nearly everyone he met. “The people all seemed so fake”.
“I understand, Jake. They’re definitely a little pretentious. But a college degree will serve you very well! Remember whatAbuela always said? Once you have an education, no one can take it away from you.”
Jake repeated the last few words along with her.
Yes, he’d heard his grandmother say those very words a hundred times. But Grandma Sanchez’ family didn’t have any money.
Jake knew his family was wealthy, and felt he had little incentive to bust his ass in college, especially that snooty one on the other side of the freeway.
“Jacob, if you just can’t go to college, I understand. But look at this from Jenny’s perspective. You know she still struggles with her dyslexia. College was always a dream, but never an option for her, even though everyone knows she was more than a good enough gymnast to get a scholarship. Think how much it would mean to her, Jake! Couldn’t you at least try a couple of semesters? For Jenny?”
Jake thought for a moment about his big sister. He was seven years old when his mom had told him they’d be moving back to Dallas. Jake had cried at the news, right up till the moment he heard he would be reunited with Jenny.
He knew his grades were more than good enough for college. He just didn’t want do it. At least not for himself.
He leaned back and took a deep breath. “You know I could never let Jenny down, Mom.”