From the backseat of a taxi, Penny takes a deep breath as TOSU gets closer and closer. She’s anxious. Her Da’s voice repeats in the back of her head, “It’s only natural to feel a bit apprehensive.“ The excitement surprises her, though.
Waiting for her in the taxi bay is Abi. She waves as Penny approaches. Together, they carry Penny’s bags up to her dorm, chatting as they struggle to lift the suitcases up the stairs. At first, they reminisce on Camp Ohiocester, but the conversation soon moves from the past to the future.
They’ll get dinner soon, but for now, they sit on Penny’s floor. Carrying the mini drum kit and keyboard up the stairs was a pain, but she’s grateful they did it now. Abi and Penny laugh as they mess around. The music they make is imperfect, but it’s theirs and that’s enough.
When Da rings her a few days later, after she’s settled into her room, she picks up. She tells him about her studies, about how the friendships she made at the Camp have continued into TOSU, about Abi. And he tells her about the gossip in Chicaberdeen, about how his application for a guide dog has finally been approved, about how proud he is of her.
Penny smiles–she’s exactly where she wants to be.
Written by Katy N