The Lopsided Miracle

 “Well the thing is, I was really sick of everything that day. I mean, I just wanted to get away … and that’s when it hit me … I did have to get away! See, I found a brochure lying on the ground near the school where someone had dropped it, and once I started looking at it, I got excited because I had found the answer to all my problems!” she rushed to say.

Clem raised an eyebrow. “Wow. I bet it’s really great, then?”

Scarlett paid no attention to the large hint of sarcasm in this comment. “Oh, it is! Anyway, I went to the principal, and she talked to my parents, and I talked to my parents, and my parents signed the forms and now …” She took a deep breath. “I’m part of a foreign exchange program.”

There was a big silence in the room for about six seconds. Then Clem spoke.

“What?” she asked.

“Yeah!” Scarlett smiled. “Isn’t it great? I’m part of a foreign exchange program where I get to travel to a different country and everything! It’s going to be great! I’m going to just take a break from everything; I can get away without my parents! I mean what better solution is there?” she asked.

Today, all I want to think about is sun, fun, and the fact that I have no homework.” Then she walked into her bathroom to find the hair dryer to blow her nails dry.

Ben looked after his sister and then smiled. She had a point. What was the big deal? She had practically said that maybe it would be fun to have an exchange student here. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?