It was a very sad and withdrawn girl who was dragged into the principal’s office the next day. This time he did look me in the eyes.
“What did your grandfather say?”
I sat very straight in my chair.
“He said to tell you he won’t pay the fifteen dollars.”
The principal muttered something I couldn’t understand under his breath and walked over to the window. He stood looking out at something outside. He looked bigger than usual when he stood up; he was a tall, gaunt man with grey hair, and I watched the back of his head while I waited for him to speak.
“Why?” he finally asked. “Your grandfather has the money. He owns a two-hundred acre ranch.”
I looked at him, forcing my eyes to stay dry. “I know, sir, but he said if I had to pay for it, then it wouldn’t be a scholarship jacket.” I stood up to leave. “I guess you’ll just have to give it to Joann.” I hadn’t meant to say that, it had just slipped out. I was almost to the door when he stopped me.
“Martha — wait.”
I turned and looked at him, waiting. What did he want now? I could feel my heart pounding loudly in my chest and see my blouse fluttering where my breasts should have been. Something bitter and vile tasting was coming up in my mouth; I was afraid I was going to be sick. I didn’t need any sympathy speeches. He sighed loudly and went back to his big desk. He watched me, biting his lip.
“…i’ve decided.. That you aren’t getting the…Jacket..”
The principal said with a hesitant voice. I felt tears running down both my cheeks, as I heard those words, I definitely felt extremely sick…. A little moment later, I started to speak with a stuttering voice.
“I—I understand sir..” As I said, turning around mid-sentence , wiping the tears he could’ve noticed. There was this weird moment of awkward silence with huge tension.
“..The board has been thinking that Joann should get the jacket instead..” The principal spoke , breaking the silence that occurred in the room moments before.
“Since.. Her father owns the only store in town..” The principal continued while clasping his palms together. I tried not to look at him with the redness, puffiness that occurred around and inside my eyes, but it was useless. “It’s alright sir …” I said with a look of despair written on my face, there was no hope to change his mind now..
The principal started to avoid my gaze as he felt.. Ashamed?
“..perhaps that is all I needed to confirm..You may leave”.. After those last words, I left as quickly as I could before bursting into tears. There was no one in the hallway so it was the right moment to shed my tears I’ve been holding in for a long time. I walked away from the room and went straight home to where my grandparents were.
As I took my step on the front porch I rushed past my grandmother and straight to my room. I didn’t come out for hours, until my grandmother started knocking on the door speaking in Spanish. I ignored the pleas to get up and get out, I started to think about the mistakes that would’ve happened to not get the scholarship jacket.
After months, Joann was able to earn the jacket by paying the 15 dollars. While Marta was stuck with great grades and able to live her normal life without the scholarship jacket which was still wounded to her heart.
Original:
It was a very sad and withdrawn girl who was dragged into the principal’s office the next day. This time he did look me in the eyes.
“What did your grandfather say?”
I sat very straight in my chair.
“He said to tell you he won’t pay the fifteen dollars.”
The principal muttered something I couldn’t understand under his breath and walked over to the window. He stood looking out at something outside. He looked bigger than usual when he stood up; he was a tall, gaunt man with grey hair, and I watched the back of his head while I waited for him to speak.
“Why?” he finally asked. “Your grandfather has the money. He owns a two-hundred acre ranch.”
I looked at him, forcing my eyes to stay dry. “I know, sir, but he said if I had to pay for it, then it wouldn’t be a scholarship jacket.” I stood up to leave. “I guess you’ll just have to give it to Joann.” I hadn’t meant to say that, it had just slipped out. I was almost to the door when he stopped me.
“Martha — wait.”
I turned and looked at him, waiting. What did he want now? I could feel my heart pounding loudly in my chest and see my blouse fluttering where my breasts should have been. Something bitter and vile tasting was coming up in my mouth; I was afraid I was going to be sick. I didn’t need any sympathy speeches. He sighed loudly and went back to his big desk. He watched me, biting his lip.
“Okay. We’ll make an exception in your case. I’ll tell the Board, you’ll get your jacket.”
I could hardly believe my ears. I spoke in a trembling rush. “Oh, thank you, sir!” Suddenly I felt great. I didn’t know about adrenaline in those days, but I knew something was pumping through me, making me feel as tall as the sky. I wanted to yell, jump, run the mile, do something. I ran out so I could cry in the hall where there was no one to see me.
Description:
This is my rewritten version of the scholarship jacket. I took a scene from the story and wrote my own different version. A version were Martha doesn’t get the jacket :b… I think this story was very interesting by learning new things, i wrote my version completely different from the actual story. A different story that is still related to the original story. :3!
