THE COLLEGE DECISION
The house is quiet.
Larry sits at the dining table, looking through some paperwork. His expression is serious and tired.
The front door opens.
Isaiah walks inside.
He hesitates for a moment before approaching Larry.
ISAIAH
“Dad, can I talk to you?”
Larry looks up.
LARRY
“Sure. What’s going on?”
Isaiah pulls out a chair and sits across from him.
He takes a breath.
ISAIAH
“It’s about Brooke.”
Larry immediately becomes more attentive.
LARRY
“What about her?”
ISAIAH
“She’s thinking about college.”
Larry nods slowly.
ISAIAH
“I want you to help me convince her to go.”
Larry studies his son’s face.
LARRY
“Why do you think she needs convincing?”
Isaiah looks down for a moment.
ISAIAH
“Because she’s worried about everything changing.”
Larry leans back.
LARRY
“And what do you want me to do?”
Isaiah looks directly at him.
ISAIAH
“Talk to Mom.”
Larry’s expression changes.
LARRY
“Talk to your mom about what?”
Isaiah takes another breath.
ISAIAH
“I want her to let me apply to the same college.”
Larry stays silent.
Isaiah continues.
ISAIAH
“If Brooke goes there, I want to go too.”
Larry slowly shakes his head.
LARRY
“Isaiah…”
ISAIAH
“Please hear me out.”
Larry gestures for him to continue.
ISAIAH
“I’m not trying to make things harder for Brooke. I just think being at the same college could make things easier for both of us.”
Larry watches him carefully.
ISAIAH
“I could help her. She wouldn’t feel like she was completely alone.”
Larry folds his arms.
LARRY
“That sounds good in theory.”
Isaiah looks hopeful.
ISAIAH
“So you’ll talk to Mom?”
Larry doesn’t answer immediately.
Isaiah leans forward.
ISAIAH
“There’s one more thing.”
Larry raises an eyebrow.
LARRY
“What?”
ISAIAH
“If Brooke goes to that college, can she ride with me?”
Larry’s expression immediately becomes firm.
Isaiah notices.
ISAIAH
“What?”
LARRY
“No.”
Isaiah looks confused.
ISAIAH
“Why not?”
LARRY
“Because that’s not happening.”
Isaiah shakes his head.
ISAIAH
“Dad, I’m just asking for a ride.”
Larry stands from the table.
His voice remains calm, but there is no room for negotiation.
LARRY
“You’re asking for more than a ride.”
Isaiah stands too.
ISAIAH
“How?”
Larry looks directly at him.
LARRY
“You want to attend the same college, and you want Brooke depending on you for transportation.”
Isaiah pauses.
ISAIAH
“That doesn’t mean anything bad.”
LARRY
“It could.”
Isaiah becomes frustrated.
ISAIAH
“You don’t trust me.”
Larry sighs.
LARRY
“This isn’t about trust.”
Isaiah looks away.
LARRY
“It’s about making sure Brooke gets the space she needs.”
Isaiah walks a few steps across the room.
He turns back.
ISAIAH
“But she needs someone.”
LARRY
“She needs to make her own decisions.”
ISAIAH
“And what if she decides not to go because she’s scared?”
Larry’s expression softens slightly.
LARRY
“Then we help her work through that fear.”
Isaiah shakes his head.
ISAIAH
“You don’t understand.”
LARRY
“Then explain it.”
Isaiah takes a breath.
ISAIAH
“Brooke has been thinking about college for a long time. If she finally gets the chance, I don’t want anything to stop her.”
Larry nods.
LARRY
“I agree.”
Isaiah looks surprised.
LARRY
“But you going to the same college doesn’t automatically solve her problems.”
Isaiah looks down.
ISAIAH
“I just want to be there for her.”
Larry walks closer.
LARRY
“And you can be there for her without controlling where she goes or who she depends on.”
Isaiah looks frustrated.
ISAIAH
“I’m not trying to control her.”
LARRY
“Then give her the freedom to choose.”
The room becomes quiet.
Isaiah sits down again.
His voice is quieter now.
ISAIAH
“What if Mom says no to my college application?”
Larry sits across from him.
LARRY
“Then you talk to her.”
ISAIAH
“She won’t listen.”
LARRY
“You don’t know that until you ask.”
Isaiah looks at his father.
ISAIAH
“I thought you would help me.”
Larry nods.
LARRY
“I will help you.”
Isaiah looks relieved.
LARRY
“But helping you doesn’t mean saying yes to everything.”
Isaiah sighs.
ISAIAH
“So what exactly are you going to tell Mom?”
Larry thinks for a moment.
LARRY
“I’ll tell her that you want to apply.”
Isaiah smiles slightly.
LARRY
“But I’ll also tell her that Brooke’s decision belongs to Brooke.”
Isaiah nods slowly.
ISAIAH
“Okay.”
Then he remembers the other request.
ISAIAH
“And the car?”
Larry immediately shakes his head.
LARRY
“No.”
Isaiah lets out a frustrated breath.
ISAIAH
“Dad…”
LARRY
“Absolutely not.”
Isaiah looks toward the floor.
Larry’s voice becomes more serious.
LARRY
“Isaiah, listen carefully.”
Isaiah looks up.
LARRY
“If you go to that college, you go because you want an education.”
Isaiah nods.
LARRY
“Not because Brooke is going there.”
Isaiah remains silent.
LARRY
“And Brooke should never feel like she has to go somewhere because you’re going.”
Isaiah slowly nods.
LARRY
“If she chooses that college, that’s her decision.”
A pause.
LARRY
“If she chooses another one, you respect that too.”
Isaiah looks thoughtful.
ISAIAH
“I understand.”
Larry sits back.
LARRY
“Good.”
Isaiah stands.
Before leaving, he turns around.
ISAIAH
“Dad?”
LARRY
“Yes?”
ISAIAH
“Will you really talk to Mom?”
Larry nods.
LARRY
“I will.”
Isaiah gives a small smile.
ISAIAH
“Thanks.”
He starts walking away.
Larry watches him.
LARRY
“And Isaiah?”
Isaiah turns.
ISAIAH
“Yeah?”
LARRY
“Whatever happens, don’t make Brooke feel responsible for your choices.”
Isaiah nods.
ISAIAH
“I won’t.”
He leaves the room.
Larry remains seated.
He looks toward the paperwork on the table.
His expression is thoughtful.
Later that evening, Larry stands near the window.
He looks outside.
His phone rings.
He checks the screen.
It’s Isaiah.
Larry answers.
LARRY
“Everything okay?”
ISAIAH
“Yeah.”
A pause.
ISAIAH
“I just wanted to say… I’m going to talk to Brooke myself.”
Larry smiles faintly.
LARRY
“That’s a good idea.”
ISAIAH
“I want her to know that college should be her choice.”
Larry nods.
