Chapter 1
Despite her name, Patience Jeffers was
anything but that. As her parents drove their car slowly down Huron Road, she
sat in the back seat. Her 16 year old brother who had just recently received his
license followed behind in Patience's Ford Explorer.
"Are we there yet?" Patience asked, turning back around in
her seat to face her parents.
"Almost honey." Her mother said, turning to face their eldest
daughter.
"Are you that anxious to get rid of us?" Her father said,
keeping his eyes on the road.
"Not so much ready to get rid of you as I am ready to get out
of this car." Patience said.
Patience loved her family. But, driving all the way from
their home in Marquette, Michigan to Ann Arbor had been a mistake. And, Patience
was immensely glad that her younger siblings hadn't been drug along.
They had left their home, traveling through Wisconsin,
Illinois, and Indiana before they could enter Michigan again. There had been too
many times that Patience swore she was going to get out at their next restroom
break and hitchhike the rest of the way to Ann Arbor.
But now, as they were inching closer to campus, Patience was
anxious to get out. She was ready to meet her roommate, explore campus, and find
out what was happening over the weekend before classes started.
She started twirling some of her brown locks, repeating to
herself that she was almost there. She was almost free. She was almost at her
new sanctuary, her new home.
"I wonder if you'll have any classes with that Olympic
swimmer." Patience's mom spoke up, causing Patience to groan.
Ever since people had found out she was going to the same
college as Michael Phelps, Patience had been one of the most popular girls ever.
Everyone was stopping by to see her at work. Everyone wanted something- an
autograph, a date, a phone call, Patience even had received request for pairs of
his underwear and locks of his hair. To each and every request, she just told
them that it was a big campus and try her best. But, she really didn't plan to
try at all.
"Patience Andrea Marie! He is an amazing man, and he's your
age." Patience's mom spoke up to the groan.
"Yeah, he is my age, which makes it all the more reason to
know fawn over him like he's Jesus' second coming." Patience spoke up.
"No one does." Patience's father said, edging into the
discussion.
"Then why did I spend the last year after being accepted in
here being chased down by pretty much every girl or young boy in town, who then
proceeded to list everything they would love for me to bring back over Christmas
break from Michael?" Patience asked.
"Because he's a hero to some." Patience's mom said.
"He probably isn't starting here until winter anyways. He's
full of so many commitments he has to do." Patience said, sitting back in her
seat. She had always had this debate with anyone she met. Everyone always had
something to say about Michael, and how wonderful he is. Patience never believed
the hype.
Her father slowly pulled into a parking space, causing
Patience to get ready to get out. When the car had stopped, Patience had her
seatbelt undone and was almost out the door. The moment her father placed the
family Cadillac into park, Patience was out and pulling a backpack behind her.
She grabbed the pillow she had been using and made sure she had all of her stuff
out of the backseat.
"I think she'd just a little too anxious to get away from
us." Alexander, her younger brother said.
"I just know you guys will want to get back on the road soon
so you can get home." Patience said.
"Well, let's start taking stuff up to your room then." Her
father said.
"Actually, I was kinda hoping that I'd be able to do that by
myself." Patience said.
"Well, then I guess this is good-bye till Christmas."
Patience's mother said, as Patience nodded.
She stayed there for the traditional 'sending your child off
to college' pictures and then waved bye as her family slowly pulled away.
Once they were out of view, Patience took a deep breath. She
was ready to go. If only she could remember where she had stuck her room key.