"He knows how much you care about these children. He moved into the school on his own, fighting to do every dirty, exhausting job. And the way he treats us—we couldn't ask for better."
"Such a good man. Betraying him once was enough. If we do it again, I'm afraid there'll be no coming back from it."
The elder Pruitts spoke with genuine concern, but Norma had made up her mind.
"Mom, Dad, please stop."
"Back then, I was the one who helped Louise and Percival scheme to take Duane's admission letter. That was wrong of me. Destroying his letters two years in a row was also wrong."
"But Percival isn't like Duane. He donated a kidney to me. Without an education, what future does he have?"
"Besides, I'm a school principal. Marrying me means he'll never want for anything. I'm giving him the rest of my life to make up for it. Isn't that enough?"
"This admission letter can't be kept. Percival's future is more important than anything."
With that, Norma prepared to burn my admission letter to ashes in front of everyone.
I stood outside the door, holding the chicken soup I'd made to help Norma regain her strength. I watched the letter I'd dreamed of for so long, trembling uncontrollably.
Three years ago, when the college entrance exams were reinstated, I took the test alongside my younger brother Percival and my fiancée Louise Pruitt.
The day the results were posted, Percival had failed.
Before I could even think of how to comfort him, I was told my admission letter had already been collected by someone else.
At the same time, Louise and Percival had vanished.
Someone saw them boarding a train to the provincial capital together.
The provincial capital—exactly where the university I'd applied to was located.
I couldn't believe it. I immediately told the Pruitts, hoping they could help me contact Louise.
Their response was shameless.
"Duane, let me be honest with you. Louise is in love with your brother Percival. Taking your admission letter and letting Percival take your place—that was her idea."
"Percival isn't like you. He donated a kidney to Norma. Just let him have this one. You can try again next year."
That was the result of my hard work. How could I just hand it over?
And on top of everything, Percival had stolen my fiancée!
I tried to argue, but the Pruitts tied me up and threw me into the woodshed.
Afraid I'd ruin things for the happy couple, they cut off my food.