A welcome phone call

Friday 22 January 2010


My mobile rang in the car on the way home. 'Janine?' came a long-familiar voice.

I gasped. 'Shirley?'

It was my friend from HOH ringing from England. 'Hi hun!' she giggled.

'My God! You are phoning me! What on earth--?'

'I couldn't wait till FaceBook, love!' she squealed. 'Did you get your letter?'

'My--' Then I gasped.

'It's not what you think,' she said. 'But as soon as I got mine I rang them this afternoon to ask after you.'

'Me!' I was still in shock that she was ringing me from Norwich.

'They're not emailing it,' she said. 'They've posted them all. Yours will be a few days then. I hope I shan't spoil it by telling you--'

'Tell me!' By now Jessy was staring at me in the car.

'Well, love.... It's Pemb.'

I held my breath. Pembroke College. 'Honestly,' I said quietly, to be sure.

'Yes, love. I even checked-- we're in Foundress Court. The icky building, but it's where they put first-years, you know.'

I was shivering. 'I can't believe it....'

Shirley giggled. 'Was I wrong to ring you then?'

'No! Oh, no... love. I love it. I just....'

'I'm sorry it's not St John's,' she said, 'but it was our backup and they seem very eager. I did speak with the director a little about you....'

'Oh, Lord. What did he say?'

She giggled. 'Oh, plenty. And that we must do a duet at the piano, for the Michaelmas bop. He says it'll be expected of you. I'm afraid your father's reputation does precede you.' And she giggled again.

'So....' I drew a breath. 'We're really in.'

'Yes, love. We're really in.'

I shivered all over, right there in the car. I mean I felt like I was about to wet myself. 'We're in,' I whispered, and Jessy's eyes went wide. 'We're in.'

'I suggested they ring you, since you'll be getting your notice last of all,' Shirley said. 'Unless they've already rung your family today. It's eight here now; I reckon they're closed now.'

'Yes, of course,' I said. 'Well, look, love,' I said then, 'let me text you on FaceBook as soon as I get home. We're in the car.'

'The big green car?'

'Um... yes.'

'You must promise me a ride in that car, for when I come,' she said.

'That you may be assured of,' I smiled. 'And anything else you want. You are... a dear, sweet girl.' And I blotted my eye.

'I adore you, Janine. Oo, I can't wait till this spring!'

She is coming to visit over her spring break. We've already planned it. 'I can't either. Give your sister a hug for me.'

'And Jessy for me,' she said.

I reached over and caught Jessy's hand in the car. 'Absolutely.'

Of course there was an expected reaction at home, involving lots of squealing and cheering-- Daddy had got the call and already knew. 'Now comes the fun part,' he said-- meaning the sending of cheques for housing, postadmissions testing, books, tuition, and of course air fare-- but we will probably all go over in late August just to see me settled there. This is a dream come true for me and I cannot sit still even now.

The princess of Terncote is accepted at Cambridge. Eeek!

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