Scholarship, Not Charity

Chapter 2

Freya

After being on a flight for three hours I’m so ready to eat and sleep, but the men inform me we have another forty-five-minute drive to the estate. The two men are about five feet away from me. One is talking on the phone, looking straight at me. He and I make eye contact and he ends the call with whoever he is speaking with. They say nothing, just waving their hands and motioning for me to follow them. We walk through this private hallway until we reach a set of double glass doors. We walk through and we are met with another set of men but this time they seem more friendly. They're both wearing black suits but their hair isn’t cut as short as the other two. This time the car is a white four-door sedan with black seats and tinted windows as well. One of the gentlemen opens the back door telling me to get in the four men have a brief conversation about whatever because I couldn’t hear anything they were saying then we are off to meet my new “family”

“Do you know anything about the family that will be adopting me- I say out loud”

Sorry to inform you but we are not allowed to disclose that information Ms Myers because you are one of the winners of this year's scholarship program we can not say anything because there are other families and students involved. The closer we get to the estate my stomach feels like it’s going to fall out of my chest the man in the driver's seat is looking at me through the rearview mirror he says you are fortunate not many people of color are accepted into the program not knowing what to say I just chuckled and pushed it aside

“Must have used up the rest of my luck for my whole life I say out loud”

The other man gives a slight cough to break the silence saying I saw that you would open up a bookstore with the money that you will receive

How the hell did he know that I assumed all submission letters were kept confidential? The gentleman in the driver seat slightly taps the man sitting on the passenger side kinda giving him a you spoke too much but maybe I’m just imagining things.

There’s a brief moment of silence throughout the car brushing it off I say

“It’s not the point of enjoying them, it's my safe space through books. I was able to live and escape my reality. Because nothing good ever happens where I’m from only if you're willing to sell your soul for it”.

Nothing else was said during the car ride so I pulled out my Kindle and tried to finish the book I was reading. When I looked up we were in a secluded area with nothing but tall trees. It seemed like there wasn’t anyone around for miles we reached a long concrete driveway once we made it to the top there was a black gate the man in the driver’s seat put in a pin to open the gate then we drove through

Finally, we reach the entrance to the estate. Two older white women stand waiting at the door, dressed in matching black-and-white maid uniforms. Their posture is perfect

“Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Freya Myers.” I say with a small smile and wave

The two women bow, greeting me back like they are trained to be a mirror of one another’s actions. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Myers. I’m sorry to inform you that the family is out running errands and won’t be returning until later tonight.

If you follow me I can show you to your bedroom room Miss Myers’s. The house is… stunning. Almost unreal. As we walk through the main hall, sunlight pours in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long, golden beams shadows across the cedar wood floors — a soft gray with hints of silver.

The walls are painted a pure, almost glowing white. In the sitting area, there’s a low-profile tan sectional resting on a rich, multi-shaded brown rug. A glass coffee table sits at the center, holding a perfectly arranged bouquet of fresh flowers.

It’s quiet — too quiet. No music. No echoes of laughter. Just the soft click of shoes against polished wood.

The entire estate sits on a huge lake with no neighbors for miles around.

“I never got your name,” I said “You can call me Edith, I've been working here on the property for over thirty years now,” Edith said

“Omg, that’s a long time. I bet you’ve seen a lot of amazing things while working here…” I start to say, but she cuts me off before I can finish.

Edith stops so abruptly that I nearly walk right into her. I bump her back lightly, and she turns her head just enough for me to see her eyes.

They’re kind — but there’s something else there too. A warning. She looks at me for a long second. Doesn’t say a word, but somehow I feel like something was said — just not out loud.

Then, she lifts her hand and points to the door at the end of the hallway.

“Ms. Freya, that’s your room right there,” she says softly.

And just like that, she bows and walks away, her footsteps quiet against the floor, leaving me frozen and uneasy.

I stare after her for a moment, a chill running down my spine.

“What the hell did I get involved in?”.

…..

Turning the doorknob to enter the room, My eyes adjust to the warm light that pours in from the four large windows that overlook the property. This room is huge, or should I say my room has a large king-size bed with the fluffiest tan comforter set, with about a million decorative pillows. The curtains are a silky grey that slightly hits the floor like they tried to add feminine touches but it feels like no one has ever used this room before. Their world is completely different from mine. Where I come from a place where most people wouldn’t survive. Wealth like this will cause you to go against your morals. Now it's making me think about what they want with a poor girl like me from Massachusetts.

The large bed has the most beautiful mahogany oak wood bed frame with a tall headboard. I have never had a headboard before, let alone a bed this massive. On each side of the bed was a nightstand that matched one another and large lamps that sat on top. The walls are freshly painted creamy seashell white. I take my shoes off before I walk over to the bed. As I near the bed, my toes are met with the softest rug I’ve ever felt. The rug peaks out from under the bed on all sides. Then I notice a French door to the right of my nightstand as I walk over to it. Opening it I’m met with the largest bathroom that I could ever imagine. The bathroom has a beautiful marble stone countertop and copper light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. The tub and shower are separate; it seems like they kept the same neutral touches in the bathroom as well. I am so used to sharing a bathroom with ten other kids that, never would have thought one day I would have my own.

I look into the mirror, and can't help but to feel out of place here. Walking into this beautiful home wearing my natural curly hair and beat Converse black leggings, an oversized zip-up sweater that’s falling off my shoulder because it's about two sizes too big for me who am I kidding I’m a chubby girl with brown skin and black hair when my adopted family is white who are we trying fool here they only reason they adopted me is so I could be there this year charity work to add diversity the closes they have probably ever been to a black person is when they were working under them

“ like yes master’’ I say out loud”.

Can I meet their expectations? Do I have the privilege of being happy about someone that thinks I’m worth something?

Would leaving be the best decision for everyone involved once they realize I’m nothing special or I’m not worth the investment they will just discard me like everyone else.

Knock, Knock Ms Myers’s may I come in

“Yes I say out loud”

Lilith opens my bedroom door, Freya. I came to notify you that dinner is ready and also Mr. Calvin and Mrs. Catherine. Will be joining you shortly you can come down in about twenty minutes or so Lilith walks out of my room leaving me to my thoughts and that’s not good for anyone