CALI
Sitting here in this classroom at Weir Hall, after the overload of noise and conversation we’ve had all day, is like stepping out of a rock concert into a prayer chapel. After standing for three hours in a line that ran all the way back to the Union, I’m relieved to finally be sitting down. I can’t believe it’s already dark outside.
Now I am trying to rank—well, I’m agonizing over—my bottom three choices. I loved every single sorority. Granted, some knew all about me, and others didn’t, but that’s because of my lack of recommendations to every House. I’m sure of it. And even more sure now—after meeting the members and seeing the kindness they showed me—that I have a real chance. I would be happy with a bid from any one of them.
All fifteen of us in this room seem to be more confused than sure. One girl has her head on her desk. Another has her arms crossed with her pencil on top of the sheet in front of her. Not only are we supposed to circle our top ten choices, and rank our bottom three, but there’s a place to choose how we wish to be contacted should we not get invited back toanyHouses: by phone or in person. I check phone. I’d rather get it over with in a single phone call.
Sitting right in front of me is a girl who seems more baffled than I am. AGamma Chi is kneeling next to her desk with her hand on the girl’s arm. Sarah had told us that Gamma Chis would be here tonight to talk us through our ranking, should we need help choosing. “They won’t try to sway you,” she said. “They’ll offer you an unbiased ear.”
When the Gamma Chi gets up, I raise my hand and she walks over, kneels at my desk. “Hi,” she whispers. “Having trouble?”
“A little,” I whisper back. “I would love your advice on something.”
“Sure.” She shifts knees and smiles.
“Should I rank the sororities I didn’t have recs for as my bottom three? Even if I loved them? Like a ton?”
She tilts her head, takes a minute to ponder, then slowly nods her head yes. “I think that’s wise. Especially if you’re having trouble choosing. Only because all the Houses here require recs. Make sense?”
“It does. Thank you,” I whisper.
“Of course.” She gives me a light hug and moves over to the side of the classroom.
I am dying to talk to Ellie. We haven’t crossed paths one time today, not even at our lunch break in the Union. I can’t wait to hear which Houses she’s circled as her top ten. It would be awesome if our choices were the same. But even if they aren’t I’m still thrilled over the thought of having a big family of sisters I can grow old with. Be in one another’s weddings. Hold one another’s babies. Support one another when life takes a crippling turn. Never having had a sister of my own, this is my chance.
My one negative out of the entire day is the money issue. Like I thought, I will probably need five thousand dollars my first year. Aside from the babysitting jobs I’ve had, I’ve not taken a steady job since school started. So far I’ve been concentrating on my grades. It’s a dilemma. Somehow, though, I will come up with the extra money.
***
The line at Chick-fil-A in the Union was almost out the door, so I decided to go back to the dorm for dinner and grab chicken fingers at the C-store. Totally starving and dying from the smell, I dive into the bag while riding the elevator, and finish every single one by the time I get back to my room.
After fumbling for my room card, I unlock the door, hoping to find Jasmine, but instead our room is dark and empty. One glance at my phone tells me it’s not too late to head next door, so I throw the empty chicken finger bag in the trash and head over. Of course their door is open, so I poke my head inside. Both of them wave when they see me, but Ellie slides right off her bed and pulls me down on the couch next to her. “I looked for you, butforget it.”
“I know. Right?”
“Crazy.”
“I think I saw you leaving the KD House,” Annie Laurie says. Still in her Greek Day clothes, she’s on top of her unmade bed—amidst all of her gorgeous throw pillows—flipping throughCosmomagazine.
“Really? I never saw you.”
“I was leaving Tri Delt; you were talking to your Gamma Chi.”
“Oh my gosh,” Ellie says, twisting her hair up. “I loved, loved the Tri Delts.”
I’m feeling the same way, so I pull my knees up and lean in toward her. “I agree.”
The temperature outside has dropped and the dorm feels a little chilly, so I wrap up in their furry throw. Ellie moves closer. I cover her up, too. “Do you have a preference?” she asks.
“Not really. Do you?”
She tilts her head. “The Phi Mus were great, so were the DGs, and the Chi Os.” She marks each one off with her fingers. “The Alpha Phis. Of course I loved the Alpha Delts—honestly, I loved them all.” She pulls the throw up under her chin.
“Me, too. It took me forever to rank.”
“Same here. What’s it gonna be like after Philanthropy parties? We can only choose five.”
“I can’t think about that right now. But truly, I’m not just saying this… I’d be happy with any sorority.”
