School?

The thought was absolutely, positively deplorable.

Pink eyes rolled as her father clicked his way around the local community college's website. It was bad enough that he was still forcing her to work weekends with his catering company but on top of that she was also working three, almost four days a week with Ms. Ellis on her projects. She pretty much had a real and adult job now, so why was he being SO MEAN to her about this?

She was supposed to go to school on top of all the other hours she was spending working?

Preposterous!!!!

Still, as he was the one paying her cell phone bill...and car note...and putting a roof over her head....she supposed she wasn't really given much choice in the matter. It was a fact she begrudgingly had to admit, that he was still paying for most of her adult world expenses, so she was expected to at least follow through with one or two pesky chores by his demand. Like school.

Ugh!

Another dramatic sigh was tacked on for full effect as her father glanced back and gave her a stern look that said cut it out. Clicking further, he made it through her transcript and then towards the course recommendations that her guidance counselor had suggested. The counselor hadn't been very helpful (granted, Queenie had also chosen not to be very helpful when talking with the woman) and had check marked various this-or-thats down the long, long list of options. With the lack of major (as just saying "A Degree" didn't count), her opportunities were endless.

"I could take Art Appreciation," she offered, catching the words on the screen as he scrolled down. She liked art. She appreciated art. She felt she could appreciate it at a college class level, even.

"You won't make money as an artist, Queenie," came the response, souring the ginger's mood. Of course he'd even be a spoilsport when it came to choosing classes - go figure. "You'll be taking...Ethics, this semester. And World History."

Pleading eyes failed to work on him (yet again) and Queenie was forced to accept her fate. Although she was fairly certain that the job Ms. Ellis had for her was going to send her places, arguing with Mr. Powers was always a lost cause. For a man who spent his life baking food for other people, he sure seemed to be extra bossy when it came time to try to decide what his only child would do for her career out in the world.

Queenie knew she was best suited to being a rich man's wife, but unfortunately there was no degree for rich spouse. Etiquette courses didn't give college credits, nor did scouting potential boyfriends from various yacht or country clubs.

She watched helplessly as he punched in his credit card numbers, sealing the agreement with the school that his only daughter would be attending in the Fall. Yet another waste of time, in her opinion, but what else could she do? It seemed, yet again, that Queenie Powers had little choice when it came to choosing things for herself.

Sigh.