Growing up we would be what you considered poor. We struggled week to week counting pennies for groceries. Nor for lack of hard work but there was just no well paying jobs for what my parents were trained for. It wasn't a bad childhood just not with the means to do what we always wanted.
Because of this University was something that I never expected to be able to do. The cost was too significant to even consider asking my parents for help.
Thankfully I had a talent for football and my natural size made me sought after by a few schools looking for players. I was lucky enough to score a full scholarship to a lower tier University. The only problem was the scholarship covered tuition and books only. Lodging and food were on my own dime.
I had some money saved but nothing near what I would need to last me. My only option was an aunt that lived in the same town as the school.
I barely knew of her let alone having ever met her. She was considered the family black sheep. All I knew of her is that she was never married and what my parents called " A little off".
I had to bite the bullet and reach out to her. My parents would never allow it so I contacted her behind their back. I can admit to being a bit scared making the call, my entire future depended on what was considered the family nut. With each ring on the line my heart skipped a beat. What do you say to someone you never met?
She answered on the third ring and my throat went dry. With a cracked voice I introduced myself and chit chatted a bit. She was very curious to how the family was doing and outright asked if they still thought she was off her perch as she put it. She made the conversation very easy. I had to get to the point and explain my needs. She immediately agreed to take me in but suggested I come up with a story to tell my parents as they would never support this.
I managed to come up with a fantastic story of a team member allowing me to stay with him free as long as I helped in his family restaurant. My parents bought it hook, line and sinker. Finally after what seems like the longest summer ever I packed up and headed off to school for training camp. I had never been more excited or nervous in my life the entire bus trip across the country.
My aunt met me at the bus. In the excitement I didn't even think to ask what she would look like. The only pictures I had seen of her were from when she was a teenager and I am sure she wasn't going to be wearing plaid bell bottoms and a crop top. I got off the bus looking lost when I felt a tap on my shoulder with a soft voice I recognized as my aunt "Scott" she said. I swung around coming face to face with possibly the most vivid blue eyes I have ever seen. Again my throat dried as I was hypnotized. "Scott!" she said a bit louder which shook me out of my state. It was only then I noticed she was wearing her hair in a messy bun, pyjama pants, slippers and a bath robe. The thoughts of black sheep flowed through my head and I began to worry.
We talked quite a bit on the hour long ride back to her place. She was surprisingly easy to talk to. I discovered she was an unexpected child, the youngest of five and 12 years younger than her closest sibling. She told a vastly different story from what I had always heard and I started to feel sorry for her.