Rose and Emilie paced about outside waiting for any news on Dana. They were even expecting an ambulance bringing in her corpse. She was more than capable of committing suicide. She used it to threaten them in the past to get a bicycle. It didn't work though. Rose was sure something had happened to Dana. She pulled Emilie who had her fingers in her mouth to her and ordered her to call her husband, their Father.

“Mom, he’s in another state right now. How can he possibly do anything about this situation?” Emilie asked

“Call your Father! Rose screamed, Dana only listens to him, if he calls her she might come back home. That's if she isn't already dead” Rose added

“No need for that. And I'm not dead” Dana said walking in

“And where the hell were you?” Rose asked

“I think that would be called none of your business” Dana replied walking into their room. It took Emilie all the strength in the world to hold Rose back from pouncing on Dana. She followed her into the room after successfully convincing Rose that she could talk sense into the rebellious baby of the house.

“Are you outta your mind?” Emilie asked

“I should be asking you that” Dana said

“Huh?” Emilie asked 

“You going through my stuff and taking that file without my permission, Dana said, you’re the one who’s outta your mind” she added

Later that night Emilie walked out from the bathroom into the room where Dana laid on the bed face up. Dana rolled her eyes at her and focused her gaze on the ceiling.

“Dana, do you really want to become a Military Officer?” Emilie asked

“You’re asking like you do not know the answer to that question” Dana replied

“I’m sorry for showing Mom the file, Emilie said, I just thought we were doing wrong by not informing her” she added

“Yeah right….. You’re the good daughter” Dana said

“I said I’m sorry already” Emilie pressed

“And did I tell you I have problems with my hearing?” Dana asked

“Fine, take the exam, I won’t tell anyone about it” Emilie said

“Phony. Even a day old baby would see through your lies” Dana said

“Alright, this time I mean every word I’m saying, take the exam and I’d support you in any way I can” Emilie said

 Dana literally jumped from the bed. She couldn't believe her ears. It could be another trick again.

“Are you for real?” she asked

“Nah, I’m for fake” Emilie said sardonically. She really meant it. Now, aren't big sisters the best thing in the world?

“Okay, thanks” Dana said

“Sure thing. So we’re back to normal right?” Emilie asked

“Yep, back to normal” Dana said smiling as Emilie lay beside her

It rained cat and dogs the previous night, causing every living thing to wish the day won't break so they'd still lie in bed even though they had somewhere they needed to be. That didn't apply to Dana as she had to take her exams that day. She was happy it rained the previous night because her Father had this superstition that whenever it rained before you go for an interview or an exam or something it meant something good was going to happen. Something good indeed happened. Emilie gave her permission to write the exam. Not that she needed it anyway.

“Hey, I’m taking the exam today” Dana whispered to Emilie at the breakfast table

“Shhhhhh, Mom will hear you” Emilie whispered back

“Whatever, I’m just so happy” Dana said as she drank her tea hurriedly. Rose had never seen her all excited before and was wondering what the sudden bright look she had on her face was about. The only time she was ever happy like that was when Samuel in her junior year who always got first place came in third and she second. She danced and danced for hours that day. Dana picked up her bag and ran out of the house surprising her even more.

“What’s with that child today?” Rose asked Emilie

“She was here just now so why didn’t you ask her yourself?” Emilie asked

“What did you just say?” Rose asked surprised

“I’m leaving” Emilie announced as she picked up her bag and walked away. She wasn't going to be pushed into saying 'she's taking the entrance exam today'.

Dana got to the school and went straight to her classroom. Chelsea and Martine had kept to the time but Cathy was nowhere to be seen. They waited for several hours hoping she would show up but to no avail. The morning assembly was soon to begin and they wouldn't be let out of the school again after that time.

“We can leave now right? I don't think Cathy is coming” Dana said

“Wow….. You’re so serious about taking this exam” Martine said 

“And you’re so not serious about taking this exam” Dana threw back angrily. They kept going on and on without noticing the boy behind the class room.

“What exam?” Benjamin asked. They nearly jumped out of their skins as his raucous voice rang out. Dana wasn't ready for any jump scares because she feared it’d make everything she read the previous night disappear from her brain.

“Mind your fucking business” she said. Chelsea checked her wrist watch and concluded that Cathy wasn't coming.

“Let’s go now” Chelsea said

“Hey, if you leave school now I’ll report to the Teachers” Benjamin said. He was the punctuality prefect and was always trying to get everyone to come to school early and not leave till it was closing time. When he was in his junior year he raised a bill to the school board for students to come to school as early as 6.30am in the morning. That was just preposterous so the bill was rejected. It didn't mean it was rejected in his mind because he planned to present it again to whatever inopportune University he attended in the future.

“If you dare say a word you’re dead” Dana threatened. They walked out of the class together, believing in the power of their leader's threats and if there was one thing Benjamin was afraid of, it was Dana's threats. She always kept them. He was suddenly reminded of when she told Lucas she was going to throw his bag into a toilet full of shit in the boy's bathroom and shocked everyone when she really committed the act of terror and ended up getting suspended for two weeks. Steven walked into the class jolting him out of his thoughts.

“Why were they leaving?” He asked. She was going to kill him if he said anything and he wasn't ready to die yet.

“Why ask me? You saw them right? You could have asked them yourself” Benjamin said. He had totally avoided spilling

“There are going to see their boyfriends’ right?” Steven pushed. Benjamin was now mad. He was going to force him to say what would kill him. 

“Why didn't you ask them yourself? Stop asking me questions already” he said and walked out of the class

Dana and her clique completed the exam successfully but were faced with another challenge. The school gate was closed and they stood outside the walls thinking of how to get in. If the Police patrolling caught them outside school they would have to call their parents. It was okay for every other person since they had permission except Dana. Her Mom would murder her.

“How are we gonna sneak back in?” she asked worriedly

“The exam was shorter than we expected, I mean second period is just over and we are back” Martine said checking her wrist-watch

“The Teachers would definitely catch us if we go back to the class but how do we get in?” Dana said biting her nails

“Should we jump over it?” Chelsea suggested

“Jump over what?” Martine asked

“Duh? The fence of course” Dana said

“Great idea, but we have no idea if the Teachers who noticed our absence are waiting for us behind the fence so when we get in, wham, we are caned to death” Martine said

“That doesn’t make sense, no one knows we left school” Dana said

“Well you’re wrong because Mr. loud-mouthed popularly called Benjamin saw us leave” Martine said

“That son of a bitch. If indeed he sold us out I’ll personally squeeze life out of him” Dana said clenching her fists

“You're doing it again. Martine said.  Need I remind you, you cannot enter the Defense Academy with that anger of yours? Work on it” she added

“Let’s jump the fence first before we think about squeezing life out of someone or working on our anger issues” Chelsea said

Together, they jumped over the school fence and landed on their feet. Luckily, there were no Teachers around.

“So, Miss harbinger of death, were we caned to death?” Dana asked Martine

“And you Miss squeezer of life, did Benjamin sell us out?” Martine fired back

“Whatever….” Dana said while they walked into their classroom majestically. Cathy rushed towards them worriedly. She had been asking around for them and Benjamin still feared if he told her who happens to be their friend of their whereabouts there would still be no change in Dana’s threat, so he kept shut.

“Hey! Where are you guys coming from?” Cathy asked

“The exam? The Defense Academy exam? Where the hell did you go?” Dana asked

“I thought we were all going from home so I was already there. Did you guys wait for me here?” Cathy asked

“Yes. We thought you weren't coming” Chelsea said

“No. I took the exam as well” Cathy said

“So, when is the result of the exam gonna be released?” Dana asked

“Maybe like next year because you know it was a handwritten exam” Martine replied

“Anyway, we’ll keep you guys posted when we hear from our Uncle” Chelsea added

“You mean Uncle Frances is in the Military?” Cathy asked

“The way you call him Uncle Frances is like you’re related to him” Martine said sounding annoyed

“Well I can call him Uncle for as long as I want” Cathy said

“But when did you get back from the exam?” Dana asked

“A while ago before you guys came” Cathy answered

“We jumped over the fence, how about you?” Dana asked

“You know I’m on good terms with the security guard right, so I walked in majestically through the gate” Cathy answered as their Government Teacher walked into the class

“During lunch we’ll talk some more” Cathy whispered to Dana as she walked to her seat while the Teacher began the lesson for the day. Coup d’état.

Dana had written her finals and was a high school graduate. It was the season of Christmas and since her Dad couldn't come over, her family had to go see him themselves to celebrate together. She threw everything she could find into her traveling bag. She had a separate bag for her action figures which was weird for a girl. But since she still hadn't gotten her boobies yet it was fine. Her phone began ringing in her pocket. Cathy.

“Hey! How're ya doing bitch?” Cathy asked over the phone

“Cool, you?” Dana asked suspending her packing

“I’m fine as always, Cathy answered, so I was gonna ask if you've heard any news about the exam we wrote” she said

“You would have dropped the exchange of pleasantries and just hit the nail on the head” Dana said

“Yeah, it would be your head. But still any updates?” Cathy asked

“Nah, I heard it’s gonna be released this month. Don't know the exact date though” Dana answered

“Okay, thanks for the info. Hey why do I hear some noise over there?” Cathy asked

“Well that’s me and Emilie packing our bags because we're spending the holiday with my Dad” Dana answered

“Wow, but is it like you, your Mom and your sister?” Cathy asked

“Of course dummy. It’s the entire family since my Dad isn't coming home plus Emilie's become a Nurse now so it’s kinda celebration all the way” Dana explained

“Wow, that’s cool, but as for me, my celebration is me getting selected into the Defense academy” Cathy said

“Yeah right, same with me here, I just hope those old Military officers with their annoying faces choose us” Dana agreed

“Those officers, didn't they look suspicious?” Cathy asked

“What do you mean suspicious?” Dana asked

“Like they could kill for money, like they put down even their fellow comrades just for money” Cathy said

“Have you been watching dramas again? Watching too many dramas will mess up your brain, but I can’t blame you because we are done with school like forever and the only thing we need is just the Military Training, getting the certificates and landing ourselves jobs” Dana said happily as she laid on her bed

“Yeah right, but you know what? I kinda miss you guys because we can only communicate through our phones” Cathy said

“Me too, and I wish we could keep this conversation going but it’s not possible right?” Dana said

“Just a reminder, tell your Dad about the Defense Academy stuff so he’d talk to your Mom about it” Cathy said

“I’ve already got it covered but anyway I’ll still remind him” Dana said

“Dana get off the phone and come down stairs now, we’re about leaving!” Rose shouted from down the stairs

“I’ve been reprimanded, gotta go now, I’ll call you when I get to Raseth and I'll also tell you when my Mom accepts okay” Dana said

“Sure, have a safe trip, bye” Cathy said as she ended the call

“Dana!” Rose shouted

“Gosh, I’m on my way!” Dana said as she struggled with her luggage down stairs

“Wow the view is very nice here” Emilie said as she got down from the car and walked into her Dad’s house. Dana had a hard time pulling the bags she had packed. There were so many one would think she was eloping. Nate, her Father walked out of the house to welcome his ever loving family. Rose completely ignoring, him dumped her bags at his feet and walked into the house. She was mad at him for not bothering to come home at all. 

“Hey Dad” Dana said embracing him. A message popped up on her phone. She took it out of her pocket and walked into the house with her arms around her Father's waist. The message shocked her. She turned off the phone and turned it back on. It was still there. It was real. She had been accepted into the Defense Academy. Cathy had totally jinxed the whole thing with her call. She threw the phone on the sofa and began dancing around the room. Her wish had been granted.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe this!” Dana said repeatedly

Nate was always concerned about the mental health of his daughters since his mother had been in a mental hospital when he clocked 12. Now, he was very worried.

“What’s wrong dear?” he asked holding her

“Aw, good things always happen when Dad's around” Dana said punching his tummy

“Tell me already” Nate pressed 

“Here” Dana said handing him the phone to see the message. He was surprised. Dana was almost a dunce. He couldn't help but think she was pretending all these while for her to get accepted in the Defense Academy at one sitting of the exam.

“Wow, I knew they’d take you in” he said patting her head. He had to break the news to the family himself like the proud Father he was.

“Hey everyone, our daughter and sister here has just been accepted into the country’s Defense Academy” he announced. Rose felt a punch in her stomach.

“What? You still went against my orders and took that exam huh?” she asked angrily. Nate took her by the arms trying to smoother her.

“Listen dear, let’s go inside and talk” he said leading her into the kitchen

“I’m happy for you kiddo, you did well” Emilie said

“Thanks, oh I’ve gotta contact my friends to know if they’ve been accepted too” Dana said

“Sure, go ahead” Emilie said 

“What a day” Dana said as she made to leave

“Ah, that’s right; do you think that Dad might be able to convince Mom to let me go?” Dana asked

“Yes, I’m sure about it” Emilie said smiling

Dana walked out without any fear or worry. She trusted her Papa to do a good job in putting her Mom under control. And she was right. By morning, Rose agreed to let her go. Emilie and Dana wondered why it took her all night to make a decision and why their Father looked so worn out.

“Are you for real? Gosh thank you so much” Dana said 

“So do you know anyone over there? Rose asked

“Yeah, my class mates are also attending” Dana answered

“All of them?” Rose asked

“No, just a few of us, Chelsea, Cathy and me, Martine didn't get in” Dana said

“That's basically you and your metal head friends going there but you make it sound like there's a ton of you going. Don't you wonder why the entire class isn't going? It's because they want to be University graduates and not some stupid dumb Military Officer who specializes in cuffing people”

“Plus, I don’t like those girls you call your friends” Rose said Dana was angry now. She had agreed to let her leave so why the insults on her friends and chosen profession.

“Mom, they are my friends not yours and haven’t you heard the saying 'many are call but a few are chosen' huh?” Dana said

“She’s right mom, not every one of them will graduate from that University” Emilie chipped in. Nate too had to support her.

“This is a holiday for fun and not one for arguments, Nate said, Dana is going to the Defense Academy and no one is changing that so let’s have fun okay?” he added

“Yes Sir” Dana said saluting. Her comrade was by her side unlike the one who birthed her.