"Are you sure you want to throw away your future just to spite your father?"
Sitting on the other side of the desk, Jack knew that Mr. Robinson was not asking him so much as judging him. With no good answer, Jack let his eyes wander around the counseling office to the promotional fliers from various Ivy League schools and the motivational posters filled with stock photos of decathlon teams and soaring eagles.
"I respect that you want to make it on your own," Mr. Robinson said, moving past his earlier question. "I wish half the other kids at this school felt that way. But there's a fine line between wanting to prove yourself and just being too proud to accept help."
Jack looked down, trying to ignore the jab, as Mr. Robinson flipped open a thick folder and shuffled through the papers.
"You say you want to go to study business, but honestly your grades tell a different story. You'd be treading water at any of the schools you applied to. On the other hand..." Mr. Robinson picked up a sheet. "Your creative writing is incredible. I understand Mrs. Crill submitted some of your stories to the Claremont Review Writing Contest but you didn't attend to accept your award. You can't deny you have a talent for this and with your father's prestige and contacts, you'd be guaranteed–"
"No," Jack said, the word bursting out of him like a reflex. "I don't want anything to do with that. I want to go to business school."
Mr. Robinson lowered the paper and closed the folder. "Maybe I'm not the type of counselor you need to be talking with. It's not your fault you have a famous father. Don't let that stop you from following your passion."
Avoiding Mr. Robinson's eyes, Jack absently thumbed at the button on his blazer. "Tell me honestly, could I ever write anything as anyone other than the son of the great Marcus Ward?"
"No," Mr. Robinson said flatly. "But that shouldn't stop you."
YOU ARE READING
Otherworld: A Son of Two Realms
FantasyWhat if the fantasy world you grew up reading was real? What if your father wasn't an overbearing writer, but a warrior who defeated kings? What if you traveled to this world and returned? Who would you tell? Who would believe you? Jack doesn't know...
