AN: I have combined some chapters as they were very short, but it's all still there! Don't be confused by the numbering!

Chapter Seven

The Art Institute

Once again, the letter arrives on Saturday afternoon and Bender delivers it without delay. His switchblade is employed and Allison opens the envelope. She carefully closes the knife and returns it before taking out several sheets of paper. A time and date pop out at her. She's got it! She's got an interview! She reads more carefully and it is that simple. They invite her to interview on July sixteenth at one o'clock. Enclosed are directions and a campus map.

"You ever been to Chicago?" Bender asks.

"Only Glenview, a suburb. My aunt lives there."

"I go to a record store not far from the Institute. I'll go with you."

Allison has no idea what to wear to an interview of this sort. After much thought she decides her plain black dress is fine, but she must make it dressy. She spends more prize money on stockings, some low heels, bobby pins to help secure a French twist, and some ordinary make up. She can't wear black shit around her eyes for this.

The day finally comes. Bender arrives to escort her at nine in the morning.

"You look nice, Al."

Bender looks pretty snazzy too, with clean, shined boots, a long sleeved black shirt with actual buttons and his hair slicked back.

They catch the bus to the Metra station, the Metra train into downtown Chicago, then another bus to the Art Institute campus. They arrive at 12:30, just in time to locate the admissions office.

After the interview is over, they go to a sandwich place Bender knows and he debriefs her. Allison thinks she did pretty well, after considering it. They asked questions about her artistic vision and theory, things she had given plenty of thought to over the years as her art grew and evolved. They also asked about the art works in her portfolio. There were some more general questions, an opportunity for her to ask them questions, then it was over. It took forty five minutes.

As the gravity of the situation wears off and her confidence grows, their outing becomes festive and exciting. Bender takes her to the record store (heavy metal), a coffee shop and a store that contains much black clothing and leather, and has bizarre straps on display in glass cabinets at the very back. Bender pulls her away from those displays, but not before she sees the selection of whips. She doesn't ask questions.

They get back to her house at about five and Allison sees her mother's car in the driveway. Her heart sinks. How will she explain her appearance? She pulls the bobby pins out of her hair and messes it up. That's all she can do.

"You'd better not come in," she tells Bender.

He surprises her, giving her a hug and kissing her hair. What an un-Bender thing to do.

She's in luck, her mother is in her study so Allison is able to slip upstairs to her room unseen, where she restores herself to her normal look.

Then she realizes. That's it. It's done. She has completed the application process. Now she will wait one more time, to hear their final decision.

The next day is Saturday and the guys arrive for their usual pizza party. Her mother is at the kitchen table when Bender arrives, but she doesn't even look up from her magazine as they go to the den. So Bender is acceptable. For tonight at least. Her parents are so unpredictable and inconsistent.

Her mother's presence dims their boisterous behavior, but nothing can dim Allison's good feelings about the interview.

This time it takes less than a week. Thursday afternoon, Bender rings the bell. Feeling the gravity of the occasion, Allison invites him in, sits down and asks for his switchblade. Slowly she slits the envelope. Bender is leaning against the sideboard, watching. She removes several sheets of paper and looks at the top one.

Dear Allison,

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Committee on Admissions has voted to accept your application for admission to the Art Institute. I am happy to offer you a place in the...

Allison bounds up, waves the letter, and rushes Bender for an ebullient hug.

"I got in! I got in!"

Bender catches her flying hug, lifts her off her feet and swings her around. When he sets her down, they are both laughing, and then somehow they are kissing. When they come up for breath, Allison's smile won't stop.

"I did it, Bender."

She kisses him again.

Brian seems unsurprised by the latest developments when he arrives on Saturday night and finds the glowing Allison in Bender's arms.

"I knew you'd do it," he says.

He means get into the Art Institute. Does he mean more than that? It doesn't matter. Allison has never been so happy in her life.