When I get home, Ma is waiting for me at the door.

“Did you read your results yet? Can I see them? Is that them there?” she questions me in rapid succession before trying to take the envelope from my hands.

I really should have thought of that when I decided where to store the disk.

“Uh, yeah. This is them,” I hold on tightly in an attempt to stop her from prying the envelope from my hands.

“Well, then. How did you do?” she stops trying to take the envelope for a moment, waiting for my answer.

“I passed,” I say as I hang up my coat, being sure to keep a tight hold on my envelope and my evidence.

“And?” she is like a child on Christmas waiting for my news, “Which pool did they place you in? Please tell me it’s at least third. That boy would be crushed if he had to choose between you and his position.”

“Thanks, Ma!” I shoot her a look, “But I did fine.”

I try to step around her to climb the stairs, but she stops me, “Did you tell Alexei?”

The concern in her eyes makes me think she believes I have not made the grade I need in order to marry Alexei. Her next words confirm it.

“Well, you can always upgrade your score next year,” she reaches for my hand, “I did. And look where it got me!”

“I can’t upgrade my score, Ma.” I’m playing along now, trying not to smile. I have to look down to avoid her seeing my face.

“Yes, you can. They let you retake your exam. Though I don’t know how you didn’t excel this time, because I thought you did a-”

I can’t hold it in any longer and my laughter comes in loud, obnoxious spurts as it bursts from my belly.

“What is wrong with you, Maria?” Ma’s face is squished up in confusion, “Are you laughing?”

I am laughing too hard to say anything, so I just nod. She has had enough of my antics, I guess, because she takes the envelope from my hands and pulls the paper from it. As she does, the disk falls to the floor and clatters across the living room before coming to rest under the couch.

Please say she didn’t see that.

“What was that?” she looks around, trying to locate the object that clattered to the ground.

“Nothing, just my pencil,” I quickly come up with a lie, “I’ll clean it up when I do the living room this evening.”

I don’t think she would have bought that lie at any other point in time, but she forgot all about the clattering when her eyes found my score.

“Maria!” she shouted as she hugged me, “How could you keep this from me? We will have a feast!”

“Why is that everyone’s reaction?” I say before I realize I shouldn’t.

“Everyone? Who else have you told?”

“Alexei,” I look down at my feet and wait for her to chastise me, “I wanted him to know as soon as I did. And I wanted someone there in case I didn’t like my results.”