After another one and a half hours of torturing his back, Segar has finished his plan for the dinner surprise. It’s not like his cooking skills and their family’s budget allow him to prepare a fancy dinner. Plus, his mother has already made breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one go before sunrise. His plan is much more simple. First, look good. Second, break the news as casually as it is. “Hey, I got the full scholarship” should do the job. Third, praise Gravefield Ground Forces Academy. Gravefield Academy would not have been Segar’s choice if any different names had appeared in the announcement. But for now, it is all he has. “The best government facility” or whatever it is, Segar will make sure that from his parents’ point of view, Gravefield Academy is the only good place in the world. Maybe adding a vacuous promise about his bright future will do even better. After all, he needs his allowance this time to be at least twice the usual amount, compensation for all the years of hard work. He needs his parents to be more generous when opening their pockets for their son, for their soon-to-be cadet. Finally, a toast with his father’s most expensive liquor. This is the most important part of the plan. The drunker his father is, the more lax he becomes, and the more money goes into Segar’s pocket.

Segar is pleased with his plan now. In his estimation, triple the amount of monthly allowance from his father is a safe number to place the bet. He has seen how his father is drunk and has sneakily taken a glass or two. Honestly, he is nearly on par with his father when it comes to drinking. Bad for health, but not bad for a future alcoholic. As his parents will come home in about fifteen minutes, and dinner is twenty minutes away, Segar begins his first step: look good. It took Segar five minutes to throw any trash or dirty clothes in his room into the closet. Segar’s room does not need to be good, it needs a good look only. Next, Segar spent ten minutes taking a quick shower. His parents, coming back from the factory after a long day in this scorching summer, are going to be sweaty. So, smelling good is going to help him assert his dominance on the dining table. After taking a shower, he also decided to be a well-behaved son for this special occasion by listening to what his mother always told him: “Dry your hair please!”. The first step is completed. Normally, Segar spares roughly five minutes to himself before his parents open the front door and summon him to the table. Today, he decided to be a different person. He will be waiting at the table instead of plopping around on the bed with his outdated phone. 

His calculation was correct. Four minutes later, the doorknob rattles. His dad, like always, read the summoning spell in his deep-toned voice:

“Segar. Dinner!”

As his father walks toward the dining table, he is shocked to see his son is already there. This is a one-in-a-lifetime scene at this household.

“I guess today is a special day for you huh? Congratulations buddy! You are one of the ten in Colville who make it to college this year!” - His father speaks in a slightly cheering tone.

Segar’s second step failed. His whole plan was put in jeopardy by some malicious force. His pocket is at risk.

“You seem shocked. Was it supposed to be a surprise?” - His father continues.

“Yeah…” - Segar’s reply was filled with disappointment.

His father chuckles and then pats his shoulder.

“You know… Lieutenant Montana, secretary of the Conville whatever-it-is Military Office came to my factory today in a joint inspection with other district officials. Besides her lame speech about cooperation in reporting early signs of gang crime in our industrial zone, she specifically asked for me. At first, I thought that her office suspected me of joining a gang, but it was just her personal congratulations. Her personal congratulations to you, my wonderful buddy, to me for having a genius son!” - His father pats Segar’s shoulder a bit faster while talking.

After his encouraging speech, Segar’s father takes out two bottles of “Colska”, Colville’s best-selling liquor, and places them on the table.

“Your mother has something to do at grandma’s house. She left for it right after work. She won’t come back until the day after tomorrow. So, tonight is our night, right?” - A grin appears on Segar’s father’s face.

Well, there gone his chance to see his mother brag to the auntie next door tonight. On the bright side, Segar’s scheme is now back on its track. Tonight's dining table is different. His dad was always the one who was missing to grab a drink with his colleagues. Today, it’s his mom who is absent. 

Segar pours the liquor for him and his father then offers a toast with his father. His father gladly accepts the request, it’s his honor to be able to drink with Colville’s genius today. Colska tastes like mixing honey with hand sanitizer. It’s sweet, bitter, and throat-burning at the same time. Segar feels a bit tipsy from how strong Colska is, so, what he planned to say sticks in his head. Segar’s scheme is once again at stake. His father grins as a form of ridiculing the amateur at the other side of the table. Then, he slides a thick enveloped to Segar, then says:

“Since my son is the genius of this pitiful city, who is going to sit at some high-level government building, the manager had decided to give me this. An extra paycheck for this month, you know, as a reward. You earned it son, take it.”

Segar is tipsy and happy now. A month-worth paycheck from his father, that is like five times the usual amount of his allowance. His plan is still successful in the end. His father can see the joyfulness on his little buddy’s face, then continues in a contented voice:

“You know… Your mother and I may seem nonchalant about your studying, but we have always wanted you to go somewhere big, make loads of money, and take us out of this crappy place. But what if you couldn’t? Well, you are still my son, my family, and Colville will still be itself. We just didn’t want to put any pressure on you. We love you, son. I mean… wow! Gravefield Ground Forces Academy? Make sure to take some pictures with the uniform when you get there so I can brag about it. Do you know how happy and proud I was when that Lieutenant called for me and announced the news in front of everybody? For one moment, I wasn’t any inferior worker at Colville. For one moment, It was like being a king, sitting on his throne and looking down at his servants, whose eyes filled with jealousy. And do you know how happy your mother was? If it hadn’t been for Grandma, she would have constantly shouted your achievement out loud on her way back home!”

His father’s words hit Segar hard, especially under the effect of alcohol. Segar does not resent his father. He just does not like him, specifically his drinking habit. Segar only drank once or twice out of curiosity and hated it. But today, seeing how liquor exposed his father’s heart, Segar developed a different point of view. He may have started to enjoy this side of drinking, and he may have liked his father a bit more.