Page 21 of The Secret to Belonging

another compelling argument for going abroad

when Alison drops you off at midnight

your house is dark

your parents are asleep

the door to the basement is shut

but you hear the television

you close your bedroom door

plug your headphones into the stereo jack

you play the 1975 original cast recording of A Chorus Line

twirl the cord around your fingers

you’ve never applied for anything before

but God you hope you get it

you climb into bed and stare at the ceiling

electricity crackles in your body

when the Rotarians invite you to interview

you have to tell your parents

they sit there

like they don’t understand

English

your mother says

if you do this, it’ll kill your father

your father says

i always wanted to be an exchange student

Rotary-wife Jeanine comes to the house to meet you

(women can’t be Rotarians, but they can marry them)

Jeanine’s family has hosted students from around the world

Jeanine is very enthusiastic

you sit together in the living room and hope

your brother won’t come upstairs

your mother’s in the kitchen making pots-and-pans noise