Tom & Sue & John & Debbie Ch. 18

'Heck, if it hadn't been for your twenty-four points in the second half, there wouldn't have been any need for Sis, that's Sue Andrews by the way, to make that clutch basket in the last seconds in order for Dragon to win the State Championship game. And, just like you and Tonya, Brenda and Nancy, Sue and me have been like sisters ever since kindergarten, and now, we've gone our separate ways too.

'By the way Beverly, what sorority are you thinking about pledging? My sister was a Tri Delt and head cheerleader at Central, so I'll be carrying on her legacy here at University.'

"I replied, 'I really don't have a sorority legacy. My brother and I grew up on the poorer side of Rocket, living in an average middle class housing neighborhood, and if it wasn't for basketball, well, I probably couldn't afford going to college—especially here at University.

'My brother and I were always good in sports, especially basketball, and we both excelled in academics. We were both very popular with our classmates, but Skip, that's his name, was more outgoing , always in the limelight, and was the academic genius of the family—scoring perfect on both the SAT and ACT college entrance exams, while graduating Rocket High with a perfect 4.0!

'The entire City of Rocket went head over heels when Skip received an appointment to West Point. He graduated last year from the Academy and earned three Varsity basketball letters in the process.

'As for as me, I graduated Rocket with a 3.65 G.P.A., but my cumulative score of 27 on the ACT, was three points shy of the minimum when it came to getting any extra scholarship money for college.

'I've never considered myself a socialite. I guess being from the poorer side of town always made me feel a bit inferior, except when I was on the court. I really don't have a preference for a sorority, but actually, I'm really in no position to be choosy, and I'll just have to take whatever comes along.'

"Mary Ann spoke up, 'Debbie why don't you and Beverly room together during rush? You can teach her the ropes like Brenda and I have been teaching you. Trust me Beverly, you're definitely no charity case, and when bids go out, don't be surprised if you're not asked to join us in the Tri Delt house!'

"I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. Debbie smiled and said, 'So how about it Bev, do you want to room with a cheerleader?'

"I replied, 'Golly, I...I... don't know what to...I mean, YES...YES!'

"I guess it was really a blessing in disguise when Paula dumped me for Kellie because Debbie, Mary Ann, and Brenda came into my life that day, and, well, the rest is history.

"Debbie and I really hit it off during rush week, and we bonded in a way I never thought possible. Sure, I'll never take the place of Sue, and Debbie can't replace Tonya, but we've bonded together like sisters.

"Rush week was coming to an end and Debbie and I attended 'Pref Night Parties' at Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Pi Beta Phi, the top three sororities on University's campus!

"Debbie and I first attended Kappa's Pref Night and for the first time during rush, I bumped into Paula.

"I introduced Debbie to Paula and Kellie and Paula smirked, 'Bev, surprised to see you and that titty shaking cheerleader from Dragon attending OUR Pref Night! You've both wasted your time! Bev, I'd thought you would have been smarter and attended one of the bottom or middle tier pref nights, a sorority you had a chance to receive a bid from!'

"Debbie lashed out, 'Bitch, at least I've got some titties to shake! That's a heck of lot more than I can say for you! And for your information, I'm a Tri Delt legacy. Just curious Bitch, what makes you think you're so high and mighty?'

"Kellie giggled at Debbie's remarks as Paula stood motionless, not saying a word in retaliation. After a few seconds, Kellie asked, 'What other pref night parties are you attending Bev?'

"I answered Kellie, 'Debbie and I are attending Pi Beta Phi and then finally Delta Delta Delta. How about you Kellie?'

"Kellie replied, 'Since I'm a two time Kappa legacy, I'm only attending Kappa's, but golly, you both got invited to the top three on University's campus...'

"Paula interrupted Kellie, 'Same for me Bev. I'm only attending the best-Kappa's. I'm not all that interested in the snobby, stuck up sororities like Tri Delt and Pi Phi, or those lower tier sororities...'

"It was Kellie's turn to butt in, 'Paula, I've warned you not to put all your eggs in one basket, you could end up committing suicide, especially since you're not a sorority legacy like Debbie and me.

'Paula, if I was you, I'd definitely add DG or Tri Sig to your bid card. They may not be a top tier, but both sororities are solid mid tiers, and both were impressed with you when we attended their open house, toured their house, and went to their skits. In fact, all the girls treated you like royalty, once YOU informed them YOU were University's number one basketball recruit. Afterwards, you even mentioned how great the girls treated you and respected you. Now, my advice to you is simple, since you've already completed the interview with your Kappa host, it'd be good idea to go attend pref night at either the DG and Tri Sig houses, or better yet both.'

"Paula just smirked again and said, 'Whatever Kellie! I seriously doubt that I'LL have to stoop down to a mid-tier' and walked off all huffy with her nose in the air.'

"Kellie asked, 'Bev is Paula always like this?'

"I replied, 'Yes, but once upon a time, Paula was just like one of the girls, and a lot of fun to be around. It was midway during our sophomore season that things began to change. Paula's folks started pulling all the right strings with the right people within Rocket's booster club, all the coaches, and suddenly Paula had this arrogant, 'I'm better than you attitude' about herself.'

"Kellie sighed,'I'm afraid Paula is going to be in for a rude awaking Bid Day. I'm sure she'll receive a bid to join a sorority, even if it's a snap bid, but I seriously doubt it'll be from Kappa.'

"Debbie and I had a great pref night meeting with our Kappa hosts and as we were saying goodbye to Kellie, the three of us watched as Paula walked out the front door of the Kappa house.

"Kellie spoke in a soft voice, 'I hope for Paula's sake she has taken my advice, and is going to suck in her foolish pride, and attend pref night at either the DG or Tri Sig house, if she does, she'll definitely get a bid.'

"Kellie then smiled and said, 'Great to see you again Bev, and it was nice to meet you Debbie. Good luck to both of you, and Bev, I can't wait till we're on the court together.'

"Afterwards Debbie and I said goodbye to Kellie and ventured off to the Pi Phi House. Debbie's host was a University twirler, named Charlotte, who went to high school in Dragon with her sister and Mary Ann. My Pi Phi host was Janell, a junior member of University's basketball team.

"We finally made it to the Tri Delt House where Brenda was Debbie's host and Mary Ann was mine.

"Even though all my pref night hosts were encouraging, making me feel welcome, I still thought it was only a shot in the dark, if I received a bid from any of the top three.

"Debbie and I were discussing in private all the great girls we'd met and the good times we'd experienced during rush week when Debbie asked, 'Ok Roommate, here's how I'm going to fill out my bid card. My first choice is of course Tri Delt, second is a toss-up, but because of Charlotte, I'm picking Pi Phi, and my third choice is Kappa. How about you?

"I shook my head and said, 'Debbie maybe Paula was right and I should have attended pref night at one of the mid or bottom tiers...'

"Debbie interrupted me, 'Just hold on a minute! Seems like you've got a short memory! Don't you remember what Mary Ann said the day we all met at rush registration, 'Don't be surprised if you're not asked to join us in the Tri Delt house'—remember?'

"I sighed, 'Yes but...'

"Debbie said, 'No buts about it. Mary Ann is not only University's head cheerleader, but she carries a lot of clout in the Tri Delt house. And, it dang sure wasn't any coincidence, or stroke of luck, that Mary Ann was your Tri Delt host tonight! Forget what that Tea Sip Bitch said and fill out your bid card with Tri Delt listed as your number one preference—we'll both be Tri Delts and room together!

"I answered Debbie, 'Okay, I will.' I went ahead and listed the choices on my bid card—Tri Delt, Pi Phi, Kappa, and signed it.

"I was on pins and needles when Bid Day arrived. Debbie opened her bid envelope first, and as expected Debbie was following in her sister's footstep as a Tri Delt pledge.

"I was nervous, my hands were sweating, and trembling as I carefully opened the envelope containing my bid card. I didn't know whether to cry, or scream, or hug Debbie, so I did all three when I read my first choice 'Delta Delta Delta'! Debbie and I were both Tri Delt pledges!

"Debbie was laughing at me as I was all but sprinting toward the Towers, Tri Delt's designated location, 'Slow down Bev! I can't keep up with you! The bus won't leave without us!'

"Once we arrived at the Towers, we boarded the Tri Delt Bid Day bus. I looked around at the Tri Delt pledge class which was made up of choice freshman. Most were probably Miss Teen Something, Homecoming Queens, Prom Queens or Princesses, Annual Queens, Most Popular, or head cheerleaders back in their home towns, but even though I was just a basketball player, for once, I didn't feel inferior, or out of place!

"The short ride to the Tri Delt house was filled with enthused chanting and hugs, more or less like a big victory after Rocket basketball game. Once we arrived at the Tri Delt House, Debbie and I were greeted with enthusiastic hugs and congratulations not only Mary Ann and Brenda, but all our new Tri Delt sisters!

"It was a dream come true to become a Tri Delt pledge and room in the house with Debbie. And with Mary Ann and Brenda not only being my Tri Delt big sisters, but my mentors as well, was just icing on the cake.

"As far as my Rocket teammate, Paula's bid was not from Kappa, but from Delta Gamma or DG, while Kellie carried on her sisters Kappa legacy. And, I guess what goes around does come back around at some point... "

Beverly was suddenly interrupted by the ESPN sports report on the big screen, 'The Associated Press just released the latest college football rankings and as expected the Irish retained the number one spot with the Trojans replacing State as the number two ranked team.

'The seventh ranked Tigers jumped to the number three position with their impressive upset win over the fourth ranked Bulldogs, dropping the Dawgs out of the top ten.

The Tea Sip students rocked the Maroon & White to the rafters with loud cheers when it was announced, 'University with a convincing win over the Falcons climbed up a notch to number four.

The Tea Sip students were still cheering so loudly we could barely hear the ESPN reporter when he said, 'The Lions by virtually beating the Owls to a pulp, jumped from ninth to fifth while the Huskies stood fast at number six.

'The previously unranked Bruins now claimed the seventh spot after avenging their Rose Bowl loss to the Bucks, 24-3.'

The Maroon & White once again erupted into a chorus of loud cheers and jeers as the reporter announced, 'State after losing to the Irish fell six spots from the number two to occupy the eighth position.'

The cheers finally calmed down enough so the reporter could be heard saying, 'the Buffaloes after a sloppy win jumped to number nine while the unranked Mustangs, after upsetting the Gators in the swamp, grabbed the final spot in the AP's top ten.'

The Maroon & White broke out once again in a chorus of cheers when the reporter announced, 'The Associated Press also voted the heart and soul of the Irish defense, senior co-captain, Stonewall O'Grady the national defensive player of the week. O'Grady's eighteen tackle performance while recovering two fumbles inside the Irish five when it appeared State was going to regain control of the football game edged out State's junior linebacker, Tim Bracksun's twenty-two tackle effort, earning O'Grady his third career national defensive player of the week award.'

Even though Tim wasn't the national defensive player of the week, Brenda was grinning ear to ear as Nancy gave her big sis a high five!

The Maroon & White's cheers turned to boos with the announcement, 'By virtue of his sterling performance against the number one ranked Irish, 297 yards rushing on 25 carries and scoring two touchdowns, one a dazzling 76 yard run, State's sophomore running back, Eddie Simmons was named the AP's national offensive player of the week. Simmons effort against the Irish edged out exceptional performances by the Irish All-American candidate, Rawling O'Hare, and University's young freshman quarterback, Larry Thompson.'

Brenda and me were beaming ear to ear with a bigger than Texas grins while exchanging high five's with Nancy. But our joy was quickly dampened and turned to concern when the reporter announced, 'ESPN has learned from reliable sources, State's sophomore sensation, Eddie Simmons, is listed as doubtful for Saturday's match up with the second ranked Trojans. Simmons apparently suffered major shoulder and wrist injuries in his valiant effort against the Irish and could be sidelined up to three weeks.'

The Tea Sip students once again cheered long and loud celebrating the injury of University's rival's ace running back. Brenda looked in Nancy's direction, and said, "Gummy, I told you Eddie's injuries were a lot more serious than he led you and Sue to believe and Tom won't be 100% for Saturday's game..."

Mary Ann interrupted Brenda, "Tom's hurt too?"

I answered Mary Ann before Brenda, "Yes, Eddie told me this morning; Tom has badly bruised ribs— the same ones he bruised last year..."

Suddenly I was interrupted by an arrogant, smart-alecky familiar voice, "Well, Beverly, I see you certainly aren't all that concerned about the company you're hanging around with these days—are you?"

Beverly just smirked, "What's your problem Paula?"