Simone continued.
“Studio fees.”
“Materials allowance.”
“Regional transit pass.”
“Summer intensive funding.”
“And mentorship placement during senior year.”
Darnell’s hand remained on the front door.
He did not move.
“How much?”
Simone named the amount.
Darnell’s eyes narrowed.
“For two years?”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The question came too sharply.
Simone did not react.
“Because his portfolio was exceptional.”
Darnell looked toward the dining room.
At the pages.
Then back.
“How many kids applied?”
“One thousand one hundred eighty-seven completed portfolios.”
His face changed.
“How many fellowships?”
“Eight.”
Silence.
Eli kept staring at the floor.
Darnell looked at him.
“You knew?”
“I knew I was a finalist.”
“You knew about the scholarship?”
“Not until last week.”
“Last week?”
Darnell’s voice rose.
Simone raised one hand slightly.
“We sent an email to the parent address listed on the application.”
Darnell stared.
“What address?”
Simone looked toward Eli.
He answered.
“Mom’s.”
Darnell laughed once.
No humor.
“Of course.”
Eli’s face tightened.
“She knew I applied.”
“I bet.”
“Dad.”
Darnell looked toward Simone.
“Did Monique sign something?”
“Not the final enrollment agreement.”
Simone said.
“The student can submit an initial portfolio with a teacher sponsor and one guardian’s acknowledgment.”
“Final acceptance requires signatures from both legal guardians when custody is shared.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
Darnell stared at the envelope again.
“You came to our house for a signature?”
“Partly.”
“We had difficulty reaching you.”
“Your voicemail box was full.”
Darnell grimaced.
It had been.
His phone received twenty maintenance calls a day.
Simone continued.
“And there is a response deadline Monday.”
“Eli’s art teacher told us she was worried the family might not understand what the award covered.”
Darnell looked at his son.
“What art teacher?”
Eli looked almost offended.
“Ms. Delgado.”
“You have an art teacher?”
“At school.”
“I know who she is.”
Darnell snapped.
“I mean she’s involved in this?”
“Yes.”
“She sponsored the portfolio.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
Eli hesitated.
“Since spring.”
Darnell stepped away from the door.
He suddenly needed space.
“Come in.”
Simone entered.
Darnell closed the door.
Nobody sat.
The Broncos helmet remained on the dining table between portraits and loose charcoal studies.
Simone saw it.
Then saw the drawings.
Her eyes moved across them.
She smiled.
“These are from the maintenance series.”
Darnell looked at her.
“The what?”
Simone walked closer.
She did not touch anything.
Eli looked mortified.
Simone pointed toward the drawing of Darnell’s hand.