Beixi Li

From the streets, the hills, and the shady houses, they came. Unending, eyeing down our members , we retreated into the house, couldn’t stand the heat and the clamor, and ran back out to the lawn.

We were surrounded 10 to 1 with unending, unchanging questions hurled at us from every direction. Awkwardness was pervasive.

“Sorry, what was your name again? What year are you in?” she leans towards him to pick up his mumbled words.

“I’m Ashay, uh, and I’m a Junior, yeah…” He nods his head affirmatively and tries to master the art of eating and talking at the same time.

She feels like someone on helium, “Great! What are you interested in concentrating in?”

Ashay’s face bears an interesting blend of lethargy and nervousness,“Uhhhh Finance. Yeah I’m thinking about I-banking.”

Her internal eyes roll but outwardly she smiles. Next he’ll say he wants to make money and start his own business.

“I’d like to start my own business someday.”

Close enough.

Five minutes later he’s whispering a bye but before she can recover, they’re on her again.

““I’m a Sophomore trying to apply to the business school.”

“I want to major in I-Banking.”

“I was captain of DECA in high school.”

“What do you like most about Akpsi?”

“What’s your favorite part of the pledge process?”

“What are you majoring in?”

 

Okay blond girl hasn’t said anything for the last five minutes. Brunette has been talking non-stop. Asian kid is trying to physically stare her down. Little girl in the back is looking everywhere except for at the speaker.

 

Switch. Rotate.

 

She sees her friend and sticks her tongue out, classic Snapchat face. But then another rush is looking at her and she hopes he didn’t see that one.  Straightening her face and her dignity, she plasters a grin and says, “Hi! How are you? Tell me a little about yourself!”

 

It’s getting dark and most of the mob has moved on after first discrete hints that time is up, then a little more forceful, and then a “You must leave now.” They should really have some kind of sign to show people they’ve over stayed their welcome. Or people could just pick up on the social cues. She heard once that people in Japan put a pineapple on the table to subtly hint to their guests it’s time to pack up. Maybe they should bring a pineapple next time.

The aftermath and destruction is apparent. Downtrodden college loans are now even more miserable than before. The brothers wander around with lost voices and raspy laughs. Banding into survival groups, they retreat back along the streets and return to their houses before the next round.

Her phone vibrates and she hopes it isn’t a call. She’d have to pretend she didn’t hear it because right now she didn’t feel like saying another word for the rest of eternity.

Thankgoodness it’s a text:

Send your vouches for outstanding rushes from tonight for consideration in our review process before midnight.

 

Outstanding rushes. From tonight. Outstanding rushes from tonight. Tonight from outstanding rushes? She can hear all their voices like some squawking of a crowd of crows, it’s actually supposed to be called a murder of crows, but just like some animal herd, she can’t single out a single one.

She almost drops her phone from shock when her friend manages to materialize right next to her, “Ready to go?”

“Sheesh where’d you come from?” And already she’s forgotten the text, pocketed her cell phone, and headed down the road of temporary retreat, only to return again to the masses and hopefully pick out the few that would fight this battle again next year .