(PART 1)
Wrapping up my first year at college, I enjoyed the experiences a whole lot. The new sense of freedom and responsibility proved to be refreshing and challenging. My last week as I completed exams was bitter-sweet. Not to mention the farewell parties and outings with the girls. Looking back over the year, I can leave it behind feeling that I made the most of it.
It was a totally new place for me when I arrived. I was fortunate to live on my own in a dorm on campus. Sharing rooms seemed to be the worst, so I begged my parents to find me something segmented. Through my classes, and playing some recreational volleyball, I quickly made friends and settled into a group; though they were very different than me.
I am by no means a 'rich girl.' My mom and dad have made a comfortable living for themselves, but they are not living the high life by any means.
They often say to me, "Katie, money doesn't grow on trees in our yard."
The girls I met in college flaunted their Gucci bags and BMWs, seeming as though they were royalty. It became very apparent to me the first few weeks of revolving in their orbit that I would have some trouble keeping up with them and their activities. I didn't want to get a job my first year at school, and my parents put me on a very tight budget, so I figured I was out of luck... that is, until an old friend of mine gave me an idea for how to make some extra money with minimal effort.
My best friend Cara, now attending a college out in San Diego, was talking to me on the phone one day, bragging about all of the shopping she had been doing and the extravagant nights out. I asked her to share her secret.
Cara explained, "So... what I did was... I set up this account on Snapchat. It's a Subscriber account. Men join and they send 'Gifts.' Whatever they want to send. All I do is post pictures of me in my dresses, skirts, shorts, whatever. They make requests from time to time, which, the gross ones, I just ignore. It's literally so easy. Last week, I made $1,000 from posting 6 photos... I can send you the link?"
The only reason I had faith in this process is that Cara and I are nearly identical. At the time of the explanation of the account, we were both 18 years old, blonde, and with very similar features. We both are about 5'5 in height, and weigh a little less than 100 pounds in weight. Though neither of us are especially blessed in the chest area (small and perky), our toned, heart shaped butts couldn't get more attention. They are our real gifts - round, bubbly, and sculpted from endless hours in the gym and recreational sports. We both take a great deal of pride in being such effective distractions to the men around us on campus and elsewhere. It's amusing to see how much power we hold by wearing garments that flatter our cutest features.
Just as Cara had explained, I started the account during my second week of college. I posted a few photos in my channel, and somehow, I was being noticed and subscribed to. Within a few weeks, I had amassed nearly 100 subscribers. And just as Cara said, it was so easy. Tips were being sent seemingly just to get me to notice them. Ten dollars here, thirty there. All for just some innocent selfies and mirror shots in barely revealing clothing. What was not to love? It funded my entire social life at college allowing me to go to fun brunches, concerts, bars, and all the other fun activities without having to rely on a man or to beg my family for money.
As the year went on, my follower-ship grew, reaching the several hundreds. I was a little nervous I might be recognized, but then again, I wasn't posting anything that bad. To me, it seemed like a win-win.
--
I returned home for the summer, excited to relax and catch up with some of my friends and to spend time with family. My first week was a blur, relaying my experiences to my mom and dad (at least... most of them), and settling back in to my room and my space. When they asked me about getting a summer job, I lied and told them that I had found an opportunity as a grant writer and was working with an organization near my college, getting paid by the document. That was enough to satisfy their curiosity about all of the new clothes I was able to afford, the experiences I was able to have during the previous year, and how I planned to support myself during the coming year.
I woke up Saturday morning, now having been home for a week. I walked downstairs in a pair of gray cotton short shorts that accentuated my long, slender legs, and a tight white t-shirt that exposed my midriff and pressed against my chest. I found mom and dad in the kitchen.
"Good morning!" I exclaimed with a smile as I took my seat at the kitchen table.
As soon as I sat, dad jumped up and poured me some coffee, fixing it with sweet creamer and sugar. He always loved pampering me, and I loved it that way. I smiled as he placed it down in front of me and took his seat.
"Thank you, daddy!" I said, smiling as I took the first sip. I then asked, "So... what is the plan for the day?"
My dad looked up from his paper and said, "your brother, Brian is coming home for a few days. He's going to stay until Tuesday morning. Didn't he tell you?"
I laughed at the explanation. It wasn't uncommon for Brian to not communicate with me. He was nearly ten years older than me after all, having just turned twenty-nine.
I smiled and responded, "Oh, great! I haven't seen him since you guys dropped me off at university. When is he supposed to be here?"
My mom looked over at me and answered, "Any minute, darling!"
Before I could even pick up my phone to text Brian, I heard a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" I yelled as I stood up and ran over to the front door.
As I opened it, there he was. Brian stands at about 6'2 and weighs over 200 pounds. He has broad shoulders, a chiseled chest, and inherited our father's dark brown hair and eyes. I quickly jumped into his arms as he dropped his bags.
"Brian!" I shouted as I embraced him. He easily picked me up and held me for a few moments before setting me back down.
"How's it going, Katie? Looking like you successfully defended against the infamous freshmen fifteen!" He then pushed a playful jab into my stomach.
I laughed and answered, "I know, thank God. The gym was so close to my dorm so it made it pretty easy for me!"
We caught up and walked into the kitchen where mom and dad similarly greeted him. Then we sat around the table catching up for a few hours. All the while, I was periodically glancing at my phone. Just because I wasn't actively posting photos on my account did not mean that the gifts stopped coming in. Occasionally, I would look down at my notifications, smiling at the amounting funds continuing to grow in my account.
After several hours of chatting, mom and dad stood up and mom said, "well, we have plenty of time to talk this weekend. Your father and I need to go get some groceries and run to a few stores. Do you two want to come with us?"
Brian and I looked at each other, both widening our eyes in disdain at the notion and shook our heads 'No.'
Mom and Dad both laughed, expecting the reaction. "Okay, that's what we figured. We will be back in a couple of hours. You two, don't burn the house down."
