BROOKE TELL BETHANY THAT COLLEGE TOUR IS FOR DAD AND MOM NOT HER

 Title: “This College Tour Isn’t for You”

The morning started early at the Parker house. The sun had barely risen over the quiet neighborhood when the sound of suitcases rolling across the hallway floor echoed through the house.

Today was supposed to be an exciting day.

It was the day of Bethany’s college tour.

For months, everyone in the family had talked about it—her future, her dreams, and where she might study after high school. Their parents had planned a full weekend trip to visit several universities.

But not everyone in the house was excited.

Standing near the kitchen counter with her arms crossed was Brooke.

Brooke was Bethany’s older sister, and unlike Bethany, she had always been blunt, direct, and sometimes brutally honest. While Bethany was emotional and optimistic, Brooke was practical and often skeptical.

And this morning, she clearly had something on her mind.

Bethany rushed down the stairs holding a small backpack and a folder full of brochures.

“Mom! Did you pack the campus map?” she called out.

Their mother looked up from the kitchen table where she was organizing travel documents.

“Yes, sweetheart. Everything is ready.”

Bethany smiled brightly.

“I can’t believe we’re finally going!”

Their father chuckled as he lifted a suitcase. “You’ve been talking about this trip for weeks.”

Bethany nodded eagerly. “This is the most important trip of my life!”

But from the corner of the kitchen, Brooke muttered quietly.

“Not exactly.”

Bethany turned.

“What?”

Brooke leaned against the counter, sipping her coffee calmly.

“Nothing,” she said.

But Bethany knew that tone.

It meant Brooke definitely meant something.

“Brooke,” Bethany said slowly, “what do you mean ‘not exactly’?”

Brooke shrugged.

“I just think you’re a little too excited.”

Bethany frowned.

“Why shouldn’t I be? It’s my college tour.”

Brooke smirked slightly.

“That’s the part you don’t understand.”

Bethany blinked.

“What?”

Brooke set her coffee cup down and looked straight at her sister.

“This college tour isn’t really for you.”

The room went quiet.

Their mother paused mid-sentence while checking the travel bag.

Their father slowly turned his head.

Bethany stared at Brooke in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

Brooke didn’t hesitate.

“This trip? Visiting campuses? Meeting professors? Walking around pretending you’re already a student?”

She shrugged again.

“That’s not really about you.”

Bethany felt irritation creeping into her voice.

“Then who is it about?”

Brooke gave a small sarcastic laugh.

“It’s for Mom and Dad.”

Bethany’s eyes widened.

“What?!”

Their mother looked uncomfortable.

“Brooke—”

But Brooke continued.

“I’m serious. Think about it.”

Bethany shook her head.

“No. This is about my future.”

Brooke raised an eyebrow.

“Is it?”

Bethany’s voice became defensive.

“Yes!”

Brooke folded her arms.

“Bethany, you don’t even know what you want to study yet.”

Bethany hesitated.

“Well… not exactly, but—”

“And last month you said you wanted to go to school in California.”

Bethany nodded.

“Yeah.”

Brooke pointed toward the travel itinerary on the table.

“Then why are we touring four colleges in Montana?”

Bethany froze.

That question hit harder than she expected.

Their father cleared his throat.

“Well, those schools have great programs.”

Brooke looked at him.

“Dad, she doesn’t even know which program she wants.”

Bethany’s frustration grew.

“Why are you being so negative?”

“I’m not being negative,” Brooke replied calmly. “I’m being honest.”

Bethany crossed her arms.

“Then explain what you mean.”

Brooke stepped closer.

“Fine.”

She gestured toward their parents.

“This college tour isn’t about helping you choose a school.”

Bethany’s eyebrows tightened.

“Yes it is.”

“No,” Brooke said firmly.

“It’s about making Mom and Dad feel like they’re helping.”

The words landed heavily in the room.

Their mother sighed.

“Brooke, that’s not fair.”

But Brooke shook her head.

“No, Mom. It’s true.”

She looked at Bethany again.

“You’ve been stressed about the future, right?”

Bethany nodded slowly.

“Yeah…”

“And Mom and Dad have been worried about you.”

Bethany nodded again.

Brooke continued.

“So they planned this whole college tour.”

Bethany waited.

Brooke finished her sentence.

“To make themselves feel better.”

Bethany’s mouth opened slightly.

“That’s not—”

But she stopped.

Because part of her knew Brooke might be right.

Their father tried to step in.

“Brooke, we’re just trying to help.”

Brooke nodded.

“I know.”

She looked at Bethany again.

“But Bethany thinks this trip is going to magically solve her future.”

Bethany felt her cheeks warm with anger.

“What’s wrong with wanting to figure things out?”

“Nothing,” Brooke replied.

“But walking around campuses with brochures won’t suddenly tell you what you want to do with your life.”

Bethany clenched her fists.

“You don’t know that.”

Brooke shrugged.

“I’ve been through it already.”

Bethany’s voice grew louder.

“And you dropped out after one semester!”

Their mother gasped slightly.

“Bethany—”

But Brooke didn’t react angrily.

Instead, she simply nodded.

“Exactly.”

Bethany blinked.

“What?”

Brooke leaned forward slightly.

“I did the same thing you’re doing right now.”

Bethany stayed silent.

Brooke continued.

“I went on a college tour. I smiled for photos. I pretended I knew exactly what I wanted.”

She paused.

“But I didn’t.”

Bethany looked uncertain now.

Brooke sighed.

“And the truth is… neither do you.”

Bethany’s voice softened.

“That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.”

Brooke nodded slowly.

“You should try.”

Bethany looked relieved for a moment.

But then Brooke added one more sentence.

“Just don’t pretend this trip is about you.”

Bethany frowned again.

“What does that mean?”

Brooke pointed toward their parents.

“They’re the ones who planned it.”

Their mother spoke quietly.

“Because we care about you.”

Brooke nodded.

“I know.”

She looked back at Bethany.

“But the pressure you’re feeling?”

Bethany looked down.

“That’s coming from them.”

The room became quiet again.

Bethany suddenly realized something.

Every conversation about college recently had started the same way.

“Where are you applying?”
“What school are you choosing?”
“Have you decided yet?”

She felt like everyone expected her to already have the answer.

Bethany looked up slowly.

“So what are you saying?”

Brooke spoke gently this time.

“I’m saying don’t do this trip for them.”

Bethany tilted her head.

“Then who should I do it for?”

Brooke smiled slightly.

“Yourself.”

Bethany thought about that.

“Then why did you say the college tour isn’t for me?”

Brooke gave a small shrug.

“Because right now… you think it’s going to give you answers.”

Bethany stayed quiet.

Brooke finished softly.

“But the truth is… it’s just a tour.”

Bethany looked at the brochures in her hands.

Photos of smiling students.

Big campuses.

Perfect futures.

She took a slow breath.

Then she looked at Brooke.

“So what should I do?”

Brooke smiled a little wider.

“Go on the tour.”

Bethany blinked.

“What?”

Brooke grabbed her coffee again.

“Just stop thinking it’s going to decide your life.”

Bethany slowly nodded.

And for the first time that morning… the pressure inside her chest felt slightly lighter.

Their father finally spoke again.

“Well… the car is ready.”

Bethany picked up her backpack.

Brooke walked past her toward the door.

As she passed, she leaned close and whispered one last thing.

“Just remember.”

Bethany looked at her.

Brooke smirked.

“College tours are mostly for parents.”

Bethany rolled her eyes slightly.

But deep down… she knew Brooke might be right.