As expected, the Blackwells took Lily to see the principal.
Worried, Ryan skipped work that day and came to the school with them.
With an early admission spot being questioned, the school took the matter very seriously, gathering the relevant teachers and students as witnes-
ses.
Principal Albright looked at Lily with a grave expression. “You believe there was an error with the admission decision?”
Lily hid behind Mrs. Blackwell, not daring to meet the principal’s eyes. She looked at the floor. “I’m not saying the decision is fake, it’s just… Sister has never even been to school. How could she possibly qualify? Maybe the school made a mistake somewhere. I just don’t want my sister to take someone else’s spot. That wouldn’t be fair to them.”
Her words caused a stir. All eyes, filled with suspicion, turned to me.
Ryan frowned slightly and moved to stand in front of me.
Principal Albright looked deeply at Lily, then turned his gaze to Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell. “Mia is your daughter. Others may doubt her, but how can you, her parents, not believe in her?”
Mrs. Blackwell pursed her lips, her voice righteous. “They are both my daughters. I’m not taking sides. I just want what’s fair.”
“Fairness. I see.” Principal Albright gave a small, humorless smile. He laid out a stack of documents on the table for everyone to see.
“Who told you that you can’t learn without going to school? Some super–geniuses aren’t suited for traditional teaching methods. For them, one year of self–study is worth more than ten years in a classroom for others.”
“These,” he said, gesturing to the papers, “are the certificates and awards Mia has won since she was a child. The vast majority are from national- level competitions or higher. Gold medals, every time. That alone is enough to get her into any university in this country.”
“These,” he continued, “are the academic papers she has published since she was twelve. Twenty–three patents. And among them, the most trivi- al of her accomplishments… is this little game she created when she was nine.”
Principal Albright took out his phone and opened a familiar app. Lily, who had been listening in a daze, went deathly pale. She looked like she was
about to collapse.
She isn’t just a regular genius. Her mind is one of humanity’s most precious resources. If she wanted to, she could have a degree from any unive- rsity in the world right now. This early admission spot? She doesn’t even need it. I just wanted to give it to her.”
