Why do Asians really get straight A's? - Project Gutenberg Consortia ...

toasted almond flakes along the sides, an assortment of fruit at the top in cascading layers—
sliced peaches, kiwis, strawberries— and written in royal blue icing: “ Dr. Johnson, ” next to a
cute, little toy stethoscope and head mirror. This cake sure as hell ain't organic!
I cut the cake into several pieces, giving the biggest slices to Mommy and Daddy. I give
Jordan the smallest, and she immediately grabs the knife to cut an even bigger slice for
herself. I decide to eat a small slice, since I feel really bad about the whole thing. It's not like I
lied to them— actually, I did. I just don't want them to be angry with me. I look up to see the
smile on Daddy's face and Mommy laughing out loud— even Jordan's enjoying the occasion.
I'm smiling as well, thinking to myself that this is the happiest moment in the history of my
family. It's just too bad that it all comes from a lie— well, half-lie (Yeah, yeah, I know: a lie is a
lie.)
After I finish my small piece of cake, I excuse myself to my room, carefully thinking
about what to say to Emilie. If she finds out that I bombed the MCAT, then she'll drop the
bomb on me. I wonder how she did, probably a hell of a lot better than me. She called twice
earlier, but I didn't pick up because I was drinking away my problems with Gabriel. Now I have
to call her back or suffer the polemical wrath of a Korean girl.
“ Hey Emilie. ”
“ Hey Johnson. So how'd you do? ”
“ I think I did okay. ”
“ You think or you know? ” What is it with everybody? I bombed, okay?!
“ Well, I won't know until a month from now. So how'd you do? ”
“ Not to toot my own horn but I know I aced it. There was not one question I had trouble
with. I really think I got the prestigious 45T! ” Emilie brags, clearly tooting her own horn.
“ Wow! That would be amazing! I've been told that only a handful of people have ever
achieved that.”
“ Yeah I know. It would definitely be amazing if I got the 45 also. Oh, by the way, did you
get my messages? I called you twice earlier but you didn't pick up.”
“ Oh yeah, I did. Sorry about that. Gabriel did really bad so I had to console him...at
the...library, ” I lie once more.
“ Poor Gabriel. I guess he goofed around too much. “
“ Yeah, he should've studied as hard as me or else he wouldn't be in such a big mess, ”
I say, going along with Emilie as if I did just as well as she did on the MCAT.