Sorority Sisters by Tajuana Butler Page A

seemed about to say something else, but instead blurted, “Are you gonna be busy later today? Maybe we can eat dinner at the cafeteria together and talk.”
    “Oh, Eric, I’m not sure. I mean, I don’t want to make any promises and then let you down.”
    “Well, we’ll do it this way. Let’s set a time now, and if you find out later that it won’t work, just give me a call and let me know either way. I’ll be in my dorm room studying after I leave the gym, and I’ll wait for your call.”
    They approached her dormitory. Eric looked directly in her eyes; she knew how much he was hoping that she would say okay. Luckily for him there was no way she could say no. He was such a gentleman, and she needed to talk to a friend. “Okay, let’s say seven-thirty, and if I can’t make it I’ll call.”
    “Okay, we’ll walk over to the student center, and I’ll treat.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Well, I’m gonna let you go ahead and get started on your letter. The letter of all letters. The life-changing letter,” he joked. “Good luck, and if you need me to critique it, just let me know.”
    “I wish I could, but you know these things are supposed to be private and personal,” she said, as she opened the door to her dorm. “Don’t overdo it at the gym.”
    “I won’t. But I’m looking forward to seeing you later. You know, to catch up,” he said as he walked away.
    Cajen changed out of her clothes into sweats and a T-shirt. Then she went across the hall to use the rest room. She experienced the same episode from the morning—a stinging irritation. She could not keep blowing this off. She had to do something. When she got back to her room she closed the door behind her, and called Student Health to ask if she could get an emergency pelvic exam. The nurse said they could squeeze her in, but it wouldn’t be until four-thirty. She accepted the appointment and hung up the phone.
    She looked at her clock. It was only one-forty-five. What was she going to do with herself until four-thirty? She started working on the letter of intent she had to have with her Sunday in order to be admitted through the doors of the Exclusive Pink Plush Rush. Kim, one of the members of the sorority who’d taken a personal interest in Cajen, informed her that if she wanted to be considered for the privilege of being a pledge for her sorority, her letter had to be substantive, which, in Kim’s opinion, was something most college freshmen weren’t capable of. Although she was distracted with the events of her day, she managed to turn on her computer and begin to work on her letter. Cajen often wondered what Kim and her sorors discussed when they sat in the cafeteria together. Their conversations always seemed so much more interesting than the ones she had in the cafeteria. Like them, Cajen longed to one day grace the campus with her pink T-shirt and pink book bag.
    What will make me stand out? What will make my letter be just as good if not better than the upperclassmen who will also be writing to the sorority?
    Cajen thought and wrote, and rewrote, and thought some more and rewrote again. She finally came up with what she considered a masterpiece. “Now, this has substance!” she proudly exclaimed. Then she looked over at the clock. It was already four. She couldn’t believe how quickly time had passed. She’d almost forgotten her dreaded doctor’s appointment.
    She assured herself. It will just be a yeast infection. Or maybe it’s an allergic reaction to something. Yeah, that’s it. She grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door, but Cajen’s heart was heavy because deep down she knew the blister she had found while in the shower was more serious than a yeast infection.
    Cajen waited in the examination room for the doctor to return with her results. For some reason, she felt the doctor was going to come back with bad news. She was relieved a female gynecologist was caring for her, because male doctors made her uneasy.
    There