Raimon parked his car in front of Stanford Uy, his old car, whiow boasted new repairs he had been able to afford with the sary he received from Lux ics. The red car, while it would have been more sensible to buy a new one, had been the result of a whimsical decision influenced by his two panions with whom he had spent the past four years. As his father had told him over the phone when he heard the news, he parked in the uy's parking lot. Raimon was wearing a Batman jacket.

  -Well, we've just arrived. When you're doh the interview, I want to introduce you to some friends. We're part of the Blue Cavalry, - Raimon said amiably.

  -The Blue Cavalry? - Billy asked.

  -Yes, a group of 'freaks,' as some people say. We participate in magiventions. We have Raphael Wilson, who is one of the greatest fantasy enthusiasts I've ever met. You ask him about any book; he probably knows it. He's studyironigineering. Then there's Matthew Mitchell, the luckiest guy in this part of the gaxy. If you want someone on your Dungeons & Dragons team, it has to be him. And the misfit Rapi Miller, a math prodigy studying physics. It would be incredible if you hired him. Sometimes I think our pany needs a physicist, - Raimon expined.

  -You wao hire your friends? - Billy asked.

  The goofy expression on Raimon's face almost made Billy burst into ughter, causing him to turn his head away.

  -Of course not. I want you to meet my friends, wheniuses, - Raimon crified.

  -We'll visit them after the interview, - Billy agreed.

  -Awesome. I talked highly with the program director. You'll your resume, - Raimon said, taking a folder with some dots and three different ics he had published the previous year from his trunk.

  Both of them got out of the car. Raimon, dressed in a gray suit with a light blue shirt and a dark tie, stood out against his yellow bell-bottom jeans and Batman-logoed jacket. They walked across the side of the campus, the elegant green meadow that stretched in front of the uy, and under a horizontal arch adorned with beautiful reliefs, they entered a yellow stone building, where the sun's rays pyed on the walls.

  Billy began to feel the familiar insecurity creeping in as they navigated the byrinthine corridors of the uy, but it quickly dissipated as they approached their destination. They found themselves in a room filled with older individuals, perhaps future professors. The director's office was adjat to a library, and the room had the air of someone dedicated to academia.

  Raimon had momentarily lost his posure when the secretary ushered them to the interview room. He found himself sitting in a chair, staring ily at a painting that had probably been there for more thay years. Only when he opehe door did he realize he had entered without knog. He cursed himself inwardly.

  -Excuse me, sir, for my audacity iering without asking for permission, - Billy Carson said, standing just ihe door.

  -e in. You're right on time for the meeting, five minutes earlier than requested, - said J.J. Simmons, the director of the ma program.

  -Thank you, sir. I'll take a seat if you don't mind, - Billy replied.

  -Please do, - Simmons said, gesturing for him to sit.

  -In which high school are you currently enrolled, Mr. Carson? - Simmons asked.

  -Notre Dame High School, - Billy replied.

  Director Simmons had some notes in front of him.

  -Mr. Raimon, who is an honor student, personally came to speak with me. Knowing your indecision and ck of affe for formalities, I leasantly surprised when he requested permission to submit not only your records but also those of many other Stanford students, including Alvy Ray Smith, whose advas in puter sce I'm familiar with. Tell me about yourself and address my doubts, - JJ Simmons inquired.

  -I'm Billy, sir, an artist. Although it may seem uain, I'm a part of creating a ic book pany. I started it with my father's loan as capital. Our sales have been quite successful, and I expanded my business as I earned more money. Not only as a means to increase my i also as an iment that I sidered, and still sider, necessary, - Billy expined.

  -I see. What do you expect to gain from attending this uy? - Simmons asked.

  -Well, sir, I'm here for business. Uies offer numerous pathways for learning, and many promising ideas are cultivated within these institution's walls. There are bright young minds and promising ideas, and of course, it will broaden my knowledge as well,- Billy replied.

  -It says here that yPA is 7.9, and your SAT score is 1100. How do you expect to get into a uy with such high standards? - Simmons inquired.

  -Well, sir, being a student while running a pany is not easy. I do my best with what I have. I've studied a lot, but I also have different ics to create, and that's how I make a living, - Billy expined.

  -I uand, - Mr. Simmons said.

  -What about student dropout rates? - the professor asked.

  -Well, I'll do my best to plete the course, - Billy replied.

  -You're aware that the MBA program sts for two years, but you'll have to plement it with an additional degree from our liberal arts se for now, and it says here it's in social sces. That's almost four years of study, - the professor pointed out.

  -I'm aware of that, but I don't pn on abandoning my studies once I start. It wouldn't make sense. Besides, if I have too many tasks, I'll reduce my academic workload, - Billy stated.

  -I uand. Do you have any hobbies aside from your studies and colborative work? - Mr. Simmons asked.

  -Ag, sir, and ema. Sometimes I take ag courses, participate ier, or watch movies during my free time, although that doesn't happen as often anymore, - Billy replied.

  Mr. Simmons noted down the information in a box designated for assessing students during interviews. From there, he looked at a list of oions he sidered relevant for this type of student, one who geed publicity for the uy but might not meet its academic standards.

  -What are your thoughts on the flict between the USSR and the Uates? Do you believe there will be a cessation of hostilities iure? - Mr. Simmons inquired.

  -Oh, yes, I believe there will be. I think the USSR will e to uand that its regime is riddled with fws, from the state anization to the corruption of the powerful. While we still have our fair share of issues as a nation, our system mao fun. However, the Russians are known for their stubbornness, and I wouldn't be surprised if, iy or thirty years, distent leads them to ge their ways, - Billy said.

  -You foresee a downfall, - the professor remarked.

  -I'm fident, sir, that the USSR will fall sooner or ter. The problem lies with its people. Rese simmer for a long time, and Europe tends to poun fallen nations with cws and fangs, which lead to the worst outes, - Billy said.

  -An iing perspective, though it somewhat disregards modern political principles that have beeablished. Mr. Carson, as a uy graduate, we seek future leaders who take social improvement franted here in society. What would be your focus? - Simmons asked.

  -Well, I'd focus on the enviro. From the use of biodegradable materials to the search for new renewable sources that e less energy than the on ones, such as batteries, propane, natural gas, coal, and hydrocarbons. I believe that other natural energy sources provide us with a better way to power our electrical system, including nuclear energy, as long as we find more enviroally friendly processes. You know, the Montreal Protocol was retly adopted, - Billy expined.

  -Has your pany ducted any research? - Mr. Simmons inquired.

  -That's correct, sir. We want to find solutions from various sources. However, research costs are quite expensive, and my pany has many iments that hinder such development. For now, we're only in the process of redug the pany's gas emissions, but we want to establish a good alternative energy source, - Billy stated.

  -A very profound idea, Mr. Carson. How do you expect to see your pany grow in the 10 years? - Simmons asked.

  -I wouldn't have a precise idea, but I want to create my television el that showcases various animations from my ic brand. I'd like to veo emerging businesses like climate, and if possible, expand my burger , sir, - Billy said.

  -Would you sider w closely with the uy? - Simmons asked.

  -Of course, retly Raimon asked me about hiring some physicists from this uy. He didn't see any problem with me using its facilities to develop a way to solve energy-reted issues with the physicists and engineers from Stanford, - Billy replied.

  -Young man, you speak with a lot of fidence. Given yPA and unique circumstances, we'll accept you into Stanford Uy's business program. I hope you'll achieve great things at our uy. I have high expectations for you, - Mr. Simmons said.

  Billy was surprised, - Wait, sir, there's no need for any additional filters or processes for my admission? -

  --Not at all. Although you applied a bit te, you had several letters of reendation, and I see that you're Stanford material. We'll hahe paperwork. You'll o pay the tuition before Ju. I hope to see you studying, Mr. Carson, although I won't be teag any of your courses. I'll be attending the orientatioing, -- Mr. Simmons said, getting up from his seat and shaking Billy's hand. -- With this letter, Mr. Raimon will take you to the secretary's office to print a payment receipt. You deposit it at any bank."

  Billy left the office, a bit surprised, his expression still refleg the astonishment. Raimon saw him and lowered his head with sadness.

  -Billy, don't worry. You didn't even want to rush into studying. You try agai year, my friend, - Raimon said, pg his palm on Billy's shoulder with empathy.

  -Do you know where I make the uy tuition payment? My dad gave me an 80,000 check, - Billy asked.

  -Ah, e on, I'll take you to pay. You're impossible, - Raimon said, throwing his hands up i. Four years ago, young Raimon had fought tooth and nail for a spot at the uy. He had gohrough three interviews aion processes, but the rid handsome always seemed to have the upper hand.

  Billy's ent about showing him his friends surprised Raimon.

  -Weren't you wanting to introduce me to your friends, the Blue Cavalry? - Billy asked, smiling at Raimon.

  Raimon's grumbling stopped. - Well, I guess you won't regret your decision, but I'm still offended by your demeanor, - he said.

  ...

  to write these points of view is, to be dramatic. it seems curious to me, but otherwise, it would be strao duct the versation.