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Prefs:
So it turned out that Rushee’s worries about the Checkers and Chess houses turned out to be for naught – they both released her. Whether it was religion or personality, who could say? She was a little disappointed – she had not been invited to the maximum number of parties since the compulsory Round One events, but she was excited that both Pictionary and Life invited her back.
Her biggest worry now was whether she and Silly might end up in the same house. They hadn't talked much, but she knew now, especially since Risk was off the table, this was a possibility.
She went home to put on her navy blue dress with the big lace collar. The early nineties were a fashionable time, my friends. Suffice it to say, Rushee loved her Rush outfits and looked lovely in them.
As she was preparing for her parties, Silly stormed into their room and slammed her party sheet down on her desk. She had been released from Sorry, and decided to quit Rush. When Rushee asked where she’d been asked back, Silly said with venom, “I don’t want to say; they’re all places *you* like.” Ouch.
After Silly left, Rushee looked at the sheet and saw that Rushee had been asked to parties at Monopoly and Pictionary.
But since Silly had allegedly quit, Rushee felt relieved they would not end up in the same house. At least, that's what she hoped.
And before you get all moral about how it was wrong for Rushee to look at Silly's pref schedule, well - OK, admittedly, it was wrong, but if you had met Silly and experienced her general snotty demeanor, you would have done the same thing. Trust me.
Rushee's first party was at the Pictionary House. The Rho Chi had told her group more or less what to expect at a Pref Party. Even with that, Rushee was astounded.
The house was filled with sweet-smelling flowers, and the sisters, all dressed in matching dresses of their sorority color led Rushee to a table where she sat with a sister who was telling Rushee how special she was, and how they’d love to have her as a sister.
There was singing, there were candles, there was food, matched to the colors of the sorority (which Rushee picked up on and mentioned, much to her hostess' delight) and she was asked to accept a flower, which they would hold for her until she came back the next day as their sister. She felt a strong connection with the house and was glad to have preffed there. She could definitely see herself in Pictionary.
At the Life house, there were more beautiful flowers, sisters in black dresses and she was greeted by the hostess who she’d met at the first party, nearly a week earlier. She said she was so excited that Rushee had come to their party, and Rushee was really surprised and pleased that her hostess remembered her. She got the Rushee some sparkling cider and some food, and they headed to the hostess’ room to talk. Instead of telling Rushee how special she was, she and the hostess talked about movies, picking up where they had left off at the Round One Party. “When Harry Met Sally”, was the primary topic to be exact. Her hostess explained that they would be going down to a serious ceremony, and that they probably should be more solemn when they got downstairs. Rushee agreed.
The ceremony involved candles, singing and was similar to the one at the Pictionary house. It was very beautiful. She enjoyed every party she had been to, and thought it would be a good fit.
Rushee left her second party feeling relieved that she could go to the Greek Life Office to make her selections. Frankly, either house would have been fine, so she would mark the one that had a slight edge first, but be happy with a bid for either.
When she got to Greek Life, she saw girls weeping, paralyzed and unable to decide between Candyland and Operation, if they should suicide Scrabble or give Sorry a chance.
Rushee confidently marked her sheet, and before turning it in, asked the Rho Chi at the desk if she could see the financial obligation sheets for the Pictionary and Life houses. “Might as well see what I’m getting myself into”, she joked. The Rho Chi at the table gave her a funny look and handed her the sheets. She looked them over, handed them in with her card, and said to the Rho Chi, “Have a good evening!”
She went back to the dorm, called her parents and told them she wouldn’t be converting to Judaism after all and wrote some letters to friends at other schools. Although email had been invented in 1993, Rushee didn’t have yet have an address (she wouldn't until midway through Freshman year).
She did have Solitaire on her smoking fast 386 computer (with a dot matrix printer), so she played a few hands. Silly hit the bars again, and again, Rushee went to bed early, dreaming of colors and symbols from her two Pref houses. Silly got home late, and Rushee was already asleep.
Coming soon: Bid Day and Beyond...
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