Big Surprise
The idea of surprising her daughter, Jennifer, at college was cute to Dana McCarthy. She had no idea that her surprise would turn out to be something unexpected.
To ensure the surprise visit went smoothly, Dana coordinated with Jennifer's roommate. Her entire being bubbled with excitement as she drove to the college campus.
No Idea
In the midst of her studies, Jennifer had no inkling of her mother's surprise. Upon arriving on campus, Dana carried a box full of Jennifer's favorite homemade cookies.
After approaching her daughter's dorm room, Dana knocked on the door. No one answered, so she let herself in. She would be making her biggest mistake yet.
Been Months
She thought to herself that this was the perfect idea. Since her daughter started college, she hadn't seen her for months, and she missed her dearly.
It hadn't occurred to her that her daughter's dorm room would be so messy. She would have to talk to her sternly. But Dana didn't realize what she had just done.
Her Dorm
As she scanned the room, she looked at everything. The living conditions there were very messy for two girls. Kacey, Jennifer's roommate, had been informed that Dana would be coming, and so she had arranged for the room to be unlocked.
The place could have been tidied up at the very least, Dana thought to herself.
Selfie
According to Kacey, Jennifer's bed is on the right side of the dorm room. So Dana plopped herself down there. After the first part of her surprise, it was time for the second.
As she sat on her daughter's bed, she pulled out her phone. A picture was snapped and sent to Jennifer. “Guess where I am!” she captioned at the bottom of the photo. A huge surprise awaited Dana as well.
College
Jennifer, Dana McCarthy's eldest daughter, was a very special person to her and her husband, Morgan. In high school, she excelled academically, and her parents were thrilled when she graduated with honors.
Jennifer had always expressed a desire to attend college. She was interested in studying marine biology. She was passionate about pursuing a career in that field.
UCLA
When Jennifer was accepted to UCLA, it was a bittersweet moment for her mom. Even though Dana was very proud of her daughter, she knew that she would be leaving for college on her own.
It took them an hour to get to UCLA from where they stayed in San Bernardino. That would mean that they wouldn’t see each other often.
Proud Parents
Dana and Morgan were both very emotional when they dropped off their daughter for the first time. The majority of the items in her bedroom had been packed up.
Dana made her a special care package, including home-baked goods. “I really like these. Thank you, mom. I’ll definitely share them with my new roommate!”
Far From Home
After a long hug from her parents, Jennifer walked off to begin a new chapter in her life. It was impossible for Dana not to shed a few tears. Since Jennifer was their firstborn, seeing her walk away would be emotional for her.
Still, they were proud of her and knew she had a bright future ahead of her. Knowing she would achieve her dreams, they let her go.
Keeping In Touch
Dana missed Jennifer a lot after Jennifer left for college. They hadn't physically seen her for three months.
Despite the fact that she couldn't always come home, they understood that she needed to focus on her studies. Their regular communication consisted of video calls. Dana, however, was not satisfied with that.
A Daring Plan
That’s when she decided that she was going to surprise her daughter with a visit. She wasn’t going to tell her about it. She was just going to show up. However, she did need a little help with her daring plan.
Luckily, she had the contact number of Jennifer’s roommate, Kacey. She texted her and told her about the plan to surprise Jennifer.
A Great Idea
“It’s a great idea, Mrs. McCarthy. I think Jen has been struggling with homesickness, and seeing you will make her so happy,” read the text from Kacey.
That was all the convincing that Dana needed. She made another care pack, and this time, she added two batches of chocolate chip cookies, which were Jennifer’s favorites.
Taking The Trip To UCLA
On that Saturday morning, Dana kissed her husband and two younger children goodbye as she set out on the road trip to UCLA. Excitement was bubbling inside of her as she couldn't wait to see her daughter’s reaction to her being there.
Little did Dana know that things were not going to go as planned for her.
Arriving
It was a pleasant drive, and when Dana eventually arrived, her heart started beating with even more excitement. She was finally going to see her daughter, whom she hadn’t seen in over three months.
This trip was worth it. She grabbed the basket of supplies from the trunk and made her way to the dorms. Things were about to take a strange turn.
Moments Away
Dana quickly remembered what dorm number Kacey had said they were in. Dana thought for a moment, and then it came to her. “It was dorm room number 56, which was on the third floor,” she said to herself.
She got into the elevator and made her way up. She was moments away from finally hugging her daughter. But Dana didn’t know what she was getting herself into.
No One There
She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She remembered Kacey saying that she would leave the door unlocked for her. To her dismay, no one was in the room. Jennifer was still in classes.
Dana decided to go in and wait for her. The dorm room was very untidy and made Dana wince. However, she was sure that Jennifer would be over the moon to see her. Then, she had a brilliant idea.
A Selfie
She remembered Kacey saying that Jennifer’s bed was on the right side of the dorm room. So Dana proceeded to lie down on her daughter’s unmade bed to take a selfie.
She then sent the photo to Jennifer, captioning it with a cute text, “Guess where I am!” Dana giggled as she waited for her daughter’s response.
Cleaning Up
In the meantime, Dana decided to clean up the dorm room where she could. She bundled all of the clothing on the floor and put them in the laundry basket. She wasn’t sure which clothes were Jennifer’s or Kacey’s, but she did it anyway.
She hated to see a dirty bedroom, and she was surprised that young women could be so messy.
Finally
After 30 minutes of cleaning up as much as she could, Dana finally heard the ping of her phone. When she looked on the screen, she was delighted to see her daughter’s name.
When she read the text message, she knew that Jennifer was on her way. “Hey, Mom. Don’t know where you are. It looks like you’re relaxing on your bed. I’m going to do the same. I just finished classes.
Excitement
That was her cue. Jennifer was on her way from class, and Dana positioned herself in the dorm room, ready to pounce on her daughter in surprise.
Her heart was pounding with excitement. She couldn't wait to see the look on Jennifer’s face. However, after 15 minutes, no one came into the room. What was taking her so long?
Waiting
Dana started to think that Jennifer had probably stopped off somewhere. Maybe she went to the cafeteria to grab a quick bite. Dana remained patient. She knew it was worth the wait.
However, when another 15 minutes passed, she decided to text Jennifer and subtly ask her what she was doing. Her reply would stun Dana to her core.
What Are You Doing?
“Hey, sweetie, what are you doing?” she asked, wondering what was taking her daughter so long to get to her dorm room. After a few minutes, her screen jumped to life. It was Jennifer.
“Hey, Mom, just chilling on my bed. I’m so tired. How are you and Dad doing? I miss you so much.” Dana’s heart nearly stopped.
Panic
She clutched her chest as she began to panic. Then came the realization. If Jennifer was in her dorm room and on her bed, then whose dorm room was she in?
She quickly messaged Kacey and asked her to confirm the dorm room number. When Dana saw Kacey’s message, she nearly cried. The dorm room number was 65 and not 56.
Dreadful Realization
Dana's heart sank as the dreadful realization hit her. She wasn't in her daughter's dorm room. The messy surroundings suddenly made sense – she had mistaken someone else's living space for Jennifer's. Panic and embarrassment washed over her, and she hastily gathered her belongings.
She hoped beyond hope that she hadn't left any evidence of her unintended intrusion. She thanked the stars that she hadn't rearranged anything too noticeably.
Who Are You?
Dana recoiled in disgust. Whose bed had she just laid down on, and whose dirty clothes had she gathered up? She was horrified and quickly left the room, but not before she was caught by the actual people who stayed in the dorm.
“Who are you, and what are you doing in our dorm room?” Dana quickly apologized and ran off.
The Real Dorm Room
Finally reaching dorm room 56, Dana took a moment to compose herself before knocking. This time, she waited for Jennifer to answer. The door swung open, and Jennifer's eyes widened with surprise and delight. "Mom? What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, pulling her mother into a tight hug.
Dana chuckled nervously, deciding to play along rather than reveal her earlier blunder. "Well, I missed you too much, sweetheart. I thought I'd surprise you with a visit and maybe some clean laundry," she replied, trying to make light of the situation.
The Laughter
Jennifer burst into laughter at her mother's remark. "You brought cookies and did laundry? You're the best, Mom!" she exclaimed, ushering Dana inside. Dana glanced around, relieved to find that this dorm room was much tidier than the one she had accidentally invaded.
As mother and daughter chatted and enjoyed the surprise visit, Dana couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and amusement. She decided not to mention her earlier blunder – it could be a story to laugh about later.
Apology
The visit turned into a delightful weekend spent together. Dana apologized to Kacey for the mix-up, and the three of them shared a good laugh about the confusion. It turned out Kacey appreciated the unexpected cleaning Dana had done in her dorm room, and the newfound friendship eased any lingering tension.
As the weekend came to an end, Dana bid farewell to her daughter, promising not to surprise her like that again. Little did she know that the mix-up had created a memorable college story that Jennifer would share with friends for years to come.
A Lighter Heart
Dana drove back home with a lighter heart, knowing that her attempt at a surprise had turned into an unforgettable adventure.
She reflected on the importance of communication and the unpredictability of life's twists. Sometimes, the best-laid plans could go awry, but the joy of unexpected moments often outweighed the initial embarrassment. She cringed at the thought of the incident.
A Surprise Gone Wrong
As she reunited with her family, Dana shared the tale of her well-intentioned surprise gone wrong, turning it into a family joke.
And while the initial purpose of the visit might not have gone as planned, the laughter and shared memories made it a trip worth remembering. Dana was the butt of the joke for a few days in the McCarthy household. But she took it all in her stride, knowing that her daughter was doing well for herself. That was all that she had hoped for.