The young man is about to undergo probably one of the biggest changes of his life (yes, change--good job), and yet you lead readers through it gently. It is the proper tone for such a journey. He is sober, and hopeful. His mother is sad, and happy. Such a blend of emotions, like pastels on water painting. You paint very well here.
This young man's journey is described effectively and sensitively. Thank you for posting this story in the Ink Well community. You are diligent about commenting on the work of your fellow writers. Just a reminder: Please be sure to read the work of other writers in the community and share comments with them. We are urging everyone who posts in The Ink Well to take this step, going forward, to ensure our community members are supporting one another. (We also have this in The Ink Well community rules on our home page and in our weekly writing prompts.) Thank you!