and death. To make kids embarrassed
and afraid went against everything I’d learned out in the real world.
"Nah,
kids are gonna do what they're gonna do. Plus a lot of the girls take road
trips to Planned Parenthood for free birth control. They're a little smarter
now, I think. Or maybe they saw how the other girls' lives were basically put
on hold while they had their kid and then raised it."
Our
teacher walked in, halting all conversation. Ms. Jennings was young, but she
was tough. I learned that yesterday. If no one else talked or joked in her
class, I wasn't going to either. I'd had enough drama for one lifetime over the
last two days.
"Okay,
students. Today we're learning about the female reproductive system."
I
spaced out for the rest of the class. This was one topic I was pretty sure I
knew all the answers to. I helped deliver more than one baby out in the bush,
animals and humans. I could probably teach today's lesson plan. Instead of
taking notes, I doodled about different activities. Maybe if I couldn’t find
one at school I could come up with a new club. Japanese kite fighting.
Ceremonial henna tattoos. Crocodile wrestling. Anything would be better than
yearbook or track or knitting club.
"Hey,"
Becky whispered, "want to come to knitting club with me after
school?"
I shook
my head. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I had to meet with Alex today. I'd
received a note from the office saying I was required to meet with my tutor
before the end of the day. I decided that one minute before school let out
would be the best time. If he wanted to talk longer than one minute, then it
was up to him to find time for me.
He
probably had basketball or soccer or knitting club, for all I knew, after
school. I wouldn't want to keep him from anything important.
Chapter Ten
I sat
down at my desk in math, ignoring Becky and Alex. All I wanted was to get on a
plane and head out of town. I couldn’t face math, and not with a boy who had my
insides doing backflips.
"After
class we need to talk," Alex whispered to me.
I
ignored him. He probably only wanted to taunt me about his ex-girlfriend
tossing me this morning. I didn't want to relive that, especially not with him.
He'd probably gloat and I'd feel even worse.
"Tabitha,
we have to talk about tutoring," he reminded me.
My head
dropped onto my desk. Holding back a groan, I nodded. During class I shot
daggers at the SMART board, hoping Illinois Jon would impale himself on his
retractable pointer. Then I'd have a good excuse to skip math tutoring. Oh gee, I can't. My teacher accidentally
killed himself in class and to honor his memory, we won't learn any new math
for the next year.
But I
wasn't that lucky. The bell rang, signaling the ten minutes kids had to empty
their lockers and catch a bus. I was supposed to be on one, but this stupid
tutoring meeting would probably make me miss it. Then I'd have to call Mimi and
she'd have to come to school for a third time today.
The
classroom couldn't have emptied faster than if they were running from a zombie
hoard. That left Illinois Jon, Alex, and me in the room, all looking awkwardly
at each other, which meant I was the one who had to make this easy on everyone.
What was wrong with them? It's not like I was a crocodile or something. I
wouldn't bite. Well, not that hard.
"Okay,
so what do I need to do?" I asked, my arms crossed over my chest and a
scowl on my face. It was the best I could muster after the day I'd had.
"Two
sessions a week for the next month," Illinois Jon said, "then I'll test
you and see what you've picked up. If you're up to speed, then great. If not,
you'll have to continue to meet. Is that okay for both of you?"
Alex
nodded, but I couldn't agree so easily. "Why can't Becky tutor me?" I
didn't look at Alex. I didn't want to know his reaction.
Illinois
Jon shook his head as he packed up his satchel. Strange, it was really similar
to one my mom carried. But there had to be a million brown satchels out
and afraid went against everything I’d learned out in the real world.
"Nah,
kids are gonna do what they're gonna do. Plus a lot of the girls take road
trips to Planned Parenthood for free birth control. They're a little smarter
now, I think. Or maybe they saw how the other girls' lives were basically put
on hold while they had their kid and then raised it."
Our
teacher walked in, halting all conversation. Ms. Jennings was young, but she
was tough. I learned that yesterday. If no one else talked or joked in her
class, I wasn't going to either. I'd had enough drama for one lifetime over the
last two days.
"Okay,
students. Today we're learning about the female reproductive system."
I
spaced out for the rest of the class. This was one topic I was pretty sure I
knew all the answers to. I helped deliver more than one baby out in the bush,
animals and humans. I could probably teach today's lesson plan. Instead of
taking notes, I doodled about different activities. Maybe if I couldn’t find
one at school I could come up with a new club. Japanese kite fighting.
Ceremonial henna tattoos. Crocodile wrestling. Anything would be better than
yearbook or track or knitting club.
"Hey,"
Becky whispered, "want to come to knitting club with me after
school?"
I shook
my head. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I had to meet with Alex today. I'd
received a note from the office saying I was required to meet with my tutor
before the end of the day. I decided that one minute before school let out
would be the best time. If he wanted to talk longer than one minute, then it
was up to him to find time for me.
He
probably had basketball or soccer or knitting club, for all I knew, after
school. I wouldn't want to keep him from anything important.
Chapter Ten
I sat
down at my desk in math, ignoring Becky and Alex. All I wanted was to get on a
plane and head out of town. I couldn’t face math, and not with a boy who had my
insides doing backflips.
"After
class we need to talk," Alex whispered to me.
I
ignored him. He probably only wanted to taunt me about his ex-girlfriend
tossing me this morning. I didn't want to relive that, especially not with him.
He'd probably gloat and I'd feel even worse.
"Tabitha,
we have to talk about tutoring," he reminded me.
My head
dropped onto my desk. Holding back a groan, I nodded. During class I shot
daggers at the SMART board, hoping Illinois Jon would impale himself on his
retractable pointer. Then I'd have a good excuse to skip math tutoring. Oh gee, I can't. My teacher accidentally
killed himself in class and to honor his memory, we won't learn any new math
for the next year.
But I
wasn't that lucky. The bell rang, signaling the ten minutes kids had to empty
their lockers and catch a bus. I was supposed to be on one, but this stupid
tutoring meeting would probably make me miss it. Then I'd have to call Mimi and
she'd have to come to school for a third time today.
The
classroom couldn't have emptied faster than if they were running from a zombie
hoard. That left Illinois Jon, Alex, and me in the room, all looking awkwardly
at each other, which meant I was the one who had to make this easy on everyone.
What was wrong with them? It's not like I was a crocodile or something. I
wouldn't bite. Well, not that hard.
"Okay,
so what do I need to do?" I asked, my arms crossed over my chest and a
scowl on my face. It was the best I could muster after the day I'd had.
"Two
sessions a week for the next month," Illinois Jon said, "then I'll test
you and see what you've picked up. If you're up to speed, then great. If not,
you'll have to continue to meet. Is that okay for both of you?"
Alex
nodded, but I couldn't agree so easily. "Why can't Becky tutor me?" I
didn't look at Alex. I didn't want to know his reaction.
Illinois
Jon shook his head as he packed up his satchel. Strange, it was really similar
to one my mom carried. But there had to be a million brown satchels out
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