Timothy - 10. Chapter 10

It didn’t take as long to find a problem. There was one day in the week when Stephen and I had late classes. Albert, to the rescue, agreed that if Randy came to Mrs. Kenner’s on the day, we couldn’t meet with Randy, he would tutor Randy.

Stephen kept saying Randy is an intelligent kid, and he would bring home a report card with nothing less than a B average. We made a bet. The loser would have to cook breakfast for a week. The six-week marking period was coming up. Stephen had a side bet going with Randy. If Randy’s report card had no C’s and all A’s and B’s, he would buy him a pizza. He could select the size and the toppings. I saw the smile on Randy’s face, and I knew Stephen would lose. I think Stephen knew that as well.

Sure enough, Randy’s six-week report card wasn’t all A’s and B’s. It was all A’s. A perfect report card. I didn’t know who was prouder, Randy or Stephen. Walking to Geno’s Italian Pizza parlor, they were strutting. Reminded me of a rooster in a chicken yard.

Looking over the menu, Randy picked out a large pizza with everything on it. I laughed when the waitress looked at him when he ordered. She was about to leave when I told her I would like the spaghetti Bolognese with a side salad. Stephen ordered the same. The look on the waitress’s face made us laugh.

While we waited, Stephen and Randy talked about school, I listened.

The waitress brought our food. I asked for a doggie bag, that plate of spaghetti Bolognese would feed three. “Stephen, do you think Randy’s mother would like to have spaghetti for dinner tonight?”

Stephen didn’t answer. Randy did. “Yes, she likes spaghetti.”

“Okay, we can drop my doggie bag at your house for your mom.”

There was some of Randy’s pizza and my spaghetti left at Randy’s apartment that evening.

Randy continued to do well in school. By the end of our semester, he was caught up to his age equivalence and perhaps slightly ahead. He had three tutors to help him over the rough times. His mother was doing well and assumed the role of Randy’s mother. He didn’t need Stephen, Albert, and me as much. The standing offer by Stephen concerning grades continued, and we ate a lot of pizza.

Stephen went to work the summer for his grandfather, and I went home except for weekends when I returned to my apartment. I stayed from my arrival on Friday, returning to my home on Monday. Randy helped to do the lawn work and wash the windows. I paid him 10 dollars for helping. It was more than kids general got, but I knew he would spend some of the money on his mother. Stephen had arranged for our local grocer to give Randy and his mother credit. I’d pay the bill weekly, notifying Stephen. He would send me a check covering his half.

As the summer break ended, Stephen returned, and life resumed with him occupying the apartment across from mine. We continued running in the morning, only now we had a tag-a-long, Randy. I think he looked upon us as big brothers, which suited us very well, Stephen was an only child, and I had no brothers. Randy filled those vacancies.

This was our final year before we started working toward our Master’s degrees. Randy started eighth grade. We were ready to tutor him, if necessary. As it turned out, our tutoring sessions became catching up sessions. Randy would tell us about his day. His mother was making progress, and she provided the coffee and snacks. While in their apartment, we would surreptitiously check out the apartment and Randy’s mother. We wanted to be sure she was still making progress.