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- 05/15/2021
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Adam Blake - 9. Chapter 9
Lunch was fun as I would question Billy about his book. When we returned to the hotel room, he was back on the sofa. “Billy, I need to meet with another student. You can come along or stay here.”
“Can I bring my book?”
“Sure, you might like this student as well, it’s a pretty girl.”
He didn’t seem too excited but we’ll see. I drove to Ellen’s home, she was having problems with math.
“Hello Ellen, I brought a friend with me if that’s ok? His name is Billy and he’s the son of a close friend of mine.”
They looked at each other, nodded heads. I noticed a second look by both of them when the other one wasn’t looking. This will be an interesting meeting.
“Ellen, do you have your math book?”
She left and brought back her book, opened it to the chapter, and list of problems. The class was an introduction to algebra. I had her write down the problem, “Ellen there are certain rules you need to know and remember. Think of the equal sign as a bridge, and that on each side of the bridge there’s an army. If one army has more than the other army, that side wins and will destroy the bridge which you need to get home. So we’ll have to make sure each side of the bridge is equal.”
“What do I do when they are expressed as X and Y?”
“Remember the army supporters for X is 3 more than the number of supporters for army Y. But you don’t know the number of supporters Y has so you need to know that equation. So let’s say the number of supporters for Y is 4. Now you can solve for X.”
I watched as she wrote the equation X+Y= ?. I gave her; X=3 and Y=4, so the solution is 3 + 4 = 7. The key was to substitute the correct value for the unknowns, in this case, the X and Y.
“Good, remember for each unknown you need an equation showing the relationship. Let’s say that another army will call Z approached the bridge, how many equations would you need?”
“You would need, one for X, one for Y, and one for Z”
"Right, you also need to know how they relate to each other. Let’s say you have three cousins, each one is from different parents. You’ll want to know who their parents are and how they relate to each other. Got it?”
“I think so.”
“Why don’t you work these problems while I’m here, If you have a problem I’ll be here to help you.”
“Can I do the problems as well?”
“Sure go for it. Who finishes first and has the most correct answer will get a slice of pizza. But if you rush and get one wrong, you’ll have to correct it and it’ll count against your time. The goal is to get them all correct.”
I heard Billy whisper to Ellen, “Don’t worry we both will get pizza.”
I watched them as they worked. Billy finished first but Ellen wasn’t too far behind. “You both did well so Billy since you finish first, you get to choose the type of pizza.”
Billy whispered to Ellen, she shook her head yes.
“Adam, can we have extra cheese with pepperoni?”
“Yes,” I ordered the pizza to be delivered to Ellen’s home.
While we waited for the pizza, Billy and Ellen sat together and talked. I looked at my schedule and noted that I was free for a few days. Ellen’s mom came in and offered me a cup of coffee which I took. Walking to the kitchen she asked about Billy. I explained that he was a son of a close friend and I was babysitting while he was at a meeting.
“How is Ellen’s math?”
“She’s ok. It’s a little frightening to face algebra but she’ll be ok. Not all the problems are written in the same fashion, if she has problems, I’ll be back unless her teacher does the job.”
“Why do you teach differently? Ellen says you always make a story out of it.”
“Some kids learn differently than others, I’m one on one, many teachers don’t have that luxury. They have so much time to get the lesson across and then they must move on. Those that don’t understand, get left behind. They are not dumb, as some may think, it is just that the material isn’t made relevant to them. Take Billy, for example, this morning I was helping a student understanding the Indian wars. Billy was there, he wanted to know more and I bought him two books, his nose has been in one of those books until we came here. They just need a push.”
“And you can do that.”
“I try. If I had my way, school hours would be longer, homework would be less and subjects would be more interesting. It won’t happen in the public school system but might in a private setting.”
“Adam, the pizza is here.”
“I promised them pizza for a job well done. Incentives are ok, once in a while.”
I went and paid for the pizza, which Ellen took to the kitchen. I heard her introduce Billy to her mother.
By the time I returned to the kitchen, plates were on the table. Ellen asked Billy if he wanted a soda, he looked at me, I mouthed the word running, he asked for a glass of water instead. I smiled when he looked at me. I turned down the pizza when it was offered and I think Billy was glad I did. I had another cup of coffee while I waited for Billy to finish his pizza.
Saying our goodbyes, I told Ellen if she need help to let me know.
On the way home, “Adam, do you charge for your tutoring?”
“No, it’s a pleasure to see someone’s face light up when the fog has been lifted. Like you and your books.”
He looked at me and smiled. Arriving at the hotel, we saw Billy pulling into the parking lot. “There’s your dad.”
“We walked over to meet him as he was getting out of his car. Billy hugged his dad and I got the impression that didn’t happen often. “Dad, what did you have for lunch today?”
“Hey, I just got here and already the 6th degree. I had a chef’s salad. What did you have?”
“We had baked fish with a vegetable medley. Adam asked them to not use any sauces. It was good, I think I’ll get mom to prepare them that way.”
Alright, Adam, what did you do with my son?”
I laughed and wink at Billy, he took his dad’s briefcase and headed to their room. Once he was out of earshot, “Did you have any problems?”
“Only one, I couldn’t get him to put down the book he was reading. He even had it with him when we went to lunch.”
“Now I know that isn’t my son, what did you do to him.”
“Seriously Billy, he’s a smart kid and that may be a part of his problem. He isn’t being challenged and he feels rushed. If I had the opportunity, I’d love to work with him.”
“What would it take for you to work with him, relocation?”
“Yes, unless you left him with me, but relocation won’t happen until I’m sure my special students are on track. We’re getting there but it’ll take a while. The school wants me to teach my methods to students aspiring to be teachers.”
“Do you think you can do it online?”
“I don’t know. I’ll look into that.”
“This weekend someone will be coming who wants to meet you.”
“Who?”
“You’ll have to wait to see.”
By this time we reached his room. “Want to have dinner with us?”
“I’m not sure Billy will want to eat this early, he just put away a half of a large pizza.”
“Billy, you read for supper?”
“Can we wait for a little Dad? I want to finish this chapter.”
“He’s reading a book?” I nodded yes, “Are you sure that’s my Billy?”
Billy heard and chuckled, “Yes Dad, it’s me and I’m reading a book.”
Whispering to me, “You’re a magician.”
Bill and I chatted while we waited for Billy to go and eat. “So after all these years, you start to call be Bill.”
“It’s too confusing with two Billy’s, so you being older, you get the name of Bill. But to me, you’ll always be my best friend, Billy.”
He hugged me and ended with a swat on the back of my head. I couldn’t count the number of times he hit me on the back of my head.
“I was worried about Billy and I confess one of the reasons I brought him was so you could meet him and help him. He means the world to me and I don’t want his school time to be missed. I see something in his eyes today that I haven’t seen for a while. I owe you.”
“No Bill, you don’t owe me anything. Billy is paying me for my time, not you. Look at him, he’s involved with that book and the other one, he’ll be as well.”
“What other one?”
“He bought two books today, ask him about it. You’ll be surprised. Don’t be afraid to talk to your son. You and I were great runners when we were his age, get back to it and share that time. You can help him more than I can because he loves you and will give that little extra.”
Bill left and went to his bathroom. When he came back his eyes were red. “Are you ok Dad?”
“Yes, I think a bug flew into my eye and irritated it. Ready for supper?”
“Yes, can I take my book?”
“Sure, maybe you can tell me about it.”
I smiled looking at Bill. Gave him a nod and a wink.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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