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honey," said my mother, patting my hand. "I had no idea you were having such a hard time in school." "We'll find you a good tutor," said my dad, patting my other hand. (I was sitting between them on the couch.) Janine reached over and patted my foot (she was sitting on the rug). "There's a girl in my physics class who's looking for tutoring jobs," she offered. "Her name's Rosa. I think you might like her, and she'd be a very competent tutor." "I know you can catch up if you put your mind to it," added my mom supportively.
I hoped she was right. I was beginning to wonder. Meanwhile, I still wanted to take that art class. "Listen, there's something I need to ask you," I began, crossing my fingers.
They listened carefully to' everything I told them. And I think they both felt proud when I told them about Serena McKay's opinion of my work. But neither of them seemed to think it was a good idea for me to take the class.
I felt like I was six years old again, begging for Singing Susie. "This class means so much to me," I pleaded. "And I won't have another chance like this anytime soon. Please?" Dad and Mom exchanged a look. I could see that they wanted to say yes. "It just seems that the last thing you need right now is anything that will distract you from your schoolwork," said Mom.
I had a sudden flash -' a great idea., "How about if we see it as a motivation instead of as a distraction?" I asked. "I want to take this class more than anything. How about this? I'll make a promise to you. If you let me take Serena McKay's class, I'll do anything it takes to 'bring my grades up. Anything!" I meant every word I was saying, and I think my parents knew it. They exchanged another look, and after a few endless seconds I saw my mother give my father a tiny nod.
I knew, even before she spoke, that the answer was yes.
Chapter 6.
"Milky Way?" I asked. "Or do you prefer Snickers?" I rummaged around in the bottom of my desk drawer.
"I'm fine, thanks," said Rosa.' "Really. I had an apple before I came over." I thought about explaining my theory that chocolate is an important part of everyone's daily diet, but decided against it. Rosa looked like the type who might come back at me with a full-scale lecture on the Nutritional Needs of the Average Adolescent.
Rosa, as I'm sure you've figured out, is my tutor. My parents don't waste any time, that's for sure. Once they'd heard I needed a tutor, that was it. After our family meeting, Mom called Janine's classmate and set up a tutoring session for the very next afternoon.
Janine had come home in' time to be there when Rosa arrived and to make introductions. She and Rosa seemed to be two of a kind, even though Rosa is a little older. She's an actual college freshman. As Janine showed Rosa where to hang her jacket, they made what I could only guess were physics jokes, using words like "inertia," and "mechanical advantage." They cracked themselves up, but I didn't even giggle. I felt as if I came from a different planet.
Not that Rosa is some brainy nerd. She's cool. She even knows a thing or two about how to dress. That first day, she was wearing overalls, Doc Martens, and a funky black newsboy cap, turned sideways. Her black hair is cropped short and she has that "waif" look, with big dark eyes and pale skin.
Anyway, there we were up in my room. I'd been stalling as long as I could, but that offer of a candy bar seemed to be the last dodge I could come up with, and Rosa knew it.
"I think we should start," she said softly, giving me an "I-know-what-you're-up-to" look.
"Okay," I said meekly, remembering the promise I'd made to my parents.
"First of all, I'll have to assess your needs. Which subject do you feel you need the most help in?" Rosa leaned toward me and looked me straight in the eye.
I gulped. "Um, math?" I said. "I just failed a test." "Okay," said Rosa, writing something in a little book she'd pulled out of her backpack. "And what about science? Are you keeping up?" "Not really," I