Our Classic Christmas Story

Chapter Seven: Not so bad (Bennet)

I get up to my little brother and sister climbing up my bed.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

"It's time to get up Bennet!"

I groan. It is way too early! Then what I have to do today hits me like a boulder. Ugh. Tutoring. I slowly get up and give my siblings a playful glare. They giggle and run out the door, but don't close it. Ugh. WHY CAN'T ANYONE LEARN TO CLOSE THE DOOR?! I roll my eyes and get up to close the door. Once I'm dressed I go downstairs to find my siblings eating breakfast by themselves.

"Is nobody else awake?" I ask.

"Cameron is in the Bathroom," Noah replies.

"Okay good," I sigh in relief. "Okay, so here's what we're gonna do. I need everybody to finish getting ready and get into the car. I need to talk to you guys about something." I explain. My siblings exchange worried looks. I laugh.

"Don't worry. It's nothing bad, just something that's kind of important," I assure them. Once we're ready to go, we get in the car.

"Okay, so I wanted to talk to you about how you are getting settled in. Is everything okay?" I start.

"Yeah. The house is really big. It's like a maze!" Charlotte exclaims.

"What about you Noah?"

"I don't like school."

"Why not?"

"People aren't nice there. It seems like everyone that has a lot of money and a big house is really mean."

"Aww I'm sorry bud. Although, it looked like you had a few friends."

"They were just being nice to me because I was rich. But once I showed I didn't want anything to do with them, they lost interest in me," he explains, disappointment creeping up his face.

"I'm sure you'll find some friends at some point. It took me a minute just to find one friend. They'll come I promise. And once they do, you'll hold on longer," I pause. "Okay. One more thing. I am going to start tutoring. So that means that some people might have to come to the house. If they do, can you make sure that you guys behave?"

"Does that mean you can help us with our homework more?" Charlotte asks.

"Yes," I laugh. "I will always help with your homework. Even if I wasn't tutoring. Now, can you behave for me if anyone has to come over?"

Noah shrugs. "I guess." We pull up to the Elementary school and they hop out of the car.

"Hey Noah?" I ask.

"Yeah?"

"If anyone is ever mean to you, just tell them that they better be careful, otherwise your big brother is going to come after them." He laughs. Good. He really needs that confidence. I watch them go into the school before I take off.

-

It's been a normal day, and a normal week, but today should be different. I got the address for my first tutoring student, but that really doesn't mean anything. All I know is that Cameron had to take the car, after I was in school, so now I have to go to the house with my BUTLER. I really hope they don't judge me for this. As I stand outside waiting for the big black van to pull up, I get a text from my dad.

Have fun tutoring!

Yeah. I'll definitely enjoy it, thanks.

He doesn't reply. He must be busy then. I then see the all knowing black van pull up to the curb.

"Your ride, Master Bennet?"

"Thank you, Bruce," I reply. I tell him the address and take out my phone to see the plan.

"We are here, Master Bennet," Bruce says from the front seat.

"Thanks again, Bruce." I hop out of the car and walk up the front steps. Before I could even knock, the door opens to reveal a short lady with a black hair in a bob cut, she's wearing maroon slippers and what looks like pyjamas but I can't be sure.

"Hi! You must be here for Aiko. My name is Karen." She says. Wait. Aiko? THAT'S WHO I'M TUTORING?! Oh bloody hell. I walk in the doorway to see another woman calling for Aiko, who is running down the stairs faster than a chipmunk on helium. She looks just as surprised as I am. Her mom introduces me to her, even though I already know who she is and she knows who I am. I try not to let that show though, because, well, I actually don't know. I really can't believe the first person I have to tutor is LITERALLY AIKO. I sigh internally as we head up to her room. As soon as I walk in, there is an explosion of Sanrio, like, stuff, everywhere. Did I mention that a bedroom can be a window to the soul? Because this is real evidence. But, I mean, at least she hasn't seen mine, which is full of Bruno Mars stuff. The lesson goes pretty well, with no interruptions, unless you count the part where one of Aiko's moms comes in with these AMAZING crab rangoons. They are so delicious. I watch Aiko draw in her notebook, not in a creepy way of course. She is just not as bad as I thought she was. My face starts to turn red. What the bloody hell?! Why is my face red?! It can't be because...Oh no. There's no way. I look at her again, but she tilts her head up, so I look down. After I hand her another practice test, she turns on 'That's What I Like' by Bruno Mars. MY FAVOURITE SONG. SHE LIKES BRUNO MARS TOO?! I smile to myself as I think about those tickets to a Bruno Mars concert. What if I took Aiko instead of Dexter? I mean, I haven't asked Dexter if he would want to come, so... Maybe I COULD ask Aiko. I ask Aiko at the end of the lesson if I could have her number for future lessons. She says yes and gives it to me. My heart races as she puts it in my phone. What's wrong with me?! I say bye to her moms and head out to my Butler's car. Once I get home I decide to ask Aiko instead of Dexter.

Hey. Do you want to go to a Bruno Mars concert with me?

Sure! Day and time?

Sunday. I'll pick you up at 4?

Sounds good.