Another Disappointment

chapter two

mason in mm
•••

"Then you multiply by 100," I demonstrated writing in the green chalkboard I bought for Ryann to help her study.

"But why did you do the ratio?" She questioned frustrated at my answer.

"Cupcake, you have to find the ratio in order to find the fraction," My best friend Mason said erasing my math problem and creating a new one for her. He always made her understand things better than me.

"For example," He started off. I crossed my arms and watched him right on the board. He neatly wrote 3/10 on the board with the white chalk.

"Would you rather have 30 cupcakes or 3?" He asked.

"30 duh," She smiled struggling.

"Exactly! So the ratio is 30/100," He said adding another zero to the thirty and the ten.

"So now you have 30/100 which you have to create into a decimal, so you divide it like mommy said," He told him.

"When divide then you get 0.30 because thirty is the top number and you need the decimal in the hundredth place," He explained.

"Okay, so it would 30% percent?" She questioned.

"Right!" Mason exclaimed. I smiled, she was finally understanding the concept.

"Let's do another one," He said wiping the board. 

"Let's do it!" She smiled excitedly. I dismissed myself and went into the living room.

"How was work?" I asked  sitting beside Tabitha who was marking up her students papers and placing smiling face stickers.

"It was fine but I have this one kid who kept eating all the damn crayons." She smiled, I laughed. Tab is a kindergarten teacher at a nearby school. I busted my ass to make sure she had the best education. She graduated Spelman College in three years and was offered a job after graduation. She's brilliant.

She stayed with me to save up for her own house and to help with Mammy physically and financially. I try my best to keep her medical bills nonexistent. Honestly, I probably wouldn't had been able to do it if Tabitha wasn't here to help.

"I'm so proud of you." I smiled giving her a side hug.

She hugged me back, "I know and I really appreciate you. I wouldn't be here without your support." Tabitha said honestly.

"Of course. That's what family is for." I smiled watching Mammy enter the living room.

"Dinner is served," She announced tiredly.

"Mammy you didn't have to," I said standing to assist her small framed body to the chair.

"Don't tell me I didn't have to do something. wanted to," She argued with me with her hands flying in the air to show her frustration.

"Yes Ma'am. I'll go get your plate," I smiled going into the kitchen to make her plate.

"Well, cupcake is on her way to being a mathematician," Mason smiled entering the kitchen.