It's been almost a week since Ava started summer school, and some days she did whatever she could to keep from going. Today was Thursday, 5:15 in the afternoon and Earl was still at work. We sat in the living room with the television off as I helped Ava with her geography homework.
"Okay Ava, last two questions", I said as I tapped my fingers on the coffee table.
Ava looked bored and frustrated as she looked down at her paper and paper backed world geography work book. From my understanding, Ava was given a geography work book but no geography textbook. Her work book was the one that her summer school teacher Mrs. Haze assigned their homework from. Inside the classroom, the kids were given worksheets.
"Ugh, I have a headache and do I really need to know this stuff?", she whined.
"You will if you wanna pass the 5th grade", I replied. You did most of these questions by yourself and that's good. These are just your last two questions, you can do it.
"This is boring", she whined as she tossed her pencil across the living room. I hate Mrs. Haze.
"Ava, that's enough!", I demanded. Now get up and get your pencil. I understand that you hate summer school but throwing a temper tantrum is not going to make things better. I understand that you wanna watch music videos or go outside and play, but this is more important. You made it through 10 questions, now you just have two more to go.
"I hate school period", she replied as she bent down to pick up her pencil. My dad dropped out of school and he's doing just fine.
"Your father wants you to do BETTER than him", I said. Now get back over here and let's get down to business. C'mon Ava, question 11. Your father is coming home early tonight and he insisted that you have your homework and chores done before he gets home.
"What time is he coming back from work?", she asked.
"Around 10", I replied. Something about a new city ordinance saying that he has to close his juke joint by 9:00 on week nights.
Ava came back to join me at the coffee table when the doorbell rang.
"I'll answer it", I said. You just get busy with question 11, okay.
"Okay", she grumbled.
YOU ARE READING
Mr. Tan
Teen FictionTeenage Alexis Bethany Hathaway who is reunited with her nonchalant mother and her verbally abusive husband after her loving grandmother's death. Once she discovers that she is pregnant, her mother tells her she has a certain amount of time to get a...
