Strength |✔️

seven

Neil

"Okay, Richard. Make sure to carry over the four before subtracting 6 from 8. You don't want to get the wrong answer, do ya?"

Richard looks at me with confusion. I sigh. Richard really does not know how to subtract three digit numbers, does he? He's in fifth grade, he should know by now!

Math tutoring has been interesting, so far. I meet up with different kids with different math issues. Like once, I dealt with a girl named Kayla who was in first grade and didn't know how to count from 1-50. Let's just say that it was torture, since I can do WAY more than count to 1-50.

The math center has dozens of tables filled with children that are getting help from the tutors. Each tutor gets 12 dollars an hour, which I guess is a good thing.

Richard pushes up his glasses. I do that too, sometimes. I have had glasses since I was ten, since I'm always staring at a computer or doing math problems. I had to deal with kids calling me a nerd since middle school. But then in high school I finally got contacts, so the bullying reduced a bit.

I was known for being bullied a lot when I was a little kid. Then in high school I tried out for the football team. Since football is a contact sport, I had to get contacts. Then, I built up muscles. And more social skills. And before you know it, I was popular.

I went to prom with Hannah Wilson, the pretty and popular cheerleader that I was just friends with. I didn't like her, but I thought she was really cute. So, when I asked her, she said yes. Maybe because I was hot and all, she said yes. But then I caught her making out with Nick, which got me pissed. Nick was one of my best buds and he knew that I liked Hannah. I don't know who I was pissed at the most.

Then I think of Alisha: sweet, kind and considerate and beautiful Alisha Dave. she's so strong and brave, and it requires a lot of strength to go through a horrible past.

I really want to meet up with her soon.

"Hello? Neil?" says Richard. He tugs on my sleeves. "Are you okay?"

I smile. "I'm fine, Richard. I guess I got zoned out."

Then, I see the door open. My parents walk in with Mahi, but Monika isn't there. She's probably busy with doctor work, or Harry, her fiancée.

I tell Richard to work on the problems I have laid out for him. But first, what are my parents doing here?

I come over to them. I'm wearing jeans and a polo shirt, which I'm proud I wore at this moment. My parents aren't really proud of my athletic clothes and how I wear them all the time. Well, I'm sorry if they're hella comfortable for me.

My Mom and Dad are wearing their work clothes and Mahi is wearing her school uniform. I went to a public high school so I didn't have to wear uniforms, but Mahi got accepted into this academy, which my parents just won't stop bragging about, so Mahi wears uniforms now. Her eyes are dug into her book, which is apparently Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

"Hey, Mom, Dad," I look at Mahi, who is very creepily engrossed in her book. "Mahi."

"Hello, Neil," my Mom says. "We would like to talk to you in private."

"Okay," I say, "let's talk in the lounge room."

I take them to the lounge room. I sit on the couch and lean my elbows on my legs. Mahi flips a page on her book and doesn't look up, once. I clear my throat. "Hey, Mahi. What part are you on?"

She doesn't look up when she speaks. "The part where Harry rides the bus." Um, very specific? And she speaks in a monotone voice and at a very soft tone.