Practicing What You Preach. Vanessa Davis Griggs

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СКАЧАТЬ a pair of shoes, for instance,” Marcus said. “Okay, let’s say that a represents one pair of shoes and b represents a second pair, and c represents a third pair of shoes. Let’s say you were trying to tell Mercedes or one of your other friends something about each pair. And you tell them that a equals b, and b equals c, then what would you be left to conclude about shoes a and c?”

      Sasha smiled. “Okay, you’re telling me that shoe a and shoe b are the same, and shoe b and c are the same, so that would mean that shoe a and shoe c are the same.”

      “Or as the equation would phrase it—”

      “—a equals c!” Sasha beamed as she relaxed. “I get that!”

      “So if you were to substitute a number for shoes, then what?”

      “Then I would know that whatever number a represents and if it equals b, and if whatever the number b is it equals c, then logically a must equal c since a equals b!” She clapped. “Oh, that was fun! You really are good.” Sasha touched his hand, allowing her hand to linger on his.

      And that was when he felt something that equaled electricity flowing from her hand to his body, and he fully realized just how much of a role science played and the impact it had in real life.

      “Mama’s pulling up in the driveway!” T. J. said as he burst in the door and headed toward the kitchen. He stopped, backed up, and walked into the den. “You’re Sasha, aren’t you? Wow, you look even better up close.” He held out his hand. “My name is T. J. So tell me, which part of heaven did you fall from?”

      Just then, Sharon walked in the house. She stopped when she saw her two sons and one young lady in her den. “Boys,” she said, “what’s going on here?” She directed her gaze at T. J., since he was the one holding Sasha’s hand.

      T. J. immediately held up both of his hands in a show of surrender. “Ask Marcus. You told us not to have company in our house when you’re not here. I know better, so it wasn’t me. I wouldn’t dare disobey you, Mama.”

      Sharon looked at Marcus, feeling bad that his brother had embarrassed him.

      Marcus stood up. “Mama, this is Sasha Bradford. She goes to my school. I’m helping her with algebra.”

      Sasha stood, walked over to Marcus’s mother, and firmly shook her hand. “How do you do, Ms. Peeples? Your son agreed to tutor me in algebra. I must apologize. He told me to come after six. I got here a few minutes early and he’s such a gentleman, he didn’t want to make me wait outside until you arrived. I had an emergency come up so I sort of put him on the spot showing up like I did. He has been absolutely wonderful so far. Marcus has actually gotten me to understand some of this stuff. And to think, we just got started. Your son is really smart.”

      Sharon grinned as she nodded and wrinkled her nose. “He is, isn’t he? Especially when it comes to anything mathematical. I’m glad he knows how to do this stuff because if I had to help him, we would both be in trouble.” Sharon leaned over and whispered, “Between me and you, math was not my strongest suit either.”

      “Oh, I know. My mother has hired tutor after tutor for me, but I’ve still struggled. But I must say, no one has ever managed to make it come alive the way Marcus just did. I’m actually looking forward to learning more.”

      “Do you live around here?” Sharon asked. “I didn’t see a car when I drove up.”

      “I live in the subdivision next to this one. A friend dropped me off after school, after cheerleading practice. Oh, I’m a cheerleader, which is why I’m dressed this way. But it’s not all that far to walk over here. My mother is sending someone to pick me up.”

      “Oh, yes, I know,” Sharon said. “Back when I was walking more to stay in shape, I would walk over there and back.”

      “She lives in the rich folks’ neighborhood,” T. J. said with a smirk. “You have to make some serious Benjamins to own one of those addresses, unlike over here on this side where we can’t seem to ever be able to afford something as simple as a pair of Michael Jordan shoes.”

      “T. J.,” Sharon said with a scold in her voice. “That’s not nice. I’ve taught you better. We’re thankful for what God has blessed us to have. And I’m happy for those who manage to have even more.”

      “It might not be nice, but it’s true. And I ain’t hating on them. One day I plan to have a house like the ones in her subdivision, if not bigger. In fact, you gonna see my house featured on that show called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Watch and see.”

      “Well, I’m not going to interrupt you two from your schoolwork,” Sharon said to Marcus and Sasha as she started out of the room. “I had a really rough day at work today. I’m going to go upstairs and change out of these oppressive clothes and find me something comfortable.” She smiled. “T. J., have you done your homework yet?”

      “Yes, ma’am,” T. J. said. “I finished all of it about fives minutes before you came in the house. I’m going to go get on the computer now.”

      After Sharon and T. J. left, Marcus and Sasha went back to the books. “Marcus, I hope I didn’t get you in any trouble being here. So, you didn’t tell your mother about me or that you were going to be doing this?”

      “I didn’t tell her yet because, honestly, I wasn’t sure you were serious. I thought I’d wait and see if you showed up, then I’d tell her.” Marcus tried to get comfortable. For some reason, Sasha sitting so close to him was making him more and more tense. He could only hope she hadn’t noticed just how much.

      After an hour of tutoring, a car honked outside. Sasha got up to leave. “Mama said you need to let us know how much you charge. She sent this today.” Sasha pulled out twenty dollars and gave it to him. “She said if I liked you and if I think the two of us will work out, we can schedule as many lessons as I need.”

      “I wouldn’t charge you twenty dollars for a one-hour session, though.”

      “Oh, it’s okay. My daddy is pretty loaded. He’s an investor. He works for some big investment company or something like that. Daddy’s paying for this so I feel good knowing that his money is going to good use. And Marcus, you are so worth it! In fact, if you like, I’ll tell Mama you’re charging twenty-five, or better yet, thirty dollars a lesson. And if they think it’s too much to pay, I’ll have one of my little tantrums, tell them how awesome a tutor you are. Make them understand what all I’ll possibly lose if I don’t get a passing grade. Trust me. I have my routine down pat.”

      Marcus smiled as he looked at her shoes and then back up at her. “Twenty dollars is more than enough.” He looked into her big beautiful brown eyes, then hurriedly looked away as he opened the door for her. “Thank you, though.”

      She touched his hand again. “No, seriously, I thank you. For the first time, I’m actually looking forward to class tomorrow, if you can believe that. Imagine how I’ll be when you and I are finished.”

      “If you keep up this enthusiasm, you just may decide to become a teacher and teach algebra one day. Wouldn’t that be something?”

      “Now let’s not get carried away, Marcus. I plan on becoming a top model or an actress. Maybe a model, then an actress. I’ve even had a few ad shoots. But teaching is not something I would ever be interested in doing. Besides, I’m not all that great with children. СКАЧАТЬ