Figuring it out
My head was going to blow up and leave pieces of meat scattered all over my living room. I haven’t

had a moment of peace at all.

Thoughts keep running through my head. Never stopping. Never ceasing. It was driving me

insane, for heaven’s sake.

“Okay, now I want you to focus on the key and the insects we are studying,” I tell Mary, one of the students I tutor. “If you want to master the dichotomous key, you have to focus on those two.”

I’d hoped that this would distract me from my thoughts, but I was damn wrong. My head kept

straying every single damn time.

Mary nods her head, giving me the signal that she has understood.

“The first character has large wings and has small or no wings… What do you think the answer is?”

She studies the insects in the book before turning to me. At first, she seems unsure, but finally

she opens her mouth and speaks.

“Only one insect has large wings in this list, so the butterfly will go under that category”

I smile at her, glad that she got it. “Good. So since it’s the only one with large wings, the rest will

fall under the small or no wings. Given that this is like a game of elimination and they’re a lot, we

will subdivide them into categories. So what do you think the next two categories will be

according to the insects we have?”

Her eyes go back to the book. She doesn’t say anything for a while, but she keeps throwing me

glances as if she’s nervous.

“Don’t worry, Mary, just take your time,” I tell her softly.

I believe the key to being a good teacher is having patience. Understanding that not all students

will get it on the first try. There are just some that are a bit slower than others, and that is

absolutely okay.

“I don’t know if I am right,” she begins.

“And that’s okay. If you’re not we’ll find out where you went wrong”

She nods her head. “Long rear legs or short rear legs”

1/4

+15 BONUS

that is excellent. So which will go to

moment her confidence comes back, and I

legs, the category will end with mosquitoes, while for short rear legs, I’ll

parts.

hand in glee, just to make her feel

they have accomplished something.

“Very good”

smile shining as bright

the rest is easy for her. I give her exercises, and she excels in

I give her an assignment

Ava” she says at the

“Anytime dear”

leaves, I head to the living room and drop down on the couch like a sack of potatoes.

and I wanted a

so I was

try to come up with something

Calvin told

niggled

up and go to my room to change. I put on some old clothes then head out

will tak nind of the

getting some seeds from the

and tomatoes.

His voice pulls me away from my

front of me. I don’t

so lost that I

my mind. I’d hoped this would help,” I tell him while wiping some of

dirt from my clothes.

2.4

I can help you figure

“I don’t think so

+15 BONUS

about the mother of

Were they just in a relationship? How long have

doubt he will ever willingly give me the information I need to piece

like every time I mention her, either he

really angry.

okay… I get it. A lot of the time, I prefer

with this,” he points at the

I smile while he

pair of gloves, and he follows

boys doing?”

honestly surprises me

never even imagined this scenario in my wildest dreams,

Noah’s father”

that. He can’t even bring himself to say his

you hate him so much? Whatever

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