Secrets & Surrender 2 Read Free

even had a chance to call her.
    “Yeah, no problem.”
    “Okay, so I have you down for afternoons Monday through Friday.” She scribbled on her clipboard. “Now, most students you’ll be helping are struggling with pre-algebra and algebra courses. I hate to say it, but most of them are from wealthy families, and they’re used to passing based on that fact alone. Don’t be surprised if you have to basically teach them from scratch.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Good.” I followed as she directed me back to the front of the room. “We have a sign in sheet at the reception desk. Students place their name by a time slot on this list for tutoring help. As you can see here, we’re already filled for the next two days. You’ll be very busy.”
    I took in a deep breath. I wasn’t a stranger to long hours of work. I’d been hoping that maybe I’d have some free time to study, but I really needed this job. Despite my full scholarship, college costs like textbooks, equipment, and fees added up fast. I tried to live as frugally as I could, but after paying for summer courses and now fall courses, it wasn’t working. It was barely in the middle of fall semester and I was already broke. And there was no way I was going to ask my parents for money, especially now that they had to pay a neighbor to take care of Miguelito and Selina. Mom had found some housecleaning work, and even though Dad was worried about her working, she had insisted. At one point, Juan had even volunteered to dropout of school so he could get a job. With a swift whack on the head, Mom ended that conversation real quick.
    I had tried to convince them that I could take care of the kids in the afternoons and that way they could save money. But they wouldn’t hear of it. They wanted me to focus on my studies and enjoy my time in college. I was so lucky to have parents like them and Nic—that sneaky bastard.
    Somehow Nic had managed to pay for a lot of things I couldn’t, like “accidentally” buying the wrong textbooks that just happened to be the books I needed for my classes. And then saying that he couldn’t return them and making up some lame excuse that I just knew was totally bogus.
    “I’m ready to take it on, Mrs. Henley. Thanks again for considering my application. I know it’s late in the semester.”
    “Yes, yes. Now, I have a favor to ask of you. I know you don’t officially begin work until tomorrow, and I normally don’t allow this, but it’s a special case. I have a student who’s been waiting all day for some help on an assignment. The poor dear is struggling.”
    I was shocked to see Mrs. Henley’s stern face actually soften.
    “Sure. I have about an hour.”
    “Wonderful.” She handed me a clipboard and a form. “Here’s the student’s form. She’s in the waiting area. I’ve assigned you to cubicle J.  It’s located in the back corner of the room.”
    After tossing my backpack in the cubicle, I walked to the waiting area to pick up my first tutoring client. I looked over the form, which contained information completed by the student. In perfect looping handwriting, the student indicated she was majoring in elementary education. She described previous math grades and her current academic struggles. The list was endless.
    I squinted when I noticed something strange about the handwriting. The “I’s” were dotted with little hearts. I sighed. She was one of those girls. I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache start to bloom behind my right eye. Well, I’d better get used to it. This student was the type of student I was bound to be working with for the next year and hopefully more.
    “I’m looking for a...” I flipped the form over, looking for a name.
    No way!
    No freaking way!
    “Kristie Stanton.”
    My eyes darted up. Sitting in a chair by the entrance door was a beaming Kristie.
    What was it with that big ass polka dotted bow on her head? And of course it had to match the red blouse and skirt she was wearing.