Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: RELATIVES (02/15/18)
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TITLE: Do I Have to Show My Work? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wilma Schlegel
02/22/18 -
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4/100:58/X “Solve for ‘X’.”
“Fourteen hundred fifty,” Jimmy, leaning back in his chair, his legs sprawled under his desk, called out.
“Well, that is very good, Mr. Davidson. Can you tell the class how you arrived at that answer?” Miss Caley asked.
He looked at her for a moment then said, “Ummm – no.”
She tilted her head to the side. This boy lacked certain other skills, but he could do Math. Hisrecords indicated that he was restless, bored, an underachiever. She was challenged by him, saw potential and prayed for him.
“Are you sure you can’t tell us anything about the work you did?” Miss Caley asked.
Jimmy shifted in his seat, looked out the window and then back at Miss Caley. “Well, there are four quarters in a dollar, so it just goes to figure.”
The class roared in laughter.
Jimmy looked around at them and shook his head.
“Class, class!” Miss Caley struggled for control.
Jimmy stood up. The class settled down.
“Jimmy, please sit down,” Miss Caley said firmly and she took her own seat.
Jimmy slouched back into his.
At the end of class everyone moved toward the door with all the usual whispers and shuffling of feet. As Jimmy passed by Miss Caley’s desk she stopped him.
“Jimmy could I talk to you as soon as everyone leaves?”
“I guess.”
When they were alone she said to him, “You like numbers, don’t you?”
“They make sense, they relate to each other, they are what they are. Everything should be like that,” he shifted on his feet.
“How do you like school?”
He gave her a disgusted look.
“You’re looking to quit as soon as you can?”
“Yep,” he answered looking at his feet.
“I don’t blame you,” she said.
“You don’t?” He looked up at her.
“Nope, but while you’re still here I’d like to make a deal with you. I won’t put you on the spot again but can I ask you to help me with some of the Math projects we have coming up?”
He looked at her, considering. His mouth might not have been smiling but his eyes were.
Twenty years later
Mona trooped in to the drug store and headed to the counter in the back, her six-year-oldAnnette, in tow.
“Hey, is Dr. Davidson here today?” she asked the assistant.
“Yep.” the assistant smiled at her. “Here he comes now.”
“Hey, Mona and Annette, what brings you in? Everybody’s OK, I hope,” he gave Annette a high five.
“We’re OK, but one of us seems to be having some problems with Math and we thought you might help.”
“I’m not having trouble,” Annette argued. The teacher wants me to show my work, but..”
“But you can do the Math without having to do any work,” Dr. Davidson finished.
“How d’you know? I can add the numbers without putting them under each other,” Annette finished with a little attitude.
Mona looked annoyed. Dr. Davidson stifled a chuckle.
“I had a teacher like that once too,” he remembered. “At first I thought she was lame and the whole class too.”
“What’s lame, is that dumb?” Annette asked.
“Sorry, yeah, kind of. But she wasn’t dumb at all. Ended up she treated me like a younger brother.”
“Was it Mom?”
“No, she wasn’t your mom. The teacher wasn’t related to me for real but she related to me,” Dr. Davidson smiled at his word play.
“Huh?” Annette frowned.
“Never mind. But you know what? How would you like if I come over some evenings starting tonight and I’ll tell you about some of the Math stuff she let me help her with. I’ll bet you’d be great with it.”
“Do I have to show my work?”
“There won’t be any work. But if you feel like writing anything down, that’s up to you.” He winked at her.
“Does that sound alright to you?” the pharmacist asked his sister.
“That sounds great to me,” Mona gave a relieved smile. “I knew I could count on you – thanks Jimmy! You’re so great with school stuff.” She gave her brother a big hug.
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