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“Excuse me?” Grace interrupted. “You want me to tutor this, this—” She couldn’t complete her statement but shot me a death glare instead.
“The headmaster requested it, as I mentioned.”
Grace shook her head and stood up. “Am I allowed to turn down this, request? I’m not a tutor and don’t have any extra time to be one.”
“You're of course welcome to talk with Headmaster Waltz if you have hesitations.” Ms. Martin said. “But I do think his mind is made up.”
“Well, I know him pretty well because me and some others have monthly book club with him, so I’m going to speak to him immediately.” Grace picked up her bag. “Thank you, Ms. Martin.”
Book club? With the headmaster? I snickered to myself. Of course she does.
Ms. Martins nodded that she could leave, and Grace quickly grabbed her things—not looking at me, of course—and strutted out of the office. She closed the door with a loud bang. "She seems happy.” I said to Ms. Martin and stood up. “This should go well.”
“You may leave, as well, Henry.” Ms. Martin said, with a forced smile.
2
Tutor Girl
Grace
“What crap!” I muttered to myself as I marched to the headmaster’s office. Taking the steps up to his office two at a time, I continued talking out my frustrations and not caring who heard me. “Why would he put such a ridiculous task on me? Grace O’Connell. The smart, over-achieving, rule-following Grace who has minded her business ever since I got admitted here. I’m kind to my teachers and work harder than anyone else to make a good impression but still don’t get the respect other students do. Is this a scholarship kid thing? They wouldn’t make me do this stupid community service if my parents paid my way in!”
I’d been raised by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet by working morning and night shifts cleaning hotel rooms. It seemed like any money she made went to her deadbeat boyfriends instead of filling our fridge. The men she moved in and out of our house made her crazy, and from what I could tell, the only thing that kept her sane—or sober—was how smart she thought I was. I did my best to keep my grades up, figuring that if she saw the bright future ahead of me, she would be motivated to live a healthier life to be sure she was part of it.
Getting a scholarship to Riverview made her happier than I’d ever seen her and got me out of our house and away from her lifestyle, which wasn’t one I cared to be part of. I’d basically raised myself, anyway, so being on my own at Riverview wasn’t hard—and I always had enough to eat. For the past two years, I’d been sharing stories about what happened at school during our vacation weeks and summer break. The joy on her face hearing about all of it made the late nights and early hours of studying worth it.
“You mean to tell me you’re actually friends with your headmaster?” My mom giggled like a schoolgirl who couldn’t believe what she heard when I told her about the book club with Headmaster Waltz and the other kids. “And you’ve won the award for highest GPA, again?” She gushed, hugging me tight. “I’m so proud of you, Grace.”
Standing in front of Headmaster Waltz’s tall, wooden door, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before knocking softly. No response.
I knocked a bit louder and heard his voice. “Come in.”
I exhaled and opened the door, making sure to stand tall and smile big. He didn’t look up from the documents he was signing for a few moments but then smiled when he did. “Well, hello, Miss O’Connell.”
“Hello, sir.”
He nodded. “To what I owe the pleasure? Today isn’t book club, is it?”
“No, sir.” I laughed nervously. “I actually needed to talk to you about something.”
“Have a seat, please. As one of our best and brightest, you’re always welcome in my office, Miss O’Connell.” He ushered me toward the plush seat across from him.
I sat down and scanned the documents scattered across his desk. He saw me noticing his mess and made a few, quick piles that he shoved into a file cabinet next to him. He smiled, again. “So, tell me, Miss O’Connell. What can I help you with today?”
I sat up straight and smiled back. “I met with Ms. Martin today about the new student I’m supposed to tutor, but I... I mean, I’m not sure I have...time.” I stuttered, nervous he wasn’t going to listen, and I’d get stuck with some spoiled rich kid all year who I already figured out from our two classes together didn’t care about anyone but himself.
“I see,” Headmaster Waltz nodded like he understood, but he didn’t. I had done my best to keep my distance from all the other bitchy rich kids at school, and Henry—who was worse than them—wasn't my problem to solve.
“Grace?” The headmaster’s voice pulled me back from my rambling thoughts.
“What?” I asked too quickly. “I mean, yes, Headmaster?”
“Do you have a problem with tutoring Mr. Walton?”
“Yes.” I blurted out—again, too quickly.
Headmaster Waltz cocked an eyebrow like I’d posed a problem he wasn’t sure how to solve. “Hmmm.” He hummed to himself, tapping his fingers together. “May I ask why?”
