AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, well, he’s wrong.”
Sawyer drove past Lyntacky’s middle school.
“Duck or Miss McConnell may see you.”
“She won’t. It’s math time. She sits at her desk during math and talks to us because she says it’s the hardest part of her day.”
“I can relate.”
“I like math.”
“That’s because you’re weird like your daddy.”
“I’m going to be better than him one day.”
Sawyer shot her a look and saw the determination.
“Yeah, well, you need to go to school to get better. You’re not doing anything illegal are you, Ally?” Sawyer’s body went cold at the thought. Her hesitation to answer him did not ease his mind.
“Okay. I’m pulling over and locking all the doors until you tell me.”
She huffed out a breath.
“Come on, kiddo.”
“Jack Little paid me to do his homework, and I didn’t have time to finish it and mine!” The words came out fast.
He wanted to laugh with relief, but Sawyer knew that wouldn’t help the situation.
“How often are the kids in your class paying you to do their assignments? You’re seven, for pity’s sake.”
Ally dropped her eyes to her hands.
“You may as well spill all of it.”
“Most weeks it’s the older kids who do it cus I can do their work too.”
“Yeah. Go you being that brainy.”
A little smile tilted her lips. How long had it taken for the kids to realize how smart his niece was? And why didn’t Brody know this stuff was going on?
“What do they pay?”
Her eyes shot to his. “Five dollars an assignment.”
Sawyer whistled. “In my day, it was only fifty cents. Here’s the thing, baby girl. I get that you’re smart. I also get that some people aren’t good at schoolwork and it’s harder for them. But you’re not doing them any favors. How are they going to learn and get better if they don’t do it for themselves?”
“I guess.” She picked at her nail polish.
“And it’s not good if you don’t hand in your stuff on time because your grades will drop.”
“Uncle Sawyer?”
“Yeah.”
“Jack Little said he’d stuff Bobby down the toilet and flush him if I didn’t do his assignment.”
“They didn’t threaten to flush your head too?”
