Episode 46: Scene Seven
"Excuse me, Karen, but could you come up here for just a second?" Mr. Grant looked through his large glasses at Karen.
Karen looked up from her book, which she was frantically reading in order to get caught up for the test. She looked around her and then back at Mr. Grant, who nodded his head. She slowly placed her book down on her desk before walking up to the teacher's desk. She heard Tanner's scathing remarks, but paid them no mind.
"Yes, Mr. Grant?"
"Please step out into the hallway," Mr. Grant's voice was grave.
Karen, secretly frightened, made her way out the door and into the hallway. She looked up at Mr. Grant with wide eyes. "What is it that you need, Mr. Grant?"
Mr. Grant took off his glasses to look at Karen. "It has come to my attention that a student in my class is failing to meet the standards set when one becomes a part of the pre-advanced placement courses offered in this school. Normally, I'd have them booted without a second thought, but this child shows promise," he cast a hard glance at Karen.
Karen, with fear creeping into her conscience, said uncertainly, "Oh?"
"Yes," Mr. Grant walked away from her, rubbing his forehead. "It frustrates me that this child cannot get it through their head that they need to work hard and not constantly slack off because things in their life aren't as perfect as they would like them to be!"
Karen gulped. "I'm not following you, sir."
"You, Karen!" he burst out unexpectedly.
Karen's throat was dry. She only pointed at her self and mouthed the word "me".
"I need your help!"
"How can I help you, sir?" Karen's voice was raspy.
Mr. Grant put on his glasses, smiled, and said simply, "By tutoring Tanner Reagan."
Karen's mouth dropped. "You have got to be kidding."
"Oh no, I am not. I can assure you of that. You see, as the top student in this class, you have all the qualifications to become a succesful tutor. I would be honored to have you tutor Tanner, and it would count as extra credit on your grade."
"I'm not sure, Mr. Grant," Karen allowed herself to say hesitantly, though she was secretly screaming NO! NO! NO!!!!!
"Oh, come now, Karen. You're a very smart and capable young woman. You can handle the minute task of helping a young man like Tanner Reagan. I know he's a little headstrong-"
You don't know the half of it, Karen thought to herself.
"-but I'm sure you'll work your magic and get him back on track. Thanks for volunteering your time!" Mr. Grant patted Karen on the shoulder and walked back into the classroom.
"But I didn't even say-" Karen was cut off abruptly by the sound of the door closing behind Mr. Grant. She sighed. "Oh great, now I'm stuck with Dis-Boy. How am I ever going to get through it?"
Suddenly, Karen's eyes lit up, then narrowed. "But when I think about it, I may be able to use this to my advantage. Yes, I'm beginning to see it with clarity now. Pure and simple genius, Karen. Pure and simple genius," Karen chuckled as she walked back into the classroom.