A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks Read Free Book Online Page A

from
school?”
    “He never had
any. Except for projects he’d made.”
    Now, of course,
it sounded ridiculous, even to him. Why, then, hadn’t he noticed it before?A
little too busy with your own life, huh? a voice inside him answered.
    Miles sighed,
angry with himself, angry with the school. Sarah seemed to read his mind.
    “I know you’re
wondering how this could have happened, and you’ve got every right to be upset.
Jonah’s teachers had a responsibility to teach him, but they didn’t. I’m sure
it wasn’t done out of malice—it probably started because no one wanted to push
him too hard.”
    Miles
considered that for a long moment. “This is justgreat ,” he muttered.  “Look,” Sarah said, “I didn’t bring you here
just to give you bad news. If I did only that, then I’d be neglectingmy
responsibility. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. I
don’t want to hold him back this year, and with a little extra effort, I don’t
think I’ll have to. He can still catch up.” It took a while for that to sink
in, and when he looked up, Sarah nodded. 
“Jonah is very intelligent. Once he learns something, he remembers it.
He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class.”
    “So what does
that mean?”
    “He needs help
after school.”
    “Like a tutor?”
    Sarah smoothed
her long skirt. “Getting a tutor is one idea, but it can get expensive,
especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics.
We’re not talking algebra here—right now we’re doing single-digit addition, like
three plus two. And as far as reading goes, he just needs to spend some time
practicing. Same thing with writing, he just needs to do it.  Unless you’ve got money to burn, it would
probably be better if you do it.”
    “Me?”
    “It’s not all that
hard. You read with him, have him read to you, help him with his assignments,
things like that. I don’t think you’ll have any problem with anything that I’ve
assigned.”
    “You didn’t see
my report cards as a kid.”
    Sarah smiled
before going on. “A set schedule, too, would probably help. I’ve learned that
kids remember things best when there’s a routine involved. And besides, a
routine usually ensures that you’re consistent, and that’s what Jonah needs
most of all.”
    Miles adjusted
himself in his seat. “That’s not as easy as it sounds. My schedule varies.
Sometimes I’m home at four, other times I don’t get home until Jonah’s already
in bed.”
    “Who watches
him after school?”
    “Mrs.
Knowlson—our neighbor. She’s great, but I don’t know if she’d be up to doing
schoolwork with him every day. She’s in her eighties.” “What about someone
else? A grandparent or someone like that?” Miles shook his head. “Missy’s
parents moved to Florida after she died, so they’re not around. My mother died
when I was finishing up high school, and as soon as I went off to college, my
father took off. Half the time, I don’t even know where he is. Jonah and I have
been pretty much on our own for the last couple of years. Don’t get me
wrong—he’s a great kid, and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself.
But at other times, I can’t help but think it would have been easier if Missy’s
parents had stayed in town, or if my father were a little more available.”
    “For something
like this, you mean?”
    “Exactly,” he
answered, and Sarah laughed again. He liked the sound of it. There was an
innocent ring to it, the kind he associated with children who had yet to
realize that the world wasn’t simply fun and games.
    “At least
you’re taking this seriously,” Sarah said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve
had this conversation with parents who either didn’t want to believe it or
wanted to blame me.”
    “Does that
happen a lot?”
    “More than you
can imagine. Before I sent the note home, I even talked to Brenda about the
best way to tell you.”
    “What