Finding Hope in Texas by Ryan T. Petty Read Free Book Online Page A

again.”
    Mr. Peet smiled and began to write on a piece
of paper. It took him a moment to jot down his scribble, not that I
feared being late for my next class, but I just wasn’t sure what he
really wanted.
    “Miss Kilpatrick, have you ever heard of
dual-credit classes?”
    “You mean classes for high school and college
credit. Yes, I took a couple last semester at my old school.
Why?”
    “Well, if you would, please take this note to
Mrs. Tremble. She is the counselor here. I would like you, if you
want, to take History 1302. It will get you out of this class of
ill repute. Of course, I’m going to have a lot of wrong answers in
here if you do want to change over, but that will also give you a
class where you can practice dodging left hooks as well.”
    My face reddened, I could feel it.
    “Now, some of our students can apply for
grant money to take a DC class. Mrs. Tremble can talk to you about
that as well, if you are in need. Altogether it is around $350,” he
noted.
    I shook my head understanding. “I’ll, check
into it. Thank you.” He smiled and passed me the slip of paper and
I headed for the door.
    “I’m glad you found the little burg, Miss
Kilpatrick. Please continue with your insights in 1302 as well. Oh,
and if you need to see someone about that eye, please let me
know.”
    I smiled back at him but continued out of the
room, switching on my phone.
    Richard, I need $350 in my bank acct. I am
going to take college class. I texted.
    The reply came quick. $350? Is that all?
What about books?
    Nope, that’s book, too. It’s junior college,
cheap huh?
    Yeah, no problem on the money. Be there in
30 min.
    TY.
    YW.
    As I rounded the corner my phone was slapped
out of my hands, and I watched it cascade down the hallway under so
many feet. Jody smirked at me, happy that her plan had come to
fruition. I sank back, feeling so small compared to her even though
we were around the same size. But she had told me yesterday right
before the punch: This was her territory and I had to learn my
role in it . Answering Mr. Peet’s question probably had not
helped either. My timid reaction seemed to do the trick though as
she brushed aside me with her patented shoulder bump and moved down
the hall. At least I wouldn’t have to deal with her in first period
anymore. Now she could answer as many questions wrong as she wanted
to. With the danger subsiding, I started my search for the missing
cell phone. It didn’t take me long to see that it had traveled much
farther than I’d previously thought and was nudged up against the
wall. When I turned it over, I saw that the screen had been cracked
right down the middle. Grrr! Why do I have to put up with
this crap? Is this what Texas public education is all about? Well,
I’m certainly getting a lesson. Don’t talk to the head
cheerleader’s boyfriend for one. Would Richard take it as a joke if
I asked for money for a hit man? I could only shake my head and
continue to. Where was I going? Oh, yes, the wonders of English
class.
    Mark Twain never had so many problems as a
high school girl. He never once had to deal with gossip, hormones,
or what fashionable clothes he was wearing in modern day education,
and I suspect that if he had been a teacher today, his hair alone
with have gotten him laughed out of the profession by unruly
sophomores. Still, his characters seemed to have some adolescent
troubles trying to free slaves, whitewash fences, or getting lost
in caves. Caves? How solitary. Maybe what I needed was Tom
Sawyer to help me get lost in a cave for a while. Or maybe I was
already there, running my hands down the rough interior rock walls,
my eyes dilated, trying to allow any little bit of light in so I
might find my path, the path that would lead me out of the darkness
and into the light again. Maybe this was the cave of my life, my
family’s death being the initial entrance. Now, I had to find my
way out again. But down inside, I knew I was still in shock for
being