Homecoming Day by Holly Jacobs Read Free Book Online Page A

if that was okay, and it was.”
    JT nodded. “Thanks. So, Ms. Watson, wanna show me the room?”
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    S ETH LISTENED TO JT and Laura chatter away about painting techniques and the mural as he opened up the box that contained the crib. The instructions may as well have been in Greek.
    Now, he was sure Greek was a fine language. He had friends who were Greek and Lori and Tony had a habit of calling each other Greek endearments, which he was sure Laura and JT would think was sweet. But he wanted his instructions in English. Not rocket scientist English, but rather plain old everyday English.
    He examined the parts, assessing what he had and trying to picture what he had to do in order to turn them into a crib.
    Laura left to start a load of baby clothes in the machine, and he said, “JT, look at this paragraph. See if it makes sense to you.” He thrust the instructions at the girl.
    She studied them for a moment and shrugged. “I don’t get it.”
    â€œCould you read that paragraph while I try to follow along?”
    JT studied the text, then shook her head. “No.” She turned her back on him and started to sketch outlines on the wall.
    He looked up and saw Laura standing in the doorway with a puzzled expression on her face as she stared atJT. “Why don’t I help you?” she asked him. Laura read the instructions, step-by-step. And gradually, he made progress. She held a side as he screwed the headboard in place.
    Forty-five minutes later, they had a crib.
    â€œI’m gonna paint soon, Ms. Watson. You shouldn’t be in the fumes.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll make lunch.” Seth jumped to his feet and offered her a hand. At first, he thought she wasn’t going to take it, but good sense won out and she did. He got her to her feet and she headed into the hall.
    Seth hung behind. “Can I do anything to help, JT?”
    JT shook her head. “Nah. I like working on my own.”
    â€œI get that. But sometimes everybody needs a hand. Remember, I’m here. So’s Ms. Watson. We’re here to help with whatever you need.”
    JT turned toward him. “I know we’re talking about more than helping with a mural. You’re trying to be real sly and make sure I know that you two care. I sort of already figured it out. I don’t know why. Why do you like me? I’m not the kind of kid most cops latch on to. And I can’t figure out why Ms. Watson likes me. She’s the only teacher at the school who does.”
    â€œThat’s not true.”
    JT snorted. “Yeah, it is. Of course, I’m a pain in the ass in class. I don’t turn in homework and don’t apply myself. I’m disruptive and according to one very helpful teacher, there’s a chance I’m heading for a life of crime. She’s got a whole list of things I do and don’t do. Most of the time what I do do, I shouldn’t. And what Idon’t do, I should. It’s no way to endear yourself to the powers-that-be. I guess they have a reason not to really like me, which only makes it weirder that Ms. Watson seems to.”
    â€œSo, why not apply yourself?”
    â€œWhy should I?”
    Seth couldn’t help but think of his mom. He knew exactly what she’d say if she were here. “My mom had this option speech. She’d say, you should always do your best in every class, no matter how much work it takes because each of those grades represents your future options. Maybe your future job won’t depend on your grade in biology, but maybe you’ll decide you want to be a doctor. Maybe you’ll have this burning desire that eats at you—a feeling that your life won’t be complete unless you become a doctor. Well, if you flunked out of your science classes, you won’t have that option.”
    He’d heard the speech so many times growing up, it was like he was channeling Deborah Keller. “If she said that to me