Math tutoring (11)

*Alexis*

I woke up worried that day. You know the mornings you just wake up and feel like your father is going to say something weird to a random person you're bringing over? That was one of them for me. I got ready as usual, and I went to school. I saw Jonathan waiting at the entrance.

"Are you making this a habit now?" I asked him as soon as I arrived.

"Mabye," he said confidently.

"About my father yesterday..."

"It's ok. I totally understand him. When I meet him, I'll show him that there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Thanks. I owe you one."

We walked together to class, and the day passed faster than usual, until it was the time for Math tutoring with Jonathan.

"My parents can be a little dramatic," I said. "A little overdramatic, mabye cause this is the first time I'm bringing a boy over."

"I totally get it."

"Please don't do anything stupid, ok? Or romantic. I don't want them to feel like we're a couple."

"Got it."

In every house of our neighborhood, there were my neighbors saying hello to me. I bet it was just the curiosity to see the boy I was "getting married" with.

"They aren't like this usually. They probably saw dad's story." I told Jonathan. "Let's hope my family will take it well, better than yesterday at least."

When we arrived at my house, I saw my whole family waiting outside. Including my brother.

"Nicky you didn't tell me you were coming back today," I told him while I was hugging him.

"I couldn't miss the first boy you're bringing over" he whispered to my ear.

"Hahaha, very funny" I slapped him. (as a joke)

My brother was looking at Jonathan just like Gordon Ramsay looks at the dishes he judges, before he tastes them.

"He's hot indeed," Nicky whispered again.

Then he looked at him more carefully.

"Wait a sec...Jo Jo is that you?

"Nicky Dicky?" Jonathan seemed surprised.

"Wait, how do you two know each other?" I intruded.

"We went to summer camp together for 5 years" Jonathan told me.

"And we were The Camp Pranksters" Nicky continued, trying to do special effects with his voice.

"Will you ALL shut up and come in? My sister shouted at us.

"Yeah, let's get inside (before dad kills us)," I said. And then we all went in.

"I'm glad you're dating Jo Jo and not some idiot from your class," Nicky whispered while we were walking to the living room.

"WE'RE NOT DATING!" I shouted at him in whispers. "He's just my math tutor."

"Yeah, whatever," Nicky rolled his eyes. "He's gonna be more than your math tutor in some months," he elbowed me.

I got ready to slap him as strong as I could, but I saw my parents were staring at us, so I didn't.

We all sat in the couches and sofas. My dad couldn't stop staring at Jonathan for any second.

"So, you're going to give my daughter Math lessons?" he asked Jonathan suspiciously.

"Yes, sir." Jonathan tried being polite.

"I'm just gonna make sure that you're good enough to teach her, and if you aren't, you'll get out of my house and never come back.

"Okay sir."

"Ok then, how much is 56903×45672?"

"Dad there's no way he..." I said but I was interrupted by Jonathan's answer.

"2 598 873 816"

All of us were surprised by such an quick answer, especially dad.

"Let me check," he said.

He did quickly the calculations in his phone and said:

"Corret. How about 789567×109687?"

"86 605 235 529"

"Correct again. What are you even listening in those earphones?"

"The ABBA-s sir. One of my favorite music bands."

"Let me hear."

Suddenly dad started dancing and singing.

"Money, money, money,

Must be funny,

On a rich man's world."

"Dear God, WHEN WILL THIS FAMILY STOP EMBARRASSING ME?" I thought.

"Dad!" I shouted at him

"But it's one of my favorite songs!"

"DAD!"

"Okay, young man, you can give my daughter Math lessons, but I'll keep these headphones till you leave, ok?"

"As you wish, sir," Jonathan responded.

We went upstairs in my room quickly. I heard a knock 1 second later. It was my sister.

"Can I now ask him...?"

"NO!" And again I locked the door on her face.

"Who was it?" Jonathan asked.

"Oh just my sister being my sister" I responded. " Anyways, back to the point, how did you even find the answers of the questions dad asked you so quickly?" I asked him. "BECAUSE it's surprising to find someone faster than the calculator."

"Remember when I said that my father was crazier than yours?" He asked.

"Yep"

"After my mother's death, I wasn't allowed to go outside like other children, my dad was too afraid he'd lose me too. Everything I was supposed to do, was study. My favorite subject was Maths, and I decided to master it. My father even got me a private tutor at the time, but in a few months, I got even better than him, so I just kept studying by myself and learned how to multiply much faster."

"Will you learn me to do that too?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because if I teach you the easy way, you won't know the logics of the exercise, you'll just do it mechanicly."

"So you don't use the logics yourself and you expect me to?" I reasoned.

"I used my logics millions of times, until I created a shortcut myself. If you find a shortcut by yourself, it proves that you already know more than just the basics."

"Haha, now can you stop lecturing and teach me?"

"That's why I'm here for. First the Pythagorian theoreme is....Blah blah blah blah blah blah"

"Oh yeah. Now I get it. I have no idea why the teacher didn't explain it this way."

"This is my way of explaining, to make it easier for you."

"Thanks, I owe you one."

I heard some whispers coming from the door.

"Owe you what?! Is she crazy?! She's leading herself to the danger!"

I opened the door quickly and saw dad, Katie and Nicky.

"Seriously guys? You know we can hear you, right?"

"Sorry" Katie and Nicky said at a time.

"Did you finish yet?" Dad asked.

"Yes, I was just leaving" Jonathan responded. "In a few months, Alex's going to master Mathematics."

We all went downstairs and as soon as Jonathan opened the door, mom asked:

"Honey, you wanna stay for dinner? You must be tired of teaching a dumba** like Alexis."

"Thanks a lot for the compliment mom!" I thought.

"Yes, I'd like that." He said.

"Oh gosh" I thought. "I forgot to tell him that mom's food isn't edible."

"Today we're ordering pizza," mom continued.

"Phew," I thought. "At least he isn't going to die on our first tutoring."