Ryder had worked with his resource teacher for a week and in all that time he couldn't help but notice the girl with curly dark hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes who sat in the corner of the room glaring at a paper as if willing it to catch fire. So one day after class he approached her
"Hey" she looked up tears in her eyes
"Hi" She said quickly wiping away the tears.
"You ok?" Ryder asked
"Yes… no… I don't understand my math homework" Ryder nodded and sat in an empty chair next to her.
"Ok, well what don't you get?" Ryder asked praying to God it wasn't a story problem.
"Unit Rates" Ryder nodded
"Well read me the problem I'll help you"
"Really?" The girl asked Ryder nodded
"Of coarse" the girl gave him a small smile
"A snail travels four kilometers in eight hours. What is its speed in terms of kilometers per hour?" She read Ryder noted how smooth and even her voice was when she read.
"That's easy" Ryder told her
"Just put four over eight and divide" whipping out a calculator the girl punched in the problem her eyes widened
"Is it 0.5?" She asked
"Not quite put it in a fraction"
"I don't know how," the girl said
"Yes you do, just take a deep breath and think I won't let you mess up." Ryder wasn't even aware he'd laced their fingers together until he squeezed her hand. The girl frowned glaring at the page again like she could make it burst into flames.
"No, I can't God I'm so stupid!" She said
"Hey look at me" the girl met his eyes
"You are not stupid, I never want to hear you say that again" the girl narrowed her eyes at him
"Why are you helping me?" She asked
"I've been stuck in services for five years and no one has been able to help me. You're new you don't know how the system works, they put you in services and you just keep hitting a wall, and hitting a wall I've seen very few people actually get out of services, it's nearly impossible."
"I'm not just anybody, now finish the problem" Ryder said, grudgingly the girl returned to the glaring at the paper.
"Take a deep breath" Ryder urged closing her eyes the girl breathed and then reopened them,
"Can you convert decimals to a percent?" Ryder asked the girl nodded
"Then what's 0.5 as a percent?" Ryder asked
"Fifty percent" the girl replied frowning
"And what if fifty percent?"
"A half" The girl said
"Good, now what's the fraction of 0.5?" Ryder pushed the scowl left her face and understanding washed over her features
"One half"
"Yes!" Ryder grinned
"That's your answer in simplest form" a grin split the girls face and she threw her arms around Ryder's neck
"Thank you!" She cried
"Oh thank you, thank you! I understand now!"
"You're welcome…" Ryder realized he hadn't caught her name
"Tara. Tara Aldrich" Tara said smiling
"Ryder Lynn" Ryder said
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
I personally can relate to Ryder it's frustrating to have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) you feel like you just keep hitting a wall again and again and just want to be "normal" I love Ryder please Review if you want me to continue!