"Then, you put in the sulfur, blah, blah, blah, and the smoke should be a blue color because the blah in the blah should ignite with the blah of the blah, blah, blah."
That's basically all I heard in chemistry class. Ms. Watts was a pretty lady and she was one of the only teachers that actually acted like she wanted you to succeed in life. She was my favorite teacher, but I hated her class.
"Carson!" Jewels hissed quietly as I sat barely awake in class. "Ms. Watts is looking at you. Wake up."
"Carson Farmer!" Ms. Watts called in her high pitched cheery voice. "I'm so glad that you stayed up all last night studying like I hope you did, but could you maybe wait to sleep in a different class? Preferably Mrs. Wilson's. She made fun of my split ends this morning."
I grinned at her sleepily. "Don't worry Ms. Watts. I sleep in her class too. The only difference is that hers is boring as hell."
"Hey! No cursing in my classroom unless there's absolute need. I'll excuse it this time just because you were using it to describe that frump of woman's class. Are you ready for the test tomorrow, Carson?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
She sighed and became all seriousness. That worried me. Ms. Watts was never serious unless she was arguing with Mrs. Wilson (the art teacher).
"Carson. You're barely passing this class. You know I love ya, but I'm gonna keep nagging you until you find a way to bring up your grades. Now, I can set up an extra credit assignment or two, but I want you to sign up for tutoring."
"Eh? But I don't want to sit around getting yelled at be a science geek all afternoon!"
"I'll make sure I pick out one that won't yell at you, kay?"
I sighed but nodded and laid my head back on my desk. "Since this class is almost over, I'll start raising my grade tomorrow."
Jewel shook her head, but smiled. No matter what, I could always make people laugh and I took great pride in that. "My god, Carson," She said sounding exasperated. "What am I gonna do with you?"
"Let me sleep?"
*****************************
Jewel and her mother owned an store that sold supplies for the many farms that could be found near our town. I happened to live on one with my older brother.
Since Naomi and her families shipping business resided next door, the three of us would often spend the day together at her house on Saturdays. While Ernie and Jewels were in the bedroom snogging, and Naomi was in the bathroom gagging at the thought of them snogging, I was in the kitchen hanging out with Fran, Ernie and Naomi's mother.
She was humming to herself as she baked and I ate a piece of the cake she baked two days ago. That woman was always baking something. She was a wonderful person. She was the kind of person you could easily admire and respect, but she wasn't the kind of person I wanted to grow up to be.
I don't think I could survive as a stay at mom. Not only would I probably kill myself trying to cook, but I'd probably be so bored that I'd jump off my roof just to get some adrenaline pumping.
Nope. I wanted to be a workingwoman. I was going for either a C.E.O. of a top company that had something to do with animals or work on the family farm. My brother had just finished taking his online college classes and after I was eighteen and could legally live alone, he was gone. Therefore, the farm was probably gonna be what I chose.
The door opened and in walked a small bald man I knew to be Naomi and Ernie's grandfather, Thomas. He grinned at me dramatically.
"Why heeeellllooo, Carson! How's the farm?"
"It's fine Mr. King. Little Dingy just had her babies."
"I still can't believe a fragile little cow like her could handle giving birth to twin calves." He said shaking her head. "Glad she did though. Would have been a shame to see the poor girl not make it. IS she doing well? And the babies?"
I nodded. "Yes she's fine. She went outside with the other cows this morning. The babies are good two. We don't let them out just yet, but you should have seen them romping around the barn yesterday."
He nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but then, my cell phone went off. "Ah-." He paused.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Mr. King. Could you excuse me for a second?" He nodded and I answered my phone. "Hullo?"
"Hey, Carson! How's your Saturday?"
"It's fine Ms. Watts. How's yours?"
"It's good, it's good. And you know that you can call me Crystal when we're not in school."
"I know. Sorry."
She sneezed loudly, then sniffed and continued talking. "No need to apologize. I'm sorry that I just sneezed in your ear. I think I' coming down with a little cold. Anyway, I found you a good tutor. He's kind of quiet, but he's passing my class with flying colors and was an A student in his old school too. I was wondering if you could come down to Lance's Diner and meet with him this afternoon? Let's say…. Three-ish?"
"Three-ish sounds good. I'll see you then."
"Bye, Carson Farmer. See you later, Alligator."
I hung out my phone and looked at Thomas looking at me oldly. "You're teacher has your phone number?" He asked.
"She's twenty-one and acts like a little kid. Somehow we became good friends."
"With your teacher? Back in my day blah, blah, blah, had to walk miles to school up hill both ways. I was never a friend with any of my teachers. We blah respected our elders blah, blah too much to have a blah friendly conversation."
"That's such a nice story, Mr. King, but I need to go. Could you tell Jewels, Ernie and Naomi I've gone? Thanks! I'll see you later!" And then I made a run for it.
*****************************
Lance's Diner was tied for the hottest place to be on Rainy Island. Tied with the café that resided next door of course. Lance had the best food on the island and was always telling me new recipes to give to Fran.
He smiled at me as I walked in. "Heya Carson. What brings you here on this fine Saturday? Where's Jewels? I hardly ever see you two without the other."
"She's at Ernie's house making out. I'm meeting Crystal and some tutor she picked out for me."
He nodded. "She called and asked me to reserve her favorite table. She said she's be here soon."
"Thanks Lance. Hey, can I have an order of French fries? Yours are always amazing."
He beamed. "I'd be delighted, Carson. You want me to put it on Crystal's tab?"
"Yes please. If she's gonna drag me away form my friends on a Saturday to do school stuff she should at least treat me to some fries. Don't you think?"
"Couldn't agree more," He chuckled. "Go on and sit down. I'll bring them to you when they're done."
"Kay, thanks!"
As soon as I sat down, in walks Ms. Crystal Watts and behind someone I never expected.
"Hello Cars-."
"YOU!" I exclaimed as I jumped to my feet, causing my chair to fall back to the floor.
My tutor jumped. "Me what?" He asked.
"You're that boy that ran into me and didn't even apologize!"
His eyes suddenly showed some recognition. "Yeah, I remember you. You're that girl who screams like some old lady."
"Hey!"
Crystal raised an eyebrow. "Good! You two know each other. Carson, this is your new tutor, Vic Dealer. Vic this is Carson Farmer. I'm sure you two will be good friends!"
Over my dead body….