So what if he didn't know how to read. Except she caught him looking at the writings on the wall. And she wanted to teach him. And, well, he did kind of want to learn. And it was kind of cute that she wanted to teach him. He would never, ever, tell her that.
Of course, once he learned, he had to show them that he could read and write. And the angry looks on their faces when they woke up. That was completely worth whatever amount of bitching that girl would do.
Served them right for laughing at him.