Jane
By the second week of tutoring, I’d lost count of how many times I’d wanted to hit him with my binder.
Come on, Jane, just survive for an hour or so. That’s what I told myself as I clutched my binder tight and stood outside his stupid door, staring at the wood like it might blink first. Lisa let me in with her usual too-bright grin, asking if I wanted lemonade like I wasn’t about to drag her son kicking and screaming through basic literacy.
I shook my head, mumbling something polite. She didn’t seem to notice. She just ushered me in and called up the stairs in a singsong voice.
“Austin! Your friend’s here!”
I cringed. Friend.
His voice came back like a shot. “Tell Professor to come up.”
Lisa beamed at me like this was the best thing she’d ever heard. I nearly groaned.
When I r
