My Rich Dad Rented Me a Five-Hundred-Dollar Toxic Room

Chapter 4

Emily's POV:

The next morning at breakfast, I'd barely asked whether any nearby businesses were hiring when Angela set down her coffee. "Some parents at the library are looking for tutors. I can ask around for you. Would you be interested?"

"Yes!" I nodded quickly.

Phoebe lent me an unused smartphone and went with me to buy a new SIM card so I could contact parents. I sent my new number to my friends, leaving Dad and Mom off the list. For the time being, I kept my old SIM in my old flip phone.

I began tutoring middle school students in math for $35 an hour. For high school students, I taught chemistry and helped them prepare for the SAT and ACT for $45 an hour. At first, I taught middle school math in the afternoons and worked with high school students at night. My weekends filled up, too. Parents looked at my transcripts and scholarship acceptance email, then recommended me to their friends. Eventually, my rates rose to $50 for middle school math and $60 for high school subjects. Before long, my daytime schedule filled up as well.

If a student's house was nearby, I rode the old bicycle Phoebe's father, Gregory Hart, had lent me. If it was farther away, I took the bus. At night, when I got back to the room where I was staying, I organized materials for the next day's lessons and answered messages from parents one by one.

One day on the bus, I had my lesson plans spread out in front of me when my phone lit up. Tiffany had posted on PhotoLoop. There was her diamond bracelet, shopping bags from luxury stores, champagne, and flowers from her housewarming party. Dad and Mom stood beside her. All three of them were beaming.

I closed the app and opened my schedule for the day.

When I reached my next student's house, the parent met me at the door with a frown. "He's already had three lessons. Why doesn't he know how to do it yet?"

"Let me see where he went wrong this time." I opened his workbook and sat down patiently.

After the lesson, I ate a cold bagel downstairs and rushed to the next house. At night, I was so tired while preparing lessons that I nearly fell asleep with a red pen in my hand. But looking at my packed schedule reassured me.

Three months later, my final tutoring payment came through. I added up everything I'd earned. The total came to $16,840. After transportation costs, materials, and money set aside for taxes, I still had far more than the $4,000 I would have made at the fried chicken place.

I added it again. Then one more time. I stared at the number and laughed out loud.

That day, I went to a restaurant and ordered steak, soup, and dessert. I had one request for the server. "No onions in anything, please." I stirred the soup with my spoon. There were no bits of onion in it. I smiled, but tears slipped down my cheeks anyway. I looked down and finished my meal.

During those three months, they hadn't contacted me once. They never asked why I hadn't gone to work or why I hadn't stayed in that room. I never told them where I was, and I stopped waiting for my phone to ring.

I opened my acceptance email and calculated my expenses using the scholarship information. Tuition and housing were covered. Food, books, and some emergency money... It would be enough. I booked my flight.

Before I left, I took out some cash for rent. Angela pushed it back firmly. "Keep it. You'll need it at school."

I put the money away and spent $800 on the camera Phoebe had wanted for a long time. I also bought a laptop, a suitcase, and a few new outfits. When I bought a phone, the clerk showed me an older discounted model. Instead, I pointed at the one beside it, tested the camera, and handed over my card. "I want this one."

On the day I left, I returned Phoebe's phone. She smiled and walked me to the door. "See you in Marlowe Bay."

As the plane took off, I looked at the city one last time and let out a long breath. Once the plane leveled out, a flight attendant came by with the beverage cart. I asked for orange juice and opened my college orientation schedule.