is face a mixture of

to the back door of the house, as if expe

ssible knowledge, was too much for

pletely ou

ed sigh, he s

pumping awkwardly and his breath comin

itical eye, not a shred o

as nec

as ste

commanded, h

ur feet. You're

his pace, his chubby legs working hard to car

puffed, his fa

fifth lap, he collapsed onto

said, standi

r today. Tomorrow

he water spigot, filled a

this. N

ut a word, gulping do

a flicker of something other than resent

grudgin

en him, fair

e're going inside to do

e spread their books o

than twenty minutes, the second-grade m

ed her full at

his pencil, staring blankly

hree out of ten problems,

rying," Ava said,

seven pl

d, his gaze fixed on the

me," sh

re his eyes away

n on one hand... wait, you

f his building blocks f

unted out seven,

unt all

lips movin

d, a look of sur

dumb, you're just

the ne

ked for

low, gruel

attention, constantly redir

parents came home, t

was c

saw them sitting together on the

ked in

k?" he asked, a wide smile

st time, didn't

rksheet, a small, unfamiliar feeli

," he

helpe

stepfather, a polite, pra

cle," she said, using th

very s

ed, ruffling

va, thank you for bei

d, her express

, she

o

is wa

refo

bo

formation