yard, he could see Jonah going down the slide in the playground, Mark right behind him. He brought his hands together.
“Jonah’s mom died right before he started kindergarten. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes, and we were all concerned about that. But his teacher didn’t say anything about his work. His report cards said he was doing fine. It was the same thing last year, too.”
“Did you check the work he’d bring home from school?”
“He never had any. Except for projects he’d made.”
Now, of course, it sounded ridiculous, even to him. Why, then, hadn’t he noticed it before? A little too busy with your own life, huh? a voice inside him answered.
Miles sighed, angry with himself, angry with the school. Sarah seemed to read his mind.
“I know you’re wondering how this could have happened, and you’ve got every right to be upset. Jonah’s teachers had a responsibility to teach him, but they didn’t. I’m sure it wasn’t done out of malice—it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard.”
Miles considered that for a long moment. “This is just great,” he muttered.
“Look,” Sarah said, “I didn’t bring you here just to give you bad news. If I did only that, then I’d be neglecting my responsibility. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. I don’t want to hold him back this year, and with a little extra effort, I don’t think I’ll have to. He can still catch up.”
It took a while for that to sink in, and when he looked up, Sarah nodded.
“Jonah is very intelligent. Once he learns something, he remembers it. He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class.”
“So what does that mean?”
“He needs help after school.”
“Like a tutor?”
Sarah smoothed her long skirt. “Getting a tutor is one idea, but it can get expensive, especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. We’re not talking algebra here—right now we’re doing single-digit addition, like three plus two. And as far as reading goes, he just needs to spend some time practicing. Same thing with writing, he just needs to do it. Unless you’ve got money to burn, it would probably be better if you do it.”
“Me?”
“It’s not all that hard. You read with him, have him read to you, help him with his assignments, things like that. I don’t think you’ll have any problem with anything that I’ve assigned.”
“You didn’t see my report cards as a kid.”
Sarah smiled before going on. “A set schedule, too, would probably help. I’ve learned that kids remember things best when there’s a routine involved. And besides, a routine usually ensures that you’re consistent, and that’s what Jonah needs most of all.”
Miles adjusted himself in his seat. “That’s not as easy as it sounds. My schedule varies. Sometimes I’m home at four, other times I don’t get home until Jonah’s already in bed.”
“Who watches him after school?”
“Mrs. Knowlson—our neighbor. She’s great, but I don’t know if she’d be up to doing schoolwork with him every day. She’s in her eighties.”
“What about someone else? A grandparent or someone like that?”
Miles shook his head. “Missy’s parents moved to Florida after she died, so they’re not around. My mother died when I was finishing up high school, and as soon as I went off to college, my father took off. Half the time, I don’t even know where he is. Jonah and I have been pretty much on our own for the last couple of years. Don’t get me wrong—he’s a great kid, and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself. But at other times, I can’t help but think it would have been easier if Missy’s parents had stayed in town, or if my father were a little more available.”
“For something like this, you mean?”
“Exactly,” he answered, and Sarah laughed again. He liked the sound of it. There was an innocent ring to it, the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn’t simply fun and games.
“At least you’re taking this seriously,” Sarah said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this conversation with parents who either didn’t want to believe it or wanted to blame me.”
“Does that happen a lot?”
“More than you can imagine. Before I sent the note home, I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you.”