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Post Ep | Romance | General | Drama
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A Wonderful Life ~ 18
"Ok, are we done here?" Toby asked while the twins finally went to sleep.
"Do you think we should take Samuel into the doctor?"
"CJ, I'll go get some rash power stuff tomorrow. He's fine, look at him. Sleeping like a baby."
"He is a baby." She said sarcastically.
"I'm going to help Derek with his homework now." Toby smirked and walked out and into Derek's room.
"So, what are you stuck on?"
"Nothing, I worked it out." Derek mumbled.
"Great. I'm telling you, you have great ability son." Toby patted Derek on the back.
"Whatever."
"What's wrong?"
"I asked for help over an hour ago dad. You just came in."
"I'm sorry, Samuel had..."
"Fine." Derek snapped.
"I'm sorry." Toby lifted Derek's head up. He looked at him for a minute and then Derek smiled.
"I know. I'm sorry too. I need to understand that they can't do anything on their own, so they need you more."
"I'll tell you what? Sometime next week, I'll take you to the park and we can throw the baseball around."
"Really?" Derek smiled.
"Well, Baseball practice at school is coming up, we need to get you ready."
"You think I can make the team?"
"I know it." Toby smiled.
Derek smiled, "Thanks dad."
"Now there's the smile I know and love." Toby smiled and put his arm around Derek. "You do know how much I love you, right?"
"Um, maybe..."
Toby laughed a little and kissed Derek's head.
"Hey, what's going on in here," CJ asked from the doorway.
"Oh, nothing. I was just telling Derek that we love him."
"Ah, okay." She smiled. "I'm sorry about before honey. It's just that the rash worried me, a lot."
"I know. He's never had a rash before. Maybe he's allergic to something."
"Polyester. He must be allergic to that shirt you gave him," Toby said.
"He's not allergic to that," CJ said, trying to defend herself.
"Whatever." Toby looked back at Derek. "So, did you really work that problem out by yourself?"
"No, not really."
"What subject is it?"
"Math. I hate math."
CJ sat down. "What kind of math are you doing?"
"Long division and multiplying decimals. I hate it. I can never get it right." He slowly went to his backpack and took out a recent quiz.
"Look at what I got."
CJ read the score. "Hmm, 57%. Why didn't you come to us sooner?"
He shrugged. "You were busy and so was dad. I didn't want to bother you."
"Honey, you are our number one priority. Whatever you need help with, we'll be there." CJ set the quiz down, face down and noticed a little note that Derek's teacher had written. She sighed. "Derek, why didn't you tell us that your teacher wanted to see us?"
"Oh, ummm...is that what it says?"
"Derek?" CJ gave him a warning look. "This was written two months ago."
"Dad had the stroke thing."
"You could have told me." CJ mentioned.
"I spaced it, honestly."
"Speaking of which, I haven't received a report card yet." CJ said.
"Really, well...I'm not sure what happened to it."
"Derek, what did I tell you about lying?" Toby looked at him.
"I was afraid you guys would get mad at me."
"For what?" CJ asked. Derek went over to him bed and grabbed something from under the pillow.
"This." He handed the report car over.
"You have an F in math. You have an F in Science. You have a A in history. And you have a A in English. How is that?" CJ asked confused.
"Well, the President has taught me everything about History, and dad teaches me how to write. We need to get a scientist and a math person in this family."
"Derek stop joking about this. This is serious," Toby said.
"Sorry. I just didn't want you to get sicker."
"How would seeing this make me sicker?"
Derek shrugged.
CJ sighed. "Derek, I think we need to get you a tutor."
"No! Please, I'll be teased for life!"
"No you won't," CJ said. "I think I'll call his teacher on Monday and see what she recommends. Maybe she knows a few people who can tutor him," she said to Toby.
He nodded, "Okay, sounds good to me."
"Mom, please don't call her!" Derek pleaded.
"Derek, stop it. If you had told us you were having trouble with your classes, we could have helped you sooner, before you got your report card." CJ said.
"Now it's my fault that I failed math and science?" He said rather loudly.
"Not entirely, and please keep your voice down," Toby said.
"That's basically what you're saying though!" He sat back down on the bed.
"Did you finish the rest of your homework?" CJ asked.
"Yes. I had to read something for English and write a page on what the best thing about Washington, D.C. is, in our opinion."
She nodded, "Okay. Then for the rest of the weekend I want you to study for Math and Science."
"What about Jack coming over?"
"Derek, you hid this from us." CJ said.
"Dad." Derek looked over to Toby with tears in his eyes.
"Don't bring me into this."
"Mom, you promised me."
"Fine, Jack can come over tomorrow. But that's it. I want you to study though."
"I will. I promise. I'll get up tomorrow morning and start before Jack gets here. Can you help me dad?"
"I can after I get back from Shul."
"Ok. But please don't call my teacher..."
"I'm calling her. But I may have a way that you can get a tutor and not have anyone find out about it if you're embarrassed about it."
"What?"
"I'll call David tomorrow and ask him to help you with Science."
"David who?" Derek asked.
"No!" Toby snapped.
"Yes. He's somewhat of a scientist, he can help Derek."
"He doesn't even know what's going on here."
"Wait, I know this is off the wall, but who is David?" Derek asked sarcastically.
"My brother." Toby moaned.
"I have an uncle. Cool!"
"See, Derek's happy."
"CJ..."
"Dad, I have a question."
"What?"
"What's Shul?"
"Shul is another word for Synagogue," Toby said. "What's Synagogue?"
"Oy vey," Toby said as he rubbed his head.
"It's oy vey? Dad, I'm confused."
"It's Temple. Where Jewish people go to pray." He said rather loudly.
"Toby, must you yell?"
"Sorry."
CJ looked over at Derek. "Okay, enough of changing the subject. Derek, you're going to get up at 8:00 tomorrow morning and study. Jack can come over at 11:00 and stay until 4:00. Then you have to study again."
"I hate that schedule." He crossed his arms and pouted, but stopped when he saw CJ's face.
"It's either that or Jack isn't coming over."
"Fine."
"And I'm going to call your teacher on Monday and David. You never know, Toby. He may be able to help Derek."
"Fine." Toby crossed his arms.
"Oh for heaven sakes, will the two of you grow up?!"
"Fine," they said in unison.
CJ shook her head and got Derek's math book out of his bag and sat down with him and started helping him with math.
TBC...