The Homework Club
The Homework Club The Homework Club Swoosh, swoosh, crunch were the sounds of the gold, red, brown, and orange leaves as I walked through them. I breathed deeply, smelling the cool air. It was my first fall season in this new country. "Hey! Can you kick that back?" I realized a boy from my school was shouting and waving at me. What did he want? I felt my stomach jump. I couldn't understand him. Then I saw the ball rolling past me. I had seen the boys playing soccer before. I swung my leg back
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The Homework Club
The Homework Club
Swoosh, swoosh, crunch were the sounds of the gold, red, brown, and orange leaves as I walked through them.I breathed deeply, smelling the cool air. It was my first fall season in this new country.
"Hey! Can you kick that back?"I realized a boy from my school was shouting and waving at me.What did he want? I felt my stomach jump.I couldn't understand him. Then I saw the ball rolling past me.I had seen the boys playing soccer before. I swung my leg back and-wham!Amazingly, it went right to the dark-haired boy.
"Thanks! Nice kick!" he shouted. I waved quickly and ran the rest of the way home.
"What is your hurry?" Ma asked as I arrived breathless.
"I don't know," I said, leaning against the door to close it.
"But I see a smile. Is this the first smile in America?" Ma ruffled my hair.I grabbed a rice ball off the counter. "Wait! Those are for your lunch!" I ran upstairs.I dropped my book bag on my bed and flopped down to eat and think.
I guess it was my first smile in America.My friends back in China wouldn't believe that I went a whole month without smiling.They always teased me about my goofy smile.Just thinking of my friends in China wiped the smile from my face.I finished eating the rice ball and opened my book bag.
Math first, I thought. It's easy. We were reviewing decimals.Math is one thing that is easy for me.
I was trying to do my reading homework when I heard the front door open and close.I stuffed my books into my backpack and ran quickly downstairs.
"Pa! Pa!" I shouted. Pa whirled around and tossed me a new soccer ball.
"What?" I gasped, trying to catch the ball. I missed it. It bounced into the kitchen.
"Not in the house!" Ma scolded. I could tell she was pleased to see Pa in a playful mood.
"Now where's the girl?" Pa asked,hunching over and pretending to look for my sister under the kitchen table and in the front closet.
"She is at Mrs. Min's house. I will phone her to come home for dinner," Ma said picking up the phone.
At dinner, Pa asked about my math class. I told him that it was easy for me.I added that many of the kids in my class didn't understand the lessons.
"There must be a way to help them make progress."Ma was getting that glow in her eye. Back home she was a schoolteacher.When we decided to come to the United States for Pa's job at the university, Ma took a year off.
"What they need is a private teacher," I shrugged, thinking it was hopeless.
"That's it!" Ma smiled. "We will start a tutoring club!"
"What? No. It's too hard. Where will it be?"I didn't like the idea of my mother teaching my classmates.What if they made fun of me or her?
"We can ask at the community center. The room next to your T'ai-chi class is empty."I could see Ma was already making lists and plans.
"Can I make the flyers?" my little sister asked.
"Of course you can," Ma said. "Gary will help you."My mother used my English name without hesitating."And I'll ask Mrs. Min if she'll tutor you in English and reading.You know you need help with that." Ma was right. I was having trouble in reading.
"Fine. It's settled," said Pa. "You call Mrs. Min and the community center tomorrow.Gary and Mei make folders -" "Flyers!" my sister and I whispered at Pa.
"Yes, flyers. And maybe Mrs. Min will check over the English on the flyers.We all need help with that!" Pa laughed and finished the rest of his soup.
