The Tutor

Here's an excerpt from one of my stories called The Tutor. It's about a boy who gets bad grades and is assigned a tutor to help.

The Tutor:

(This story is about an unlikely friendship between two boys as they help each other.)

Backgrounds:

New York:

Scene 1

Andrew's bedroom, living room, kitchen, outside, school, lockers, class, principal’s office.

Scene 2:

Library, outside; bus, Noah's house.

Characters:

Noah Sanders

Jade Sanders

Danelle Garcia

Charlie Ashton

Andrew Esten

Chris Esten

Uki Kim-Sosa Esten

Yamada ha-jim Esten

Jessie Anderson

Jake Hernandez

Simon West

Haden Bear

River Quin

Claire Bear

Ethan Lenny

Jason Miller

Sammie Johnson

Rolan Williams

Lily Davis

Marie Thomas

Timmy Taylor

Dan Jackson

Opal Smith

Brittney Albrecht

Rachel Baldwin

Stephene Carter

Mr. Walker

Ms. Doler

Plot:

(Andrew wakes up like always, gets ready for school with his brother, and then heads downstairs.)

(His parents were in the kitchen talking.)

Andrew: Good morning!

Uki: Good morning, boys. What’s for breakfast?

(The boys go into the kitchen. They usually make their breakfast.)

Chris: Cereal.

(Andrew looks over his dad's shoulder to see him making pancakes.)

Andrew: You always make cereal! What about pancakes?

Chris: Naw.

Yamada: Who wouldn't want pancakes that you won't have to make yourself.

Andrew: Only my idiot brother, that’s who!

Uki: There’s no need to call your brother an idiot. But seriously Chris!

Chris: Eh.

Andrew: Is that all you have to say?

Chris: Eh.

Andrew: Ugh! Anyway… What are we gonna do for our birthdays? I was thinking of a-

Uki: You’re not going to have a birthday if your grades aren't up!

Andrew: Oh come on, Mom! I got a C on the last one. Shouldn't that make up for the F’s! I tried really hard!

Uki: It was a low C.

Andrew: Still! The fact that I managed to move up 2 grades should at least mean something right?

Uki: It’s better but still.

Andrew: Ugh! But the words and the numbers- It’s really hard Mom.

Uki: Then talk to your teachers and see if they could help you.

Yamada: I know school’s hard but please try a little harder.

Uki: Or you’re grounded!

Andrew: WHAT?!

Uki: Ok, Now hurry up with your breakfast and get your butts to school.

(Andrew groans and both brothers grab their backpacks and helmets. Then Andrew and Chris grab their bikes and head to school.)

Andrew: Race ya, Chris!

Chris: Hey!

(The two race to school and as always, despite always challenging him, Andrew loses the race. The two then park lock up their bikes and head inside.)

(The two talk on the way to their lockers.)

Andrew: How do you always beat me!! I was, like, so ahead of you!

Chris: Haha! I just have skills.

Andrew: Even though I started riding my bike before you!

Chris: Hey, Here SHE comes. Again!

(The most popular girl in the school, Brittney, walks up to Andrew, as always.)

Andrew: *irritated* Oh my-

Brittney: Hey, Andrew!

Andrew: *forces a smile* Hey, Brittney!

Brittney: How was your weekend! Is anything fun?

Andrew: Nothing much. Just partied.

Brittney: *laughs cutely* Oh, Andrew! You're such a party animal!

Andrew: Uh huh! And I'm gonna be late for class, so excuse me.

(Andrew tries to go past Brittney at his locker but Brittney blocks him.)

Brittney: Just wanted to ask, If you were taking anyone to the dance next month?

Andrew: Look! I know where this is going. And like I said plenty of times, Brittney, Im gay!

Brittney: We could just go as friends, ya know.

Andrew: We’re not even friends!

Brittney: But we could be!

Andrew: No! I wouldn't go with you, even if I was straight!

Brittney: Ugh! Fine! Whatever! Humph!

(Brittney storms off.)

Andrew: Annoying a-

(The bell rings and students crowd the hallways, going to their classes.)

Chris: *hurries off to his class* Welp! Time to go! Bye!

Andrew: *Jokingly* Yeah! get to your girlfriend!

Chris: Shut up!

Andrew: *chuckles* Bye!

(The hallways empty out, leaving Andrew by his locker alone.)

Andrew: Finally! I can put my stuff away!

(Andrew opens his locker and starts putting his stuff away.)

(He hears talking. Aggressive talking. He could tell what was happening.)

Andrew: *sighs* Jocks.

(He looks around the corner to see, of course, a group of senior Jocks around a sophomore, who was looking down and holding his book to his chest.)

Andrew’s head: Who’s that?

(The jocks were throwing names at him and dumping his stuff out of his backpack and ruining his stuff.)

(But the thing is… The boy didn't seem to be trying to stop them or anything. He didn't even seem to be scared or frightened. He just stood there. Emotionless and quiet. Scary quiet.)

(So quiet that the jocks made a comment about it.)

Jock #1: Got anything to say, Bookworm!

(The boy continued to stay quiet.)

Jock #2: Well, say something! Dang!

(Andrew had enough of this. He turns the corner.)

Andrew: Hey!

(The jocks turn their attention to Andrew.)

Andrew: Alright! You’ve had your fun! Leave him alone!

Jock #1: What?

Andrew: You heard me! Leave him alone!

Jock #1: What are you gonna do about it?

(Andrew goes up to the jock. The jock was taller than Andrew but that didn't discourage him.)

(Andrew grabs the jock’s shirt collar and tries to lift him up. But not only was the jock taller than him, He was also heavy.)

(Andrew struggled to push the jock. He decides to give up. Breathless and tired, Andrew steps back.)

Andrew: *breathes heavily* Come on, James! Please! I'm dying here!

(James pushes Andrew to the ground.)

Andrew: Ow! Ugh!

(Then the jocks sprint down the hallway.)

Andrew: Huh? Y-Yeah that's right! You better run! Haha!

(The boy points behind Andrew. Andrew turns around to see a teacher appear behind him.)

Andrew: Uh oh!

Teacher: And what are you two doing out of class?

(Andrew is about to answer but the boy steps up and hands the teacher with a bathroom pass slip.)

Teacher: Bathroom passes, huh?

(The teacher looks at them and then at the passes.)

Teacher: Fine! Hurry up then!

(The teacher leaves.)

(The boy starts to pick up his things and puts them in his backpack. Andrew bends down and helps the boy.)

Andrew: Hey, Thank you.

(The boy doesn't say anything. Just nods “Yes”.)

Andrew: Hey, I’ve never seen you around before. You new?

(The boy shakes his head “No”.)

Andrew: Huh. Ok.

(The boy puts on his backpack and walks away.)

Andrew: Wait!

(The boy stops.)

Andrew: At least tell me your name!

(The boy walks away again.)

Andrew’s head: What a weird kid.

(The scene changes to Andrew in his 3rd-period class, history, where he was talking to a classmate about what happened in the halls and about the boy.)

Andrew: He didn't talk at all! He just stood there. Not doing anything.

Classmate: Huh.

Andrew: Yeah and then-

Teacher: Mr. Esten! Since you have so much to say during this lesson then you wouldn't have any problem answering question #3.

Andrew: Huh? Uh…

Teacher: Well!

Andrew: Can you repeat the question?

Teacher: What was the name of the Pilgrims’ ship?

Andrew: Uh… Ship Pilgrim?

(The class laughed at Andrew’s answer even though he didn't mean it to be funny.)

Teacher: *sarcastic* Haha! Very funny, Andrew! I'm sure it’ll be even more fun for you to go to the principal's office, won't it?!

(Just then, the intercoms announced Andrew to the principal’s office. The class looked shocked as the teacher just predicted the situation.)

Teacher: Oh. umm… Well, You’d better go!

(Andrew leaves and heads to the principal's office.)

(As he makes his way to the principal’s office, he thinks of all of the possible things he was getting sent there for.)

Andrew: Did they find out I was the one who set off the sprinklers that one time? Or maybe they saw me skip class on Monday! It’s just, that math was so boring! I just HAD to get out of there! Or maybe-

(Andrew stopped, noticing he was at the principal’s office. He knocks on the door and the principal lets him in.)

???: Come in…

(The door opens to reveal the principal at his desk.)

Andrew: Hello?

???: Hello, Andrew… Please… Have a seat.

(Andrew closes the door behind him as he enters, then sits down in one of the seats.)

Principal: Do you know why you’re here, Mr. Esten?

Andrew: I'm sorry I turned on the sprinklers and skipped class that one time!! I didn't kno-

Mr. Walker: You did what?

Andrew: Uhhh- Nothing! Hehe…

(Mr. Walker takes off his reading glasses and puts them down beside him.)

Mr. Walker: I’m going to put it simply. Mr. Esten, You're failing your classes. I'm talking, F’s, and maybe a D.

Andrew: O-oh…

Mr. Walker: IF you fail, any more than you already are, then you’ll be forced to repeat the 10th grade.

Mr. Walker: So, I’ve assigned you a tutor to help you. One of our top students!

Andrew’s head: I wonder who it is?

Mr. Walker: Mr. Sanders, You may enter.

(The assistant enters with a boy behind him.)

Andrew: Hey! It's you!

(The boy still had an emotionless face.)

Mr. Walker: Oh, you two know each other? Well then, this will make in alot easier.

Boy: Hm?

Wr. Walker: Noah, I’ve assigned you to tutor Andrew in these required subjects. I hope you get along well. And maybe who knows! Maybe even become friends?

Noah: *nods* Hm.

Mr. Walker: Just let me know if he’s causing you trouble. And I'll make sure his next tutor is NOT so nice!

Andrew: *gulps* I-I’ll behave, Sir!

Mr. Walker: Good. Now go! Your tutoring sessions begin after school.

Andrew: How long will I have a tutor for?

Mr. Walker: Well, until your grades improve. But if you want specifics: Maybe 3 to 4 months- If that’s alright with you Noah?

Noah: *nods* Hm.

Mr. Walker: Good. Now, does anyone have any more questions?

(Both boys shake their heads.)

Mr. Walker: Alright then, Go. I have a meeting in 5 minutes with this bi- I mean parent.

(Mr. Walker smiles and gestures to the boys out of the room. Now, in the hallway, Andrew perks up.)

Andrew: So… um… What’s-

(Suddenly the bell rings and the hallways become crowded.)

(The students pushed and shoved their way to their next class, separating Noah and Andrew from each other.)

(Andrew tried to make his way through the crowd and back to Noah.)

Andrew: Wait! I wanted- Excuse me?

(The crowd cleared and Noah was gone.)

Andrew: Aww. Oh, well! I’ll see him after school.

(After his last few classes, Andrew made his way to his locker. Upon opening his locker, a note fell out.)

Andrew: It’s probably from Brittney.

(But he looks at the note anyway:

“Come to the library.”)

Andrew: Huh.

(And so Andrew does.)

(He made it outside of the library doors and was just about to go in when he heard some familiar voices talking loudly, which was weird because the main rule of the library was no loud noises. Which could only mean one thing: The librarian was not there.)

(Andrew gently cracks open the library door and peeks in and sees Noah surrounded by those jer-jocks again.)

Andrew: He-

Librarian: Hey! No loitering in the library!

(Then the librarian comes out of her office and sends the jocks back to class.)

Librarian: And what are you two planning to do?

Noah: Ah..-

Andrew: Studying!

(Andrew then winks at Noah and turns back to the teacher.)

Librarian: Alright well, please put the books back where you found them ok?

Andrew: Alright, we will.

(The librarian leaves back into her office and the two boys sit at a table.)

(Noah starts pulling books and his laptop from his backpack.)

Andrew: So, which subject are we doing first?

Noah: Whichever you want.

Andrew: Huh. Alright then, I want…

(Noah looks at Andrew, awaiting his answer.)

Andrew: None!

Noah: Hm.

(Noah looks through one of his textbooks and points to the page.)

Noah: Let's do this page.

Andrew: I don't know.

Noah: It's easy.

Andrew: Fine.

(Noah, then, grabs a piece of paper and a pencil and slides them across the table and in front of Andrew.)

Andrew: What's this for?

Noah: Show your work.

Andrew: Why? Aren't I supposed to just give the answer? Does it matter how I got it?

(Noah shrugs.)

Andrew: Tch! Whatever.

(They start working and everything goes well. Except when it wasn't…)

(Andrew needed help and alot of it… This is going to take some serious work.)

Noah: So you carry the 2 and round it to the nearest 100 and the-

Andrew: Hold on! Hold on! Like can we go back a few steps! I'm lost! Geez! You’re going too fast and I can't keep up. Gosh!

(Noah grabs the paper from Andrew. His notes were scattered all over the place and he only had two of the four steps written down on the paper. The rest was all doodles and scratch marks.)

(Noah looks back at Andrew.)

Andrew: What?! I told you I was lost!

Noah: We could do another subject if you're stumped on this one.

Andrew: I just want to go home.

Noah: I-

(Noah hears a ding and checks his phone. A text from his mom appears:

“Mom: I’ll be home late again. I was just about to leave when they called me in again. I'm sorry Noah. I'll send you some money for a pizza… or anything you want. Ok?”

Noah answers:

“Noah: Ok, It's fine.”

“Mom: I'm so sorry, Honey. Love you.”

“Noah: Love you too.”)

Andrew: Well? What happened?

Noah: Nothing.

Andrew: Ok… So… Can I go home?

(Noah looks at his watch. He doesn't have a bedtime but he gets tired around 8 so he’d like to be home by then. It was only 5:30 and they still had some time left but he still liked to be home before his mom.)

Noah: Let’s just do a couple of more problems. And this time I'll go slower.

Andrew: Fine! *sighs* The sooner we get over this, the better.

(The second round of studying began and this time, Andrew was doing well. He had less scribbles this time.)

(6:30 arrives and the two are done. For now.)

(Noah’s work is not done yet.)

(Noah gets home and as usual, the house is empty. Noah goes up to his room puts his bag down grabs his homework from it and begins on it.)

(It was pretty easy for him so he was able to do it quickly.)

(Afterwards, He goes downstairs and into the kitchen where he looks for something to eat.)

Noah: hm?

(He opens the cabinet to almost bare shelves. His mother forgot to go grocery shopping again…)

Noah: hm…

(Guess he was going to have to order something.)

(He pulls up the pizza website and orders pizza, as well as some dessert to go with it. He isn’t really a fan of sweets but he would eat them sometimes.)

(The order was done and on its way. Noah decides to use this time to clean up a little. Things go by fast as the doorbell rings.)

(Noah answers the door to the delivery person.)

(Noah likes to tip them because it was a good deed.)

(He gets out plates and sets the dinner table.)

(He then sits and waits for his mom to come home and eat dinner with him.)

(Time goes by and pizzas get cold.)

(Until he realizes that his mom isn't coming anytime soon.)

(He feels disappointed but knows that his mom needs to work.)

(But he wishes that his mom would spend a little time with him.)

(Noah eats his food and puts the rest in the fridge. Then heads upstairs and heads to bed.)

(It’s morning and it was time for another day of school.)

(Andrew wakes up and heads to the bathroom first before his brother.)

(Chris knocks on the door.)

Chris: Quit hogging the bathroom!

Andrew: The doors unlocked.

(Chris opens the door and lets himself in.)

(The boys begin to brush their teeth and get ready for school.)

Chris: How’s the tutoring going?

Andrew: Don't even mention it.

Chris: So it's not going well.

Andrew: it's going well…ish… *sighs* I just don't understand it at all. And it doesn't help that the boy who's tutoring me is so quiet! I can't hear him at all! The whole thing’s just a drag man!

Chris: Imagine being bad at school.

Andrew: Dude!

Chris: *laughs* Ok! Ok. Just… *he puts his hand on Andrew’s shoulder* try your best. Ok?

Andrew: But what if… like, my best… isn't mom's best?

Chris: I'm sure you’ll do just fine, Alright?

Andrew: Alright…

(It didn't really help his confidence but he was glad his brother had faith in him.)

(The scene changes to Noah walking down the hallway with his classmate/friend Simon.)

Simon: So, you’re tutoring Andrew?

Noah: *nods* Hm.

Simon: Sheesh! I heard guys like him were hard to work with…

Noah: Never judge a book by its cover.

Simon: I guess. Welp Im glad I'm not tutoring anyone. I wouldn’t even attempt it.

Noah: *nods* Hm.

Simon: Hey, there’s a test next in Mr. Denis's class. Wanna study at my house?

Noah: *nods* Hm.

(Noah accidentally bumps into a boy named Jake.)

Jake: Oh sorry.

Noah: *nods* Hm.

Simon: You ok?

Noah: *nods* Hm.

Simon: See what I mean… they’re clueless! Gah! They treat us like we’re rag dolls! Or worse, invisible!

Noah: *nods* Hm.

(Simon pulls out his phone and pulls up something.)

Simon: Ok, which one is better?

Noah: Hm?

(Simon shows Noah two pictures of printers.)

Simon: My little brother broke my mom's printer so we have to buy a new one.

Noah: I- *his phone dings*

Simon: Your mom again?

Noah: I- *phones dings again*

Simon: Go ahead.

(Noah checks his phone to see another message from his mom again, as usual, telling him she’ll be late again and to help himself to dinner. But Noah decides to do something different.)

Noah: Simon?

Simon: Yeah?

Noah: I think I will go over to your house.

Simon: Cool!