Page 26 of Reformation

Garrett: But it worked. You’re responding to me now.

Paige: Sorry, I didn’t hear my phone vibrate. And no, I didn’t forget about you. Just been busy with school starting back up. Plus, I didn’t have any new information for you.

Garrett: Didn’t you say you’re going to put me to work on the food drive?

Paige: I wish I had something for you to work on. I’m stuck.

Garrett: Stuck? It’s a food drive. I know I’m just getting into this volunteer stuff, but don’t you just stick a box out and ask for food?

Paige: In theory, yes. But there needs to be an incentive. These kids and parents won’t do this just out of the goodness of their hearts. And I’m drawing a blank.

I look up at Anthony, who is working diligently on his homework.

“You doing OK?”

He writes something else down before looking up. “Yup. I mean, math still stinks, but I think I’m doing it right.”

I smile, agreeing with him that math does stink, thankful that the extent of math I need to teach in kindergarten is counting.

“Show it to me when you’re done and I’ll check it.”

Anthony gets back to work as another text from Garrett comes through.

Garrett: Incentive? Like for the winning class?

Paige: Yes. We used to do pizza parties. Apparently free pizza isn’t a big deal for kids these days.

Garrett: Wow. I loved free pizza. Hell, I still love free pizza.

Paige: Same. I’ve been told kids who have iPhones and Jordans need more.

Garrett: Can I throw out an idea?

Paige: Please. I’m desperate.

Garrett: I do some work with the Norfolk Tides. What if I make some calls and see if we can get the winning class to a baseball game?

Paige: You would do that? That would be amazing. If it’s too much trouble, please don’t go out of your way. But if you could do that, I’d be forever grateful.

Garrett: I offered and it’s not. I’m glad to finally put some contacts I’ve made over the years to good use. Let me reach out to them and I’ll let you know.

Paige: Thank you, Garrett. Thank you so much.

Garrett: Anytime.

I read Garrett’s texts again, hoping I didn’t imagine that whole conversation.

“Why are you smiling, Miss Blackstone?”

I jump a little, not realizing that Anthony is standing right next to my desk.

“A friend is going to help me with a problem, and that made me smile. Because whenever you can do something nice for someone, you should.”

“That’s nice. I tried to help Bailey last week in art class and all she did was push me away and said she could do it herself.”

I laugh, remembering the hardheaded Bailey very well. “I’m sure she appreciated it in a different way. Still, it was nice of you to try. Let’s check this math homework.”

I scan the worksheet, pleased to see that he did indeed do them all right. Which is great. I don’t think I have the brainpower today to push through fourth-grade math.

---