Page 41 of Reaching Avery
I looked at the equation and tried to explain it as best as I could. Not wanting to do the math problems for him, I made up an equation on a separate sheet of paper and showed him how to work it.
As I talked, he studied the numbers and letters as I pointed to each section.
Helping him with his homework was something I’d done for as long as I could remember. It wasn’t because our mom didn’t care, but she just hadn’t had the time to help.
“Does that make sense now?” I asked him.
Declan looked it over. “I think so.”
“Now you try,” I said, pointing to the next problem.
He scooted closer to the wobbly coffee table and started working out the problem just as I’d shown him. I watched each of his steps, nodding in approval, and I felt that wave of pride that I was sure parents did when their kid did something awesome. Strange, but true. I was only a few years older than him, but I’d practically raised him once we’d gotten a little older and Mom had always been gone.
I’d had to grow up much faster than most kids.
And maybe it was one reason why I’d never given much thought to dating and trying to figure out the whole sexuality thing. My focus had been on Declan. There hadn’t been room for anything else.
